Sales Development Representative - Automotive

At Podium, we're on a mission to help local businesses win. From family-owned retailers and medical practices to automotive dealerships and multi-location brands, our AI-powered platform helps businesses attract more customers, communicate more effectively, and get paid faster.

As a Sales Development Representative (SDR) on the Auto team, you'll be the first point of contact for new-car dealerships and dealer groups, and play a critical role in our growth within the automotive vertical. This is a research-driven function where you'll map dealer group structures, identify the right accounts and the right timing, and open strategic, executive-level conversations that lead to qualified product demonstrations for our Account Executives.

You'll work closely with AEs and CSMs to understand account context, existing integrations, and dealership operations, so that every conversation you have is informed, credible, and well-timed. If you have automotive industry experience, whether from a dealership, an automotive IT provider, or a related automotive technology business - and you're looking for a genuine pathway into a closing role, this is where it starts. Many of our top-performing Account Executives started as SDRs, including on the Auto team.

Research dealer groups and their organizational structures to identify the right accounts, the right stakeholders, and the right timing to engage.

Prepare thoroughly before every call - understanding the dealership's situation, existing systems and integrations, and likely pain points.

Initiate and hold strategic, executive-level conversations with dealer principals, GMs, and other decision-makers at OEM/new-car dealerships and dealer groups.

Build interest by understanding prospect challenges and educating them on how Podium can help them grow.

Qualify opportunities using a consultative sales approach and schedule high-quality product demonstrations for the Account Executive team.

Partner closely with Account Executives and Customer Success Managers to understand account context and ensure a seamless, well-coordinated experience from first conversation through to handover.

Maintain accurate records and pipeline activity within Salesforce.

Consistently meet monthly targets for qualified meetings and pipeline generation, with an emphasis on quality and fit over volume.

Strong understanding of the automotive industry, ideally gained at a dealership, an automotive IT provider, or a related automotive technology business.

A mature, professional, and polished communication style, with a strong phone presence and the ability to hold a powerful, credible conversation within a short interaction.

High autonomy - able to take ownership of a task or territory and drive it forward without constant direction.

Coachability and initiative, with a demonstrated ability to apply feedback quickly.

Comfort with doing the preparation and research required before making contact, and the patience to work through the coordination and internal checks that this approach requires without becoming frustrated.

Persistence balanced with patience - this role rewards thoroughness over speed.

We're looking for people who commit, build expertise, and grow with a role rather than moving on quickly.

A growth mindset and ambition to progress into an Account Executive role over time.

Experience selling into or working with dealerships is highly desirable. Previous SDR or outbound sales experience is a bonus but not essential.