Sales Development Representative (Inbound) - Japan at Deepl

MEET DEEPL DeepL is a global AI product and research company focused on building secure, intelligent solutions to complex business problems. Over 200,000 business customers and millions of individuals across 228 global markets today trust DeepL's Language AI platform for human-like translation, improved writing and real-time voice translation. Founded in 2017 by CEO Jaroslaw “Jarek” Kutylowski, DeepL now has over 1,000 passionate employees and is supported by world-renowned investors including Benchmark, IVP, and Index Ventures. Our goal is to become the global leader in trusted, intelligent AI technology, building products that drive better communication, foster connections, and create a meaningful impact. To achieve this, we need talented people like you to join our journey. If you’re ready to shape the future of AI and grow your career in a fast-moving, purpose-driven environment, DeepL is your next destination. WHAT SETS US APART What sets us apart is our blend of cutting-edge AI technology, meaningful work, and a culture where people truly thrive. We’re a team of innovators, researchers, and creators driven by a shared purpose to unlock human potential by making work simpler, smarter, and more connected. When we share what it’s like to work at DeepL, the reactions are overwhelmingly positive. This might be because of our technology that helps millions of people and businesses communicate and work better every day, or because of the trust, curiosity, and care that shape our culture. What we know for sure is this: being part of DeepL means joining a team dedicated to innovation, growth, and well-being. Discover more about life at DeepL onLinkedIn [Upgrade to PRO to see link] [Upgrade to PRO to see link] and our Blog [Upgrade to PRO to see link] MEET THE TEAM BEHIND THIS JOURNEY We're looking for an energetic, curious, and team-oriented Inbound Sales Development Representative to accelerate DeepL's growth. At DeepL, we Act with Purpose and Pioneer for the Future. We're especially interested in candidates who are self-starters, naturally curious, and who bring a genuinely caring attitude toward others. You should have a passion for communication and languages, and a desire to be part of a fast-paced, hyper-growth scale-up. In this role, you'll convert high-intent inbound interest into a qualified pipeline for the business. You'll work closely with our Marketing team to maximise the return on events (webinars, trade shows, DeepL Connect, virtual events) and always-on campaigns (contact forms, trials, whitepapers, content downloads). As often the first person a prospect speaks to, you'll shape their entire experience with DeepL from the very first touch. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES Event Lead Management - Own end-to-end follow-up for all event leads, including webinars, trade shows, DeepL Connect, and virtual events. - Execute timely, structured outreach to event attendees to maximise conversion while interest is high. - Manage surge capacity during high-volume event periods, maintaining quality and speed across all follow-ups. - Provide feedback to Marketing on event lead quality, attendee engagement, and conversion patterns to improve future campaigns. Always-On Campaign Response - Respond rapidly to inbound leads from contact forms, free trials, whitepaper downloads, and content engagement. - Lead with phone outreach where possible, using email and LinkedIn to complement and follow up. DeepL values real-time conversations as the fastest path to understanding prospect needs. - Prioritise leads based on intent signals and ensure timely, relevant, and value-driven communication. - Nurture prospects who aren't immediately ready, keeping them warm with helpful content and well-timed follow-ups. Qualification & Pipeline Generation - Apply DeepL's discovery framework to ensure every meeting includes a full, documented understanding of the prospect's situation, needs, and priorities. - Generate qualified pipeline for the business by converting inbound interest into well-prepared sales opportunities. - Articulate the value of DeepL's B2B product suite in a way that creates curiosity, urgency, and clear next steps. - Meet and exceed monthly targets for qualified meetings and pipeline contribution. Marketing Partnership - Work as an extension of the Marketing team, providing the critical link between campaign activity and pipeline generation. - Share insights on lead quality, messaging effectiveness, and prospect feedback to help optimise campaign ROI. - Contribute ideas for messaging and outreach approaches. Your frontline perspective matters, and we want to hear what resonates with prospects. - Participate in campaign planning discussions to ensure alignment between lead generation and follow-up capacity. - Maintain accurate, complete records in Salesforce for every interaction. Your data feeds pipeline analytics and Marketing attribution, so attention to detail matters. Team Contribution - Support a collaborative, positive team environment with high energy and high standards. - Share learnings, bring ideas, and actively contribute to making the team better each month. - Challenge the status quo and champion continuous improvement in processes and outcomes. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: - Business fluency in English (written and spoken) and native or bilingual fluency in Japanese - Minimum 6 months of relevant sales or customer-facing experience, ideally in SaaS (SDR/BDR/Inside Sales). - Active listening skills and natural curiosity to understand customer requirements and map them to the DeepL product suite. - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build rapport quickly. - Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment, particularly during high-volume event periods. - Strong time management; able to juggle multiple leads, channels, and priorities while maintaining expected response times. - A growth mindset: willingness to give feedback, take feedback, learn from peers, and share best practices. - Motivation to build a long-term career in technology sales. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: - Experience with enterprise or mid-market prospects. - Familiarity with Salesforce, Salesloft, or similar sales tools. - Experience working event-driven or high-intent inbound funnels. - Interest in or exposure to language technology, translation, or localisation workflows. - Understanding of marketing campaign mechanics and lead scoring. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE - You consistently deliver required qualified meetings per month with opportunity acceptance rates above 70%. - You respond to inbound leads within expected time frames, maintaining rapid speed-to-lead across all campaign types. - Marketing values your partnership and relies on your feedback to improve campaign effectiveness. - You handle event surge periods without compromising quality or response times. - You demonstrate stronger commercial judgement each month, progressing through competency milestones. YOUR GROWTH PATH DeepL offers multiple career progression routes. High-performing Inbound SDRs can progress within the SDR org, Account Executive, Partner, Customer Success, or Enablement roles. We invest in structured development through competency frameworks, manager coaching, and regular performance feedback. - Clear competency-based progression from SDR to Senior SDR. - Multiple pathways into AE, Outbound, Partner, Customer Success, Enablement, RevOps, or Marketing roles. - Regular 1:1 coaching and development conversations with your manager. - Access to training, certifications, and skill-building programmes. WHAT WE OFFER - Diverse and internationally distributed team: joining our team means becoming part of a large, global community with people of more than 90 nationalities. We're more than just colleagues; we're a group of professionals with a shared mission to connect diverse cultures. Our global presence is growing–we've doubled in size nearly every year, with our employees based in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the US, and Japan, and we continue to expand our network. - Open communication, regular feedback: as a language-focused company, we value the importance of clear, honest communication. We value smooth collaboration, direct and actionable feedback, and believe that leading with empathy and growth mindset makes us better together. - Hybrid work, flexible hours: we offer a hybrid work schedule, with team members coming into the office twice a week. This allows you to engage directly with your team and experience the unique energy of our workspace, while still enjoying the flexibility and comfort of working from home. With flexible working hours and trust in your productivity, we are in sync with your team’s general locations and time zones to foster effective and seamless collaboration. - Regular in-person team events: we bond over vibrant events that are as unique as our team, from local team and business unit gatherings, to new-joiner onboardings, to company-wide events that bring us all together–literally. - 20 days of annual leave: we value your peace of mind. With 20 days off (excluding public holidays) and access to mental health resources, we make sure you're as strong mentally as you are professionally. - Competitive benefits: just as our team spans the globe, so does our benefits package. We've crafted it to reflect the diversity of our team and tailored it to align with your unique location, to ensure you feel supported every step of the way. - Virtual Shares: An ownership mindset in every role. We believe everyone should share in our success, and that’s why every employee receives Virtual Shares, linking your contribution directly to DeepL’s growth and rewarding you with a stake in our future. If this role and our mission resonate with you, but you're hesitant because you don't check all the boxes, don't let that hold you back. At DeepL, it's all about the value you bring and the growth we can foster together. Go ahead, apply—let's discover your potential together. We can't wait to meet you! WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER You are welcome at DeepL for who you are - we appreciate authenticity here. Our product is for everyone, and so is our workplace. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all succeed, contribute, and think forward! So bring us your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background. It’s in our diversity that we will find the power to break down language barriers in the world.