Inbound Sales Development Representative

Join Proton and build a better internet where privacy is the default

At Proton, we believe that privacy is a fundamental human right and the cornerstone of democracy. Since our inception in 2014, founded by a team of scientists from CERN, we have dedicated ourselves to providing free and open-source technology to millions worldwide, ensuring access to privacy, security, and freedom online.

Our journey began with Proton Mail, the largest secure email service globally, and has since expanded to include Proton VPN, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, and Proton Pass. These tools empower individuals and organizations to take control of their personal data, break away from Big Tech’s invasive practices, and defeat censorship. Our work impacts hundreds of millions of lives, from activists on the front lines defending freedom to leaders in governments protecting sensitive information. In some cases, Proton’s services have even been instrumental in saving lives by enabling secure and private communications in high-risk situations.

Proton today supports over 100 million user accounts with a growing team of over 500 people from over 50 different countries, from the world's top companies and universities. We value intelligence, learning potential, and ambition in our hiring process. Adaptability is key as we navigate uncharted territories and redefine how business is conducted online. We believe smaller teams of exceptional talent will always prevail over larger teams with lower talent density. Proton has become profitable and reached scale without relying upon VC funding, largely due to superior talent that allows us to do things faster, more creatively, and more efficiently.

We have a global mindset and big ambitions but remain a start-up at heart. We value empowerment and flexibility and keep our structure flat to keep moving fast and avoid unnecessary politics. Tired of blending into the crowd? Join us and do work you can truly be proud of. Check our social media pages to learn more about us: Twitter, Reddit, Instagram.

About the role

We are looking for a driven Inbound Sales Development Representative to join our Proton for Business team. In this role, you won’t just be processing leads; you’ll be the first point of contact for organizations ready to secure their digital infrastructure. You will manage high-volume inbound traffic, qualify high potential opportunities using the SPICED framework to generate new business for our Account Executives, and also take on a full sales cycle role, directly closing smaller, high-velocity business within our Prosumer/Small Office segment.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, love mastering complex tech stacks, and want to play a key role in driving growth for products you genuinely believe in, we want to hear from you.

Key responsibilities

1. Own the Inbound Pipeline: Manage and respond to all inbound requests submitted via Proton’s contact sales forms across our entire product suite.
2. Strategic Prioritization: Utilize our lead scoring system to categorize leads by intent (High, Medium, Low) and ensure strict adherence to our first response time SLAs.
3. Qualify & Convert: Conduct qualification discussions using the SPICED framework (Situation, Problem, Impact, Critical Event, Decision) to identify genuine business opportunities for Account Executives.
4. Close Deals: Independently close transactions for smaller requirements, turning high-volume inquiries into immediate revenue.
5. Metrics & Continuous Improvement – Own daily/weekly activity KPIs (call and email tasks, touches, meetings booked) and funnel metrics ( first response time, conversion rates, meeting‑to‑pipeline ratio). Use CRM dashboards to surface insights and iterate outreach scripts.
6. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Product Business Units, Marketing, and Customer Success to ensure seamless handoffs and gather market feedback.
7. Cultural Ambassadorship – Model a high‑energy, resilient mindset; mentor newer BDRs on phone etiquette, objection handling, process flows and tool mastery.

Your profile

• Sales Driven: You have a proven track record in inbound sales or business development, preferably in SaaS or cybersecurity.
• Process Oriented: You understand the importance of SLAs and can manage time effectively to meet aggressive response targets without sacrificing quality.
• Qualified Communicator: You are business-fluent in English. Fluency in German and/or French is a massive plus given our European roots and market.
• Tech Savvy: You are comfortable navigating CRMs (HubSpot experience is essential) and modern sales intelligence tools.
• Mission Aligned: You care about digital rights and privacy, making it easy to authentically advocate for Proton’s value proposition.
• Resilient & Adaptable: You can handle high volumes of inbound traffic while maintaining a personalized, consultative approach.

Technical & Tool Fluency

• Proficient with modern outreach stacks: Clay, Instantly, Gong, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, multichannel sequencing platforms, and a CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.).
• Comfortable working with simple reporting dashboards to track activity, conversion and forecast meeting volume.

Personal Attributes

• High‑energy & competitive – thrives on quota‑driven environments and loves beating targets.
• Resilient & tenacious – sees rejection as the data that will help us develop an expert understanding of where we win the most.
• Customer‑centric – quickly uncovers prospect pain points and frames the conversation around value.
• Tech‑savvy – embraces automation to eliminate manual grunt work and focus on high‑impact activities.
• Growth-Oriented – ready to take the next step in your sales career by not only qualifying deals, but closing them as well.

Bonus

• Experience selling security‑oriented SaaS or privacy‑focused products across various business segments.

Key competencies

Hard Skills

• Deal Qualification Mastery – Expert at effectively qualifying strong business opportunities based on product fit & ability to solve customer challenge
• Outreach Excellence – Confident phone presence, written communication skills, and objection navigation.
• Tool Mastery – Strong familiarity with Clay, Instantly, Gong, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and CRM reporting.
• Data‑Driven Optimization – Ability to analyse response SLAs & conversion metrics and iterate tactics rapidly.

Soft Skills

• Disciplined & Motivated – Self‑starter who can build their day around effective prioritization for lead qualifying, follow-up, and deal closure.
• Coaching Mindset – Willing to share best practices and uplift newer teammates.
• Feedback‑Oriented – Actively seeks input from peers and managers to improve performance.
• Adaptable – Quickly pivots to new verticals, market shifts, or product updates.
• Collaborative – Works fluidly with Marketing, Product and Sales Ops to align on what good looks like for new business growth..

What we offer

• Office First: Collaboration is easier and more effective in person, which is why we have offices in Geneva, Zurich, Prague, Barcelona, Paris, London, Vilnius, Skopje, and Taipei. You can also enjoy working from home up to 30% of the time, while enjoying great company during our three core days in the office. 
• Technology: We provide all the devices and software you need to excel in your role, ensuring you have the best tools at your disposal to achieve your goals.
• Food: Lunch and snacks are provided by Proton every day at our offices.
• Transport: We will always support our employees with transport costs through subsidizing public transport, bike allowances, or parking spaces based on your office location.
• Stock Options: At Proton, we are all owners of the company and you get stock options when you join us.
• Flexible Working: You can define your own working hours as long as it works with team meetings.
• Learning and Development: We are committed to your professional growth. Proton offers various learning opportunities, including training programs, conferences and events, and continual learning.
• Employee Benefits: Comprehensive health insurance plans, competitive retirement savings options, generous vacation and leave policies, and wellness programs.
• Work that Matters: Proton is a community-first organization, started with the support of a crowdfunding campaign and built with community input. To this day, Proton’s only source of revenue is user subscriptions. Over 100 million people trust and support Proton, and we put our users and community first in everything we do. Read more about our impact here.

Check our social media to learn more about Proton: 

LinkedIn ,Reddit ,X, YouTube

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Proton, we believe diversity drives innovation and strengthens our mission to provide privacy as a default for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical ability, or socio-economic background, feel valued and empowered. We strive to create equal opportunities, promote open dialogue, and support continuous learning to ensure every voice is heard and respected.

If you need any extra support or reasonable adjustments during the hiring process, please let your talent partner know.

Candidate Privacy Notice

When you apply for a position, refer a candidate, or are considered for a role at Proton Technologies AG (Proton, we, us, or our), your information is stored in Greenhouse, in accordance with their Service Privacy Policy. This information is used to evaluate your suitability for the posted position. We also retain this information for consideration for future roles that you may apply for or that we believe may align with your background and skills.

If we no longer have a legitimate business need to process your information, we will either delete or anonymize it. Should you have any inquiries about how we use or manage your information, or if you wish to access, correct, or delete your data, please contact our privacy team at [email protected].

Proton does not accept unsolicited resumes from any sources other than directly from candidates. We will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from an unsolicited offer, even if the candidate is subsequently hired by Proton.

To learn more about our privacy policy, please visit our privacy policy page.

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