Sales Development Representative, Higher Ed

About Niche

Niche is the leader in school search. Our mission is to make researching and enrolling in schools easy, transparent, and free. We help millions of families find the right school and thousands of colleges recruit best-fit students using our full enrollment marketing platform, including Direct Admissions, Engage, and Market Intelligence.

Niche is all about finding where you belong, and that mission inspires how we operate every day. We want Niche to be a place where people truly enjoy working and can thrive professionally.

About The Role

We’re seeking 1 Higher Education SDR (Sales Development Representative) to join our fast-growing sales team. This is a unique opportunity for a motivated professional to make a meaningful impact on a market-leading enrollment marketing platform.

This role is ideal for:

• Higher Education Professionals with admissions experience at the Counselor, Associate Director, Director level, or above looking to transition into EdTech sales.
  
• Existing Higher Education / EdTech SDRs seeking a high-visibility role in a leading enrollment marketing platform.
  

You’ll connect with school leaders nationwide, book demos for Account Executives, and help drive adoption of Niche’s bundled enrollment marketing offerings. You’ll leverage modern sales tools, including Sales Enablement platforms and AI-driven outreach tools, to maximize efficiency and impact.

What You Will Do

• Book new business demos via phone, email, and AI-assisted outreach by hitting or exceeding benchmark KPIs (30 dials/day, 25 personalized emails/day, LinkedIn connections)
  
• Own your book of business (hundreds of higher ed institutions) through quarterly outreach and leverage your higher education experience to build trust with these school leaders
  
• Introduce schools to Niche’s full enrollment marketing platform (Direct Admissions, Engage, Market Intelligence)
  
• Drive adoption of bundled offerings
  
• Research prospects and craft personalized messaging using Sales Enablement platforms
  
• Track activity and results in Salesforce, Gong, and other tools

During the First Month:

• Complete onboarding to learn about Niche, our solutions, and our customers
  
• Dive into sales training, role plays, and messaging practice until you’re confident
  
• Learn our sales process, KPIs, and tools (Salesforce, Gong, Sales Enablement platforms)
  
• Begin outreach to your assigned prospects

Within 3 Months:

• Own your numbers and consistently hit your qualified appointment goals
  
• See your appointments convert into revenue as deals close
  
• Partner with Account Executives to refine process and strategy
  
• Build expertise to confidently speak to product features
  
• Contribute feedback on messaging and market trends

Within 6 Months:

• Achieve 100%+ of your appointment goal with a growing pipeline
  
• Share new ideas to improve process, messaging, and AI-driven outreach
  
• Strengthen collaboration with Account Executives to maximize account and territory success
  
• Step up as a peer leader and resource for newer SDRs

Within 12 Months:

• Consistently exceed goals, with your pipeline driving strong revenue growth
  
• Potential for growth to Senior SDR, helping onboard, train, and mentor peers
  
• Actively bring outside best practices back to the team

What We Are Looking For

• Option 1: Higher ed admissions experience at Associate Director, Director level, or above
  
• Option 2: Proven success as a Higher Education / EdTech SDR
  
• Comfortable using Sales Enablement platforms and AI outreach tools
  
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  
• Driven, proactive, and eager to learn
  
• Comfortable with high-volume outreach and making phone calls

Compensation 

Our national target base salary is $50,000, plus uncapped commission and participation in our Stock Option Program. The OTE (On Target Earnings) for this role will be $90,000.

At Niche, our Total Rewards Philosophy is centered around creating a workplace environment that attracts, motivates, and retains top talent by providing a comprehensive and competitive rewards package. This philosophy is built on the principles of performance-based compensation, best-in-class benefits and work-life balance, and employee well-being.

Interview Process

Candidate experience is a top priority for our talent and hiring teams.  We believe in providing a transparent, authentic and comprehensive interview process where you have the opportunity to learn about us while we get to know you and your experience.  The interview process is outlined here:

• Phone Screen with Talent Acquisition Partner - 30 Minutes

• Video Interview with Hiring Manager - 30 Minutes

• Team Interview - 45 Minutes

Why Niche?

• We are a fully flexible workforce empowering our employees to choose to work remotely, in our Pittsburgh office or whatever combination suits you
• Full time, salaried position with competitive compensation in a fast-growing company
• Best-in-class 100% paid employee health plan, including vision and dental and supplemental coverage
• Flexible Paid Time Off Policy
• Stipend that allows you to build your work from home office in a style and function that suits your personal preferences
• Parental leave for all employees (12 weeks fully paid) in addition to short term disability for birthing parents
• Meaningful 401(k) with employer match
• Your ideas and work will make an immediate impact on our company and millions of users
• You will join a team that cares about you, our mission, our work - and celebrates our wins together!

Niche will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future for this opening.  

We are currently hiring in states where we currently have employees: AZ, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, DC, WV.

Candidates only.  No recruiters or agencies, please. Sorry, we do not offer relocation assistance.

Niche is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative environment with the best employees. Therefore, we provide employment opportunities without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

All interviews are being held remotely. If there are preparations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please let us know.