The Sales Coordinator position is 40 hours per week. Hearken employees are offered health insurance benefits, options in the company, a discount off the Divvy bike share program and a generous paid time-off package.

What is Hearken?

Hearken is a leader in the engagement journalism field. Our unique public-powered journalism model enables news organizations to listen to the public as a story develops from pitch to publication. Using Hearken’s consulting services and platform, our partners generate deep audience engagement that builds trust, leads to original, high-performing journalism, yields valuable data and helps newsrooms acquire more paying subscribers. We currently work with nearly 100 newsrooms around the world to help them implement our model, through a combination of consulting and supporting technology.

Our company started in early 2015 and we’ve quickly grown from 2 people to 11. Our team is comprised of mission-driven technologists, journalists and a stellar sales and business team. Check out our website and our Medium postsfor more about what we do / why we do it.

Our office is located in downtown Chicago. This is not a remote position. We do offer a flexible working environment, and employees often work from home one day a week.

How to Apply

Please read the full job description below and then fill out our application here: goo.gl/A6rtBg. 

Once you've submitted the application please also send an email with your résumé attached to [email protected] with the subject line “Sales Coordinator.”

Applications will be accepted until 9am (Central Time) on Monday, October 16.

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, and aim to have an offer extended by the first week of November with that person starting work in November or early December.

Job Description

We are looking for an organized, proactive, detail-oriented Sales Coordinator to support and grow with the Hearken sales team. This person will be an eager problem-solver, help us to design systems, facilitate the team’s activities to maximize efficiency, performance and the continued development of the company. The sales coordinator will be the point of reference for colleagues and customers alike, and will take pride in being responsive, friendly and a helpful communicator as well as being on top of it all. You’ll have the opportunity to grow into new roles as the company grows.

• Coordinate the sales team: manage team schedules and effectively communicate relevant information across the company

• Manage order forms, invoices, contracts, billing and collection support with accuracy and timeliness

• Store and sort financial and non-financial data, produce reports for regular meetings

• Respond to requests and questions from customers, field inbound customer inquiries, qualify inbound sales leads

• Assist sales team in organizing email campaigns, webinars and other outreach

• Conduct research on target sectors and companies to support outbound sales efforts

• Manage iterations of sales-related materials including working with outside resources like graphic designers, printers and other vendors

• Support Director(s) of Business Development with sales support functions as needed

• Support CEO with operational tasks and logistics for events as needed

• Monitor the sales team’s systems, identify shortcomings and propose improvements

• Become expert at using and adjusting company CRM and website

• Handle special projects as assigned by Hearken management from time to time

• Very well-organized and responsible with an aptitude for problem-solving

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. You’ll be doing a lot of internal and external communication (via email, Slack, video and phone)

• Timely, responsive and able to keep quick pace

• Aptitude for spreadsheets and analysis

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system experience

• Enthusiastic team player with high level of dedication

• Experience in sales in some capacity (assisting, doing direct sales, etc.)

• Be web savvy and resourceful - able to figure out new programs or services

• Social media experience in posting / interacting from a non-personal account   

• Proficiency in English

Additional skills we consider a major plus:

• Online marketing experience

• Accounting software experience

• BSc/BA in business administration or relevant field; certification in sales or marketing

• Experience working with clients or partners around the world, across language barriers

• Familiarity or interest in the business side of journalism

Software products we use that you’ll use:

• Slack (team communication)

• Hubspot (CRM)

• Squarespace (website)

• Google Drive (company documents, spreadsheets)

• Quickbooks Online (billing and accounting)

• Pandadoc (customer document management)

• Zoom (video conferencing)

• Adobe creative suite (design work)

• Keynote (customer and public presentations)

Experience with these products or similar will be very helpful. See the application for the opportunity to note your experience.

Opportunities For Growth

Because we are a small company, every team member has the opportunity to learn about and contribute to all aspects of the business, from software development to marketing, sales, retention, and business development. In particular, the Sales Coordinator will be deeply involved in helping to scale the sales team. You’ll have the opportunity to grow into a sales role and work directly with newsrooms and other content-producing companies around the world. Our staff gets asked to do a lot of public speaking, and if you are interested in building your presenting skills, there will be ample opportunities to present Hearken in various contexts.

What we’re looking for in all team members

Our company’s core values are: openness, initiative, empathy, delight, critical thinking and flexibility. So first and foremost, we are looking for someone who embodies those values. We also look for a person who is:

• Nimble, agile, excited about being in a fluid environment

• Good listener and willing collaborator

• Great communicator

• Curious

• Enthusiastic to be involved in all aspects of the company

• Able to anticipate the needs of customers and team-members

• Real big into ~systems~

Our Commitment To Diversity

We want our team to reflect the wide diversity of media consumers, and we strongly encourage POC and LGBTQIA candidates to apply. We’re committed to structuring our hiring process and company to be welcoming to applicants of all backgrounds.