Merchant Lead

Our client, a leading technology and commerce organization, is seeking an experienced Growth Merchant Lead to drive new business development across emerging markets.

Midland, MI (Hybrid/Field-Based - Candidate must be within 40 minutes of Midland, MI)

~12 months

$24-29/hr. on W2

10/06/2026

10/01/2027

W2 Contract

• Drive new business acquisition across assigned emerging-market territories.
• Identify, prospect, and establish relationships with local and regional restaurant and food/beverage businesses.
• Conduct face-to-face sales meetings with restaurant owners and decision-makers.
• Present the value of partnering with the organization and negotiate new partnership agreements.
• Manage a largely transactional sales cycle and close new business within a short timeframe.
• Travel throughout the assigned territory to develop new business and expand market presence.
• Partner closely with the Regional Sales Manager to execute territory strategies and achieve growth objectives.
• Utilize sales tools, materials, business cards, and other resources to support prospecting and closing activities.
• Develop and execute efficient inside and outside sales strategies to meet or exceed goals.
• Build relationships with small and medium-sized businesses and identify opportunities for scalable growth.
• Contribute to market expansion by developing new partnerships in previously untapped or emerging markets.
• Maintain accurate sales activity and territory information while ensuring compliance with travel and sales processes.

• Prospect and generate new business within assigned emerging markets.
• Conduct outbound and face-to-face sales activities with prospective restaurant partners.
• Manage the full sales cycle from prospecting through negotiation and close.
• Present partnership value propositions and negotiate commercial agreements.
• Build and maintain relationships with restaurant owners and local business decision-makers.
• Travel throughout the assigned territory, including occasional overnight and extended travel.
• Collaborate with regional sales leadership on territory planning and market development.
• Track sales activity, pipeline progress, and new partnership opportunities.
• Meet or exceed new-business acquisition and sales targets.
• Develop strategies to penetrate rural and underserved markets.
• Adapt sales approaches based on local market conditions and customer needs.
• Support scalable sales strategies and repeatable territory-development practices.

• Strong consultative selling and business-development skills.
• Excellent prospecting, negotiation, and closing abilities.
• Ability to build rapport and establish credibility with small and medium-sized business owners.
• Strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a highly transactional, fast-paced sales environment.
• Strong self-motivation and ability to work independently in a field-based environment.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to identify and pursue new business opportunities.
• Strong territory-management and time-management skills.
• Ability to prioritize prospects and manage multiple opportunities simultaneously.
• Comfortable conducting sales meetings in person and traveling extensively throughout an assigned territory.
• Ability to quickly learn and communicate the value of a technology-enabled business partnership.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Minimum of 2 years of successful sales experience, preferably in a closing or business-development role.
• Experience selling to SMB customers strongly preferred.
• Experience selling to restaurants, food/beverage businesses, hospitality businesses, or other local businesses is highly preferred.
• Experience with outside sales, field sales, or face-to-face selling preferred.
• Proven ability to prospect, negotiate, and close new business.
• Experience managing a transactional sales cycle and consistently meeting sales targets.
• Experience developing new markets or territories is a plus.
• Experience working independently while managing a defined geographic territory preferred.

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Relevant professional sales or business-development experience may be considered in lieu of a directly related degree.

• This is a field-based sales position; candidates must be located within 40 minutes of Midland, MI.
• The role requires significant travel throughout the assigned territory, with most travel expected within approximately 2 hours of Midland.
• Occasional overnight travel and longer travel days may be required, including 6-7 hour driving days or air travel.
• Travel expenses will be covered by the company.
• This position requires a strong focus on new-business acquisition and territory expansion.
• Compensation includes the fixed hourly rate plus commission for new restaurant partnerships.
• Target commission earnings are approximately $1,900 per month, with uncapped commission potential.
• Candidates with…