Market Development Contractor - Tampa

What you'll do

New Business Development & Sales Hunting 

• Aggressively prospect for new retail, off-premise, and other qualified accounts throughout the assigned territory. 

• Spend the majority of field time identifying and pursuing new business rather than simply servicing existing accounts. 

• Build a consistent prospecting routine using in-person cold calls, territory canvassing, phone and email outreach, referrals, networking, distributor relationships, and market research. 

• Identify owners, buyers, managers, and other decision-makers and create opportunities to present our brands. 

• Conduct compelling sales presentations, communicate product value and differentiation, overcome objections, negotiate opportunities, and ask for the sale. 

• Open new accounts and secure initial orders, new placements, and expanded distribution. 

• Build and maintain a healthy, qualified pipeline with clear next steps and disciplined follow-up. 

• Develop a territory route and prospecting strategy that maximizes productive selling time and new-account coverage. 

• Take ownership of individual sales goals and proactively create the activity necessary to meet or exceed them. 

Account Growth & Incremental Sales 

• Build credible relationships with account owners, buyers, managers, and key decision-makers. 

• Maintain existing accounts while continually looking for incremental sales opportunities. 

• Develop account-specific growth plans based on customer needs, sales performance, and account potential. 

• Identify opportunities to increase SKU count, order frequency, average order size, displays, shelf or cooler placement, distribution, and promotional activity. 

• Regularly visit accounts to identify opportunities, solve issues, strengthen relationships, and drive incremental sales. 

• Monitor account performance and use available sales data and market insights to identify areas for growth. 

Field Execution & Market Development 

• Pre-plan account visits with clear objectives, selling opportunities, and desired outcomes. 

• Work closely with distributor partners and sales representatives to identify new doors, improve selling, expand distribution, and execute against opportunities. 

• Ensure products are properly represented, priced, positioned, and available within active accounts. 

• Represent the brand professionally during account visits, distributor work-withs, retail events, tastings, and other approved market activities. 

• Educate buyers, retailers, staff, and consumers on product benefits, positioning, and points of differentiation. 

• Complete merchandising, sampling, promotional, or other field-support duties when they directly support sales and account development. 

• Maintain a strong understanding of the assigned market, including priority accounts, competitive brands, pricing, promotions, emerging trends, and whitespace opportunities. 

• Identify new channels, neighborhoods, account types, and market opportunities that can contribute to sales growth. 

Pipeline, Reporting & Accountability 

• Maintain accurate and timely CRM records for prospects, account visits, opportunities, follow-ups, account plans, and results. 

• Track prospects through the sales process and consistently follow up on open opportunities and customer commitments. 

• Report new accounts opened, pipeline status, sales progress, market feedback, competitive intelligence, and challenges to the Regional Sales Manager. 

• Track performance against agreed-upon activity and sales goals and adjust territory strategy as needed. 

• Participate in sales meetings, training, distributor meetings, events, and other business activities as appropriate. 

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of sales growth, market development, and company objectives. 

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year of professional field sales experience preferred, ideally in beverage, energy, alcohol, CPG, or a related industry. 

• Demonstrated ability or strong aptitude for prospecting, cold calling, opening new accounts, growing existing accounts, and closing sales. 

• A true hunter mentality: competitive, persistent, self-motivated, resilient, and comfortable hearing “no” while continuing to pursue the next opportunity. 

• Strong communication, relationship-building, negotiation, presentation, and closing skills. 

• Entrepreneurial and self-directed, with the ability to work independently in the field with limited supervision. 

• Highly organized and capable of managing a large prospect pipeline, follow-ups, and multiple account opportunities simultaneously. 

• Comfortable using CRM systems and sales data to manage activity, prioritize opportunities, and measure results. 

• Ability to identify opportunities rather than simply service existing business. 

• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and ability to travel throughout the assigned territory and visit multiple accounts per day. 

• Availability Monday-Friday 9am-6pm during the hours key decision makers will be in the accounts 

• Ability to cover approved business expenses, which will be reimbursed in accordance with company policy. 

• Ability to obtain a solicitor’s permit if required. 

• Must be 21 years of age or older. 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred. 

• Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. 

• Must be located within the assigned territory (Hillsborough County) 

Contractor Requirements 

• This is an independent contractor opportunity focused primarily on new business development, field sales, and market development. 

• The contractor is responsible for managing their territory, developing and executing a prospecting strategy, generating new business, growing accounts, and achieving agreed-upon sales objectives. 

• The contractor is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy and take personal ownership of activity, pipeline development, territory coverage, and sales performance. 

• This role is designed for an individual who is motivated by measurable sales performance and the opportunity to directly influence their success through business development. 

Physical & Travel Requirements 

• Ability to travel regularly throughout the assigned territory. 

• Ability to drive to multiple customer accounts in a single day. 

• Ability to stand for extended periods and work in retail environments. 

• Ability to lift and carry products or materials weighing up to 35 lbs. 

• Ability to ascend and descend stairs and navigate retail, warehouse, and distributor environments. 

 
Reporting To: Regional Sales Manager/Territory Sales Manager 

Location: Remote / Field-Based within Assigned Territory 

Employment Type: Independent Contractor 

Department: Conventional- Florida