Cultivator – Industry Relations & Market Development
Company: Vendor Root
Employment Type: Full-Time
Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas
Compensation: $45,000 annual base salary, depending on experience and market, plus commissions and performance bonuses
Travel: Frequent local travel throughout the assigned territory
Mileage Reimbursement: Provided for approved business travel
About Vendor Root
Vendor Root is a rapidly growing national market-development company serving the multifamily housing industry. We connect apartment communities, property management companies, and ownership groups with trusted vendor partners.
Our Cultivators serve as the boots on the ground in each market. They build relationships, uncover service needs, generate qualified opportunities, and help our vendor partners expand their presence within the multifamily industry.
Position Overview
The Cultivator is a relationship-focused outside sales and market-development professional responsible for representing Vendor Root throughout an assigned metropolitan area.
This position requires someone who is outgoing, organized, self-motivated, and comfortable spending most of the workday in the field. The Cultivator will visit apartment communities and corporate offices, attend industry events, develop relationships with multifamily professionals, identify upcoming projects and service needs, and provide accurate market intelligence to Vendor Root’s vendor partners.
This is not a traditional office-based sales position. The ideal candidate enjoys meeting new people, traveling throughout the local market, building long-term relationships, and creating opportunities through consistent face-to-face engagement.
Key Responsibilities
- Visit approximately 20 apartment communities or prospective client locations each business day.
- Build relationships with property managers, maintenance supervisors, regional managers, corporate decision-makers, and other multifamily professionals.
- Identify upcoming projects, service needs, budget opportunities, bid requests, and qualified leads for Vendor Root’s vendor partners.
- Ask thoughtful questions and document accurate information from every property visit.
- Complete timely follow-up communication after each visit.
- Enter property visits, contacts, notes, leads, and market information into Vendor Root’s reporting and CRM systems.
- Immediately communicate hot or time-sensitive leads to the appropriate vendor partner.
- Provide consistent weekly reporting regarding property activity, market conditions, client needs, and lead generation.
- Visit property management corporate offices and develop relationships with regional and executive-level decision-makers.
- Attend apartment association events, chamber events, networking functions, budget bootcamps, trade shows, and other relevant industry gatherings.
- Introduce Vendor Root’s services to prospective vendor partners and assist with business-development presentations.
- Represent Vendor Root professionally throughout the assigned market.
- Maintain knowledge of Vendor Root’s vendor partners, services, territories, and exclusive service categories.
- Work closely with company leadership and fellow Cultivators to accomplish market and company goals.
Qualifications
- Previous experience in outside sales, business development, account management, property management, multifamily housing, staffing, restoration, construction, or vendor services is preferred.
- Strong communication, networking, and relationship-building skills.
- Comfortable approaching new people and visiting businesses without a scheduled appointment.
- Ability to work independently and manage a large geographic territory.
- Highly organized with strong follow-up and time-management skills.
- Comfortable using email, mobile applications, CRM platforms, spreadsheets, and digital reporting tools.
- Ability to accurately document conversations, contacts, service needs, and lead information.
- Professional appearance and communication style.
- Self-motivated, dependable, and results-oriented.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and automobile insurance.
- Must be able and willing to drive throughout the assigned market daily.
- Knowledge of the local multifamily industry is beneficial but not required for the right candidate.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal Cultivator is someone who:
- Enjoys being in the field rather than sitting behind a desk.
- Naturally connects with people and develops trust.
- Is persistent without being overly aggressive.
- Understands that consistent activity creates long-term results.
- Takes ownership of their schedule, territory, and performance.
- Communicates clearly and follows through on commitments.
- Can recognize business opportunities and ask the right questions.
- Wants to grow with an expanding national company.
- Is comfortable working in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment.
Compensation and Growth Opportunities
Vendor Root offers a competitive base salary based on experience and market, along with opportunities to earn additional income through:
- New vendor partner commissions
- Performance-based bonuses
- Vendor partner renewal bonuses
- Mileage reimbursement for approved business travel
- Advancement opportunities as Vendor Root expands into additional markets
Cultivators may have the opportunity to advance into supervisory, regional leadership, training, account management, or business-development positions based on performance and company growth.
Schedule
This is a full-time position primarily performed Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Some early-morning, evening, or occasional weekend attendance may be required for apartment association meetings, networking events, trade shows, or client functions.
Because this is a field-based position, the Cultivator must be able to independently structure their schedule, travel throughout the assigned territory, complete daily reporting, and consistently meet activity expectations.
Equal Opportunity Employment
Vendor Root is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, performance, business needs, and the ability to successfully fulfill the responsibilities of the position. We are committed to building a professional and inclusive workplace where team members can contribute, grow, and succeed.
How to Apply
Please submit your résumé along with a brief introduction explaining your experience in sales, relationship development, multifamily housing, property management, or territory-based business development.
Candidates should also describe why they would be successful in a position that requires daily travel, in-person networking, independent scheduling, and consistent follow-up.