Contractor Development Specialist

Reports To: VP of Territory Sales & Account Management

Location: Des Moines, Iowa

FLSA Status: Exempt

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a motivated and dynamic Contractor Development Specialist to join our team in Des Moines, Iowa. This role focuses on high-volume outbound activity to generate and qualify leads, set appointments, and drive opportunities for our inside and outside sales teams in the home improvement financing space. The ideal candidate is an excellent communicator with confidence, adaptability, and a deep understanding of our value proposition and competitive landscape. This position offers a clear path for career growth into sales or account management roles, working closely with sales operations, marketing, sales, and account management teams to fuel our revenue pipeline. The role is salaried with an incentive structure to reward high performance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Opportunity Generation through Outbound Activity:

Conduct high-volume outbound efforts using phone, email, and other technology platforms (e.g., CRM tools, email automation, LinkedIn) to engage scored leads and identify new business opportunities in the home improvement financing space.

Lead Qualification:

Further qualify leads by assessing their needs, budget, authority, and timeline, ensuring alignment with Watercress Financial’s offerings and directing qualified prospects to the appropriate inside or outside sales team members.
Appointment Setting:

Schedule appointments for sales team members, ensuring accurate handoff of qualified leads with clear documentation of prospect interactions and needs.

Value Proposition Expertise:

Develop and maintain a deep understanding of Watercress Financials’ point-of-sale financing solutions, articulating our value proposition clearly and persuasively to prospects while addressing competitive differentiators.

Competitive Analysis:

  • Stay informed about competitors in the home improvement lending market, leveraging insights to position our offerings effectively during prospect interactions.

Adaptability and Learning:

  • Continuously adapt outreach strategies based on real-time feedback from prospect engagements, refining approaches to improve qualification rates and appointment-setting success.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

  • Work closely with sales operations to leverage CRM data, marketing to align on campaign messaging, and sales/account management to ensure seamless lead transitions and follow-up.

Documentation and Communication:

  • Document all prospect interactions thoroughly in the CRM (preferably Salesforce.com), ensuring clarity for sales team members and enabling training or knowledge sharing with colleagues.

Performance Metrics:

  • Meet or exceed key performance indicators (KPIs) such as daily call/email volumes, lead qualification rates, and appointment-setting targets to drive pipeline growth.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s degree and/or minors in: Business/Finance/Economics, Sales, Marketing, Communications, or a related field preferred.
  • 1-3 years of experience in business development, lead generation, appointment setting, or outbound calling, ideally in financial services, fintech, or a related B2B/B2B2C industry.
  • Home improvement industry exposure or experience a plus.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

  • Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to engage prospects confidently and professionally.
  • Strong ability to learn and adapt quickly, using insights from prior engagements to refine outreach strategies in near real-time.
  • Knowledge of Salesforce.com for CRM management, ZoomInfo for prospecting and lead enrichment, Microsoft Power BI for data visualization and reporting, and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for documentation and analysis is preferred.
  • Competitive mindset with a desire to grow into a sales or account management role, demonstrating ambition and a commitment to career development.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with sales operations, marketing, sales, and account management teams to align on goals and strategies.
  • High energy, resilience, and a results-oriented mindset, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, target-driven environment.
  • Experience with additional sales enablement tools (e.g., email automation, LinkedIn Sales Navigator) is a plus.
  • Willingness to work on-site in Des Moines, Iowa.

APPLY TO WORK AT WATERCRESS FINANCIAL

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    What does the hiring process look like after submitting a resume?

    1. If you see a position that you feel aligns with your skillset, apply! Our HR team will review your resume and determine if your background is what we are looking for. Talented candidates will be contacted to do a phone screen.
    2. Candidates that are selected will be asked to do an in-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager. A second interview with additional managers or members of the executive team may be necessary depending on the position.
    3. The hiring manager will then select a candidate to receive an offer for the position!
    4. Once an offer letter has been signed, all positions will be asked to complete a background and credit check to be completed prior to hire.
    5. It’s time to start your new position at Watercress Financial!