Sales Director - Global AgInvesting

Sales Director – GAI

HighQuest Partners, part of the Arc network, is a rapidly growing B2B events and media platform.

The Role:

We are currently seeking a dynamic and motivated Sales Director to join the GAI Portfolio team. This individual will be responsible for identifying and engaging with potential clients as an individual contributor, nurturing relationships, managing accounts, and closing business to drive revenue growth that shapes the success of our events. This role requires excellent communication skills, an organized mindset, and a passion for delivering exceptional customer service. The ideal candidate will have a professional background in sales, particularly in cold prospecting and relationship building.

Founded in 2009, GAI is the leading event serving the agricultural investing communities (agriculture, agribusiness, food, natural capital, regenerative/organic systems, carbon farming/GHG reduction, timber, etc.). GAI’s purpose and value proposition is to help Limited Partner (LP) investors learn about investment opportunities across alternatives and real assets with agriculture, timber, and natural capital themes. GAI supports Agri/food/timber General Partner (GP) funds and operating companies to meet with LP’s so they can conduct business / raise capital. GAI fund types include Farmland and Infrastructure funds, Private Equity/Venture Capital Funds, Credit Funds, Commodity Funds, Natural Capital Funds, REITS, etc. GAI investors include institutional and private investors (pensions, endowments, foundations, insurers, banks, sovereign wealth funds, private banks, RIA’s, family offices, UHNW investors). Service providers and industry player stakeholders include lawyers, accountants, brokers, land valuation firms, AgTech entities, farm managers and landowners, Agri/food processors and traders, etc.

Here’s what you’ll be doing:

Reporting to the Portfolio Director - GAI, below is a list of the role’s core responsibilities and essential functions.

• Drive sales initiatives to meet and exceed established revenue targets by selling event and sponsorship packages to existing and potential exhibitors.
• Proactively cold-call and engage prospects and effectively communicate the benefits of sponsoring or exhibiting at our event.
• Experience working in agriculture/agribusiness and/or investment markets strongly preferred
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key sponsors and exhibitors to ensure maximum engagement and satisfaction.
• Conduct thorough research to identify and secure financial sponsorships from potential sponsors.
• Generate and maintain a comprehensive list of potential exhibitors as needed, leveraging market insights and industry trends.
• Regularly communicate with key sponsorship contacts to understand their promotional strategies and tailor offerings accordingly.
• Conduct in-person and/or virtual visits with clients and prospects as necessary to foster relationships and close deals.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of all client interactions and sales activities using Salesforce.com.
• Stay abreast of market developments and identify new growth opportunities for sales within the industry.
• Represent the company at various industry events and conferences to promote our offerings and expand our network.
• Analyze competing events to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for differentiation.
• Provide on-site support during the execution of the event to ensure a seamless experience for sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees.

What we’re looking for:

• 5+ years of proven experience in sales, with a focus on cold prospecting and relationship building. Bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field of study is preferred but not required.
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written, with a strong ability to deliver persuasive sales presentations, close new accounts, and augment the existing book of business
• Demonstrated ability to sell to decision-makers and maintain long-term relationships with clients.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to think creatively to overcome challenges.
• Knowledge of trade shows, events, and conferences, as well as sponsorship sales experience, is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
• Experience using Salesforce or a similar CRM software suite is preferred but not required.
• Willingness to travel to domestic and international locations as needed.

Physical demands of the job include:

• Performing work in an indoor office environment. Remote work is permitted.
• Operating standard office equipment such as computers, printers, keyboards, monitors, phones, and other telecommunications or internet-enabled communications devices
• Possessing short-distance visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, and/or extensive reading.
• Lifting and carrying small to medium sized (0-20 lbs.) parcels, packages and other items or traversing short distances. Traversing longer distances and/or standing for extended periods of time will be required during conferences and in-person events.
• 10% travel, as required.

Position Type and Expected Work Hours

This is a regular, full-time position. Most work is typically conducted Monday – Friday, during HighQuest’s core business hours, between 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM. Additional/Extended work hours and travel to in-person events and conferences is required.

This description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

The annual base salary for this role is $70,000.00 – 90,000.00. This position is eligible for commission earnings. Factors used to determine the compensation range for a given position may impact what compensation within the stated range may be offered to any individual candidate (e.g., years of experience, level of education or credentials obtained, geographic and market considerations, etc.).

HighQuest is an equal opportunity employer.