The Shelf Influencer Marketing Agency
Inbound Sales Strategist
The Shelf Influencer Marketing Agency, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, 27601
About The Shelf
We’re a team of more than 80.
We’re growing.
We’re about as scattered as a team can be… East Coast, West Coast, the middle of the country… a bunch of us are in Canada, 1 in Ukraine, 1 in Russia… we like to keep our options open in terms of company retreat locations.
About half of us are really funny.
We’re currently working with some pretty amazing brands: Famous Footwear, UMG, Zenni Optical, KISS, Lenox, Sam’s Club, ROAR Organic, Nestlé, Honest Co., and Hershey just to name a few.
About The Shelf
We’re a team of more than 80.
We’re growing.
We’re about as scattered as a team can be… East Coast, West Coast, the middle of the country… a bunch of us are in Canada, 1 in Ukraine, 1 in Russia… we like to keep our options open in terms of company retreat locations.
About half of us are really funny.
We’re currently working with some pretty amazing brands: Famous Footwear, UMG, Zenni Optical, KISS, Lenox, Sam’s Club, ROAR Organic, Nestlé, Honest Co., and Hershey just to name a few.
About The Role This role owns qualified inbound demand and converts it into closed revenue by combining
strong sales execution ,
strategic problem-solving , and a
deep, practical understanding of influencer marketing programs .
We’re looking for someone who is naturally
outgoing , energized by client conversations, and curious about how great brands operate. You enjoy identifying gaps, diagnosing real business problems, and designing solutions — not just selling services.
This is not a transactional inbound role.
It’s a consultative, solution-oriented sales position for someone who enjoys thinking alongside smart brand teams and confidently turning insight into action.
The right person feels like a
mini Head of Sales + Strategist , embedded directly in the inbound funnel.
Why This Role Exists Inbound Selling Breaks Down When
Sellers rely on leadership to “carry” strategy
Conversations stay high-level instead of becoming concrete
Follow-ups lack insight, urgency, or direction
Deals stall because no one can independently frame a viable program
This role exists to eliminate those failure points.
Success Here Means
Faster deal velocity
Higher-quality, more strategic conversations
Better-qualified, better-scoped deals entering delivery
Fewer escalations to senior leadership
What You’ll Own
End-to-End Inbound Revenue Ownership
Own qualified inbound leads (demo requests, referrals, warm intros, returning prospects)
Lead discovery, strategy framing, proposal alignment, and close
Maintain momentum and urgency from first call to signed agreement
Sales + Strategy (Not Scripted Selling)
Translate client goals (retail, DTC, awareness, conversion, retailer-specific) into:
Clear influencer program recommendations
Platform mix (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc.)
Creator tiers, content formats, timelines, and KPIs
Anchor recommendations in what has actually worked, not hypotheticals
You Should Sound Like “Here’s what’s worked for brands like you — and here’s how I’d tailor it to your situation.”
Program & Case Study Fluency
Build and maintain strong working knowledge of:
Past campaigns and performance
Retail-specific programs (Walmart, Sam’s, Amazon, etc.)
What performs in reality vs what only sounds good
Confidently answer:
“What would you do if…?”
“Why this approach?”
“What’s realistic at this budget?”
High-Quality Follow‑Ups & Deal Control
Deliver thoughtful, value-driven follow-ups (not “just checking in”)
Advance deals through:
New insights
Refined scope
Clear next steps
Maintain control of the sales process without waiting for the buyer to lead
Collaborative — But Independent
Partner with Strategy, Creative, and Leadership when needed
Know when to pull in support — and when not to
Do not depend on others to make deals viable
AI Literacy & Operating Leverage This role requires comfort using AI as a
force multiplier , not a crutch.
You don’t need to be an engineer — but you should:
Use AI to accelerate research, prep, and follow-ups
Turn raw inputs into sharper insights faster than traditional workflows
Constantly look for ways to do more with less while maintaining quality
We Value Sellers Who
Experiment with modern tools
Improve their own operating efficiency
Bring better thinking to conversations — not just more activity
AI literacy here means
better outcomes, not busier days .
What This Role Is This Role Is Not a Fit For Someone Who
Needs scripts to sell
Can only close when a buyer is already “ready”
Relies on others to explain programs
Treats inbound as “easy mode”
Confuses activity with effectiveness (volume ≠ outcomes)
Is uncomfortable using modern tools and expects process or people to compensate for inefficiency
What We’re Looking For Sales & Deal Skills
Consultative selling rooted in curiosity and diagnosis
Strong discovery, qualification, and deal control instincts
Comfort leading strategic conversations with senior brand stakeholders
Ability to close mid-to-large deals with minimal oversight
Strategic & Domain Fluency
Strong understanding of influencer marketing, including:
Creator strategy and tiering
Content formats and platform nuances
Measurement trade-offs and performance realities
Previous influencer marketing experience — especially as:
An Account Manager
A Strategist
A program planner or designer is a significant advantage
Ability to recognize patterns across past campaigns and apply them to new brand challenges
Communication & Maturity
Executive-level verbal communication
Clear, confident written follow-ups
Accountability for outcomes, not excuses
Comfort being measured on revenue
Bias toward ownership and action
Why This Is a Great Role
You’ll own real revenue, not just meetings
You’ll sell programs you genuinely believe in
You’ll operate with autonomy and trust
You’ll influence how inbound selling is done — not just execute it
You’ll work with ambitious brands and sharp internal teams
If you’re a strategic, outgoing seller who enjoys problem‑solving, values efficiency, and wants real responsibility — we’d love to talk.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
We’re a team of more than 80.
We’re growing.
We’re about as scattered as a team can be… East Coast, West Coast, the middle of the country… a bunch of us are in Canada, 1 in Ukraine, 1 in Russia… we like to keep our options open in terms of company retreat locations.
About half of us are really funny.
We’re currently working with some pretty amazing brands: Famous Footwear, UMG, Zenni Optical, KISS, Lenox, Sam’s Club, ROAR Organic, Nestlé, Honest Co., and Hershey just to name a few.
About The Shelf
We’re a team of more than 80.
We’re growing.
We’re about as scattered as a team can be… East Coast, West Coast, the middle of the country… a bunch of us are in Canada, 1 in Ukraine, 1 in Russia… we like to keep our options open in terms of company retreat locations.
About half of us are really funny.
We’re currently working with some pretty amazing brands: Famous Footwear, UMG, Zenni Optical, KISS, Lenox, Sam’s Club, ROAR Organic, Nestlé, Honest Co., and Hershey just to name a few.
About The Role This role owns qualified inbound demand and converts it into closed revenue by combining
strong sales execution ,
strategic problem-solving , and a
deep, practical understanding of influencer marketing programs .
We’re looking for someone who is naturally
outgoing , energized by client conversations, and curious about how great brands operate. You enjoy identifying gaps, diagnosing real business problems, and designing solutions — not just selling services.
This is not a transactional inbound role.
It’s a consultative, solution-oriented sales position for someone who enjoys thinking alongside smart brand teams and confidently turning insight into action.
The right person feels like a
mini Head of Sales + Strategist , embedded directly in the inbound funnel.
Why This Role Exists Inbound Selling Breaks Down When
Sellers rely on leadership to “carry” strategy
Conversations stay high-level instead of becoming concrete
Follow-ups lack insight, urgency, or direction
Deals stall because no one can independently frame a viable program
This role exists to eliminate those failure points.
Success Here Means
Faster deal velocity
Higher-quality, more strategic conversations
Better-qualified, better-scoped deals entering delivery
Fewer escalations to senior leadership
What You’ll Own
End-to-End Inbound Revenue Ownership
Own qualified inbound leads (demo requests, referrals, warm intros, returning prospects)
Lead discovery, strategy framing, proposal alignment, and close
Maintain momentum and urgency from first call to signed agreement
Sales + Strategy (Not Scripted Selling)
Translate client goals (retail, DTC, awareness, conversion, retailer-specific) into:
Clear influencer program recommendations
Platform mix (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc.)
Creator tiers, content formats, timelines, and KPIs
Anchor recommendations in what has actually worked, not hypotheticals
You Should Sound Like “Here’s what’s worked for brands like you — and here’s how I’d tailor it to your situation.”
Program & Case Study Fluency
Build and maintain strong working knowledge of:
Past campaigns and performance
Retail-specific programs (Walmart, Sam’s, Amazon, etc.)
What performs in reality vs what only sounds good
Confidently answer:
“What would you do if…?”
“Why this approach?”
“What’s realistic at this budget?”
High-Quality Follow‑Ups & Deal Control
Deliver thoughtful, value-driven follow-ups (not “just checking in”)
Advance deals through:
New insights
Refined scope
Clear next steps
Maintain control of the sales process without waiting for the buyer to lead
Collaborative — But Independent
Partner with Strategy, Creative, and Leadership when needed
Know when to pull in support — and when not to
Do not depend on others to make deals viable
AI Literacy & Operating Leverage This role requires comfort using AI as a
force multiplier , not a crutch.
You don’t need to be an engineer — but you should:
Use AI to accelerate research, prep, and follow-ups
Turn raw inputs into sharper insights faster than traditional workflows
Constantly look for ways to do more with less while maintaining quality
We Value Sellers Who
Experiment with modern tools
Improve their own operating efficiency
Bring better thinking to conversations — not just more activity
AI literacy here means
better outcomes, not busier days .
What This Role Is This Role Is Not a Fit For Someone Who
Needs scripts to sell
Can only close when a buyer is already “ready”
Relies on others to explain programs
Treats inbound as “easy mode”
Confuses activity with effectiveness (volume ≠ outcomes)
Is uncomfortable using modern tools and expects process or people to compensate for inefficiency
What We’re Looking For Sales & Deal Skills
Consultative selling rooted in curiosity and diagnosis
Strong discovery, qualification, and deal control instincts
Comfort leading strategic conversations with senior brand stakeholders
Ability to close mid-to-large deals with minimal oversight
Strategic & Domain Fluency
Strong understanding of influencer marketing, including:
Creator strategy and tiering
Content formats and platform nuances
Measurement trade-offs and performance realities
Previous influencer marketing experience — especially as:
An Account Manager
A Strategist
A program planner or designer is a significant advantage
Ability to recognize patterns across past campaigns and apply them to new brand challenges
Communication & Maturity
Executive-level verbal communication
Clear, confident written follow-ups
Accountability for outcomes, not excuses
Comfort being measured on revenue
Bias toward ownership and action
Why This Is a Great Role
You’ll own real revenue, not just meetings
You’ll sell programs you genuinely believe in
You’ll operate with autonomy and trust
You’ll influence how inbound selling is done — not just execute it
You’ll work with ambitious brands and sharp internal teams
If you’re a strategic, outgoing seller who enjoys problem‑solving, values efficiency, and wants real responsibility — we’d love to talk.
#J-18808-Ljbffr