Strategic Merchant Lead - Houston

As a Strategic Merchant Lead at DoorDash, your primary responsibilities will include creating and nurturing partnerships with Local Hero and Local Premium merchants, focusing on new restaurant acquisitions. You'll excel in a transactional deal cycle, meet with prospective clients, and close partnerships. Additionally, you will share valuable insights with the sales leadership and operations team, while mentoring your teammates to achieve their best performance.

To qualify for the Strategic Merchant Lead role at DoorDash, candidates should possess a minimum of 3 years of experience in a closing sales role. A proven record of exceeding sales goals and experience in selling multi-product solutions is essential. Familiarity with CRMs like Salesforce and Google Apps will also be beneficial for this role.

The Strategic Merchant Lead role at DoorDash entails a hybrid work model with at least 50% travel—approximately 2-3 days per week. This means you'll spend time on the ground in various markets meeting with restaurant owners, complimenting your days working remotely or from the office.

Success as a Strategic Merchant Lead at DoorDash heavily relies on strong negotiation skills and a creative approach to sales. You should excel in transactional deal cycles, express innovative tactics to engage prospects, and have a genuine passion for small to medium business partnerships and the restaurant industry as a whole.

DoorDash provides a comprehensive benefits package for its employees that includes a 401(k) plan with an employer match, paid time off, wellness benefits, and several paid holidays. Full-time employees also have access to medical, dental, and vision benefits, along with additional programs for family-forming assistance and mental health support.

To establish partnerships with new merchants, I focus on understanding the unique needs of each restaurant and showcasing how DoorDash can meet those needs. By conducting thorough market research, I create targeted outreach strategies and utilize personalized communication to resonate with each prospect.

I manage my sales pipeline effectively by prioritizing leads based on their potential value and engagement level. Using CRM tools like Salesforce, I track interactions, set reminders for follow-ups, and regularly review my pipeline to adapt my approach as necessary.

A successful negotiation I led involved a popular local restaurant. By understanding their pain points and showcasing our tailored solutions, I was able to build trust, leading to a win-win agreement that drove significant revenue for both parties.

My approach to building long-term relationships involves consistent communication, providing support even after contracts are signed, and actively seeking feedback. By being present and showing that I genuinely care about their success, I foster loyalty and partnership longevity.

Handling rejection is part of the sales process. I view it as an opportunity to learn and improve my approach. After any rejection, I reflect on what could have been done differently and maintain a positive outlook, always moving forward to the next opportunity.

Techniques I use for prospect outreach include leveraging social media for initial contact, personalized emails that touch on mutual interests, and sharing industry insights that add value to the conversation. This approach helps in establishing rapport and interest.

I stay updated with industry trends by subscribing to relevant newsletters, attending industry conferences, and networking with peers. This ensures that I can provide insights and maintain a competitive edge when engaging with merchants.

I have extensive experience using CRM software, particularly Salesforce. I utilize it to track my sales activities, monitor customer interactions, and manage my pipeline efficiently, ensuring I never miss an opportunity.

Dealing with difficult clients involves active listening and empathy. I focus on understanding their concerns and working collaboratively to find solutions that align with their expectations while ensuring mutual benefit.

I'm motivated by the challenge of closing deals and the impact it has on both the business and the merchant’s success. The opportunity to support local economies by connecting them with broader customer bases through DoorDash fuels my passion for this role.