Contractor - Conference/Tradeshow Sales Rep

Contractor - Conference/Tradeshow Sales Rep

Washington DC

Title: Contractor - Event & Conference Business Development

BluShark Digital is a digital marketing agency focused on helping law firms and professional service businesses grow through search engine optimization, digital strategy, and measurable online visibility. We regularly attend industry conferences, trade shows, and networking events to build relationships, educate prospective clients, and create new business opportunities.

We are seeking an Event & Conference Business Development Contractor to represent BluShark at selected events throughout the year.

BluShark's business development approach is consultative, relationship-driven, and reputation-conscious. We are not looking for someone to create artificial conversations, force appointments, or push prospects into meetings that do not make sense.

This role is about identifying businesses that may genuinely benefit from BluShark's services, starting thoughtful conversations, understanding their goals and challenges, and helping determine whether a deeper consultation would be valuable.

We believe strong business development begins with trust. Our team is expected to represent BluShark as a knowledgeable and professional partner, not as a transactional vendor. The goal is not simply to "book meetings." The goal is to create qualified, meaningful opportunities where BluShark can provide insight, guidance, and potential value.

This is especially important at conferences, where every conversation contributes to BluShark's reputation in the market.

The Event & Conference Business Development Contractor will support BluShark's in-person business development efforts at conferences, trade shows, networking events, and industry gatherings. This contractor will help create conversations, capture leads, qualify interest, and support appointment-setting efforts during and after events.

This is a contractor role, not a full-time employee position. Work will be assigned on an event-by-event basis depending on the conference calendar, geographic location, availability, and fit for the event.

The ideal contractor is personable, professional, confident in live networking environments, and capable of representing BluShark in a polished and credible manner. They should be able to create natural conversations, listen for real business needs, and identify whether there may be a meaningful opportunity for BluShark to help.

*Please note - The next step in the interview process will be to submit a video cover letter. As this position is heavily focused on communication skills, networking, and building thoughtful professional relationships, we want to provide candidates with the opportunity to introduce themselves beyond their resume. We find that video cover letters allow candidates to share more about their background, experience, and personality while also giving our team insight into the communication skills that are important for success in this role. This is your opportunity to showcase your professionalism, skill set, and personality, and to introduce yourself to our recruiting team!

Key Responsibilities:

• Represent BluShark professionally at assigned conferences, events, trade shows, and networking functions.
• Engage attendees, prospects, vendors, referral partners, and other event participants in thoughtful conversation.
• Communicate BluShark's services and value proposition at a high level.
• Identify potential prospects and business development opportunities.
• Capture lead information accurately and completely.
• Qualify conversations based on interest, business needs, timing, and potential fit.
• Encourage qualified prospects to schedule a follow-up consultation or discovery conversation when appropriate.
• Support booth coverage, networking receptions, sponsored events, or other conference-related activities as assigned.
• Provide clear post-event notes and lead summaries.
• Coordinate with BluShark's internal team before and after assigned events.
• Follow event-specific instructions, messaging, and brand guidelines.
• Protect BluShark's reputation by approaching every interaction with professionalism, curiosity, and respect.

Qualifications:

• Prior experience in sales, business development, networking, events, hospitality, or client-facing roles preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Professional presence and comfort speaking with attorneys, business owners, executives, and industry professionals.
• Ability to create conversations naturally without being overly aggressive or transactional.
• Consultative mindset with the ability to listen, ask relevant questions, and identify whether there is a real opportunity.
• Organized and reliable with strong follow-through.
• Comfortable working independently in a live event environment.
• Ability to accurately capture lead details and summarize conversations.
• Familiarity with digital marketing, SEO, legal marketing, or professional services is a plus.
• Willingness to travel locally or regionally for assigned events, depending on availability and event needs.

What Success Looks Like:

• BluShark is represented professionally and credibly at assigned events.
• Event conversations are meaningful, well-documented, and properly qualified.
• Qualified prospects are encouraged toward clear next steps when appropriate.
• Lead information is captured accurately and delivered promptly after the event.
• The internal sales team receives actionable notes for post-event follow-up.
• The contractor helps turn conference presence into measurable business development opportunities.
• Business development activity strengthens BluShark's reputation as a consultative partner.

Compensation & Expenses:

This is an independent contractor role. Compensation will typically be structured as a day rate, with reimbursement or coverage of reasonable event-related expenses as agreed in advance. Reasonable expenses may include approved transportation, accommodations, meals, parking, or other necessary event-related costs.

Event assignments, compensation, schedule, travel expectations, and expense guidelines will be confirmed.

Equal Opportunity:

BluShark Digital is committed to working with professionals in an environment where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We provide equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.