Business Development Partner – Vacancy Advisory Services To Cities & Municipal Stakeholders (Commission Only)

Location:

Remote / Flexible | Travel As Needed

About the Role:

We’re looking for a mission-driven, entrepreneurial Business Development Partner to lead sales of our Vacancy Advisory Packages—a proven consulting solution helping cities, BIDs, developers, and nonprofits activate empty storefronts and underutilized commercial spaces with creativity, purpose, and speed.

This is a commission-only role for a results-oriented dealmaker who understands the real estate ecosystem, speaks the language of civic stakeholders, and knows how to close value-driven contracts. If you can sell strategy and vision while delivering practical results, this is your chance to shape the future of downtowns, main streets, and emerging creative districts across the country.

You’ll be backed by a nationally recognized creative placemaking team with a 6+ year track record of success, 33+ activated spaces across four states, and a robust, scalable advisory model ready to go.

What You’ll Be Selling:

Our Vacancy Advisory Packages are tiered consulting offerings designed to help clients:

• Strategically activate long-vacant properties

• Engage community through creative programming

• Avoid costly missteps in the activation process

• Create economic and social return on underutilized real estate

Clients include:

• Cities & Municipal Agencies

• Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) / Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs)

• Commercial Developers

• Arts Organizations & Nonprofits

Responsibilities:

Sales & Pipeline Development

• Identify and pursue leads with municipal officials, BID/CRA leaders, real estate developers, and nonprofit decision-makers

• Develop tailored pitches aligned with each stakeholder’s goals (economic revitalization, foot traffic, community engagement, etc.)

• Respond to inbound inquiries and RFPs while actively generating outbound opportunities

• Navigate procurement processes, grants, or civic contracting cycles with professionalism

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build trust-based relationships with city managers, economic development directors, planning departments, and property owners

• Understand the nuances of public-private collaboration, nonprofit goals, and commercial real estate timelines

• Attend industry events, webinars, and government briefings to build visibility and network

Sales Execution

• Manage proposals, pricing strategies, and scope conversations across multiple advisory tiers (remote, hybrid, full-service)

• Coordinate internally with program leadership to align deliverables and timelines

• Ensure clear expectations and successful onboarding for every client closed

Qualifications:

• 3+ years in business development, sales, or strategic partnerships—preferably in real estate, consulting, civic engagement, or nonprofit services

• Proven ability to navigate sales conversations with public-sector or mission-driven buyers

• Confident communicator with strong writing and presentation skills

• Well-versed in urban challenges, downtown revitalization, or arts-based economic development is a plus

• Comfortable working independently and driven by a commission-based income structure

Compensation:

• Commission-Only Model with generous percentage per package sold

• Tiered bonus incentives for multi-site or multi-year contracts

• Full support with marketing assets, case studies, and RFP responses

• Opportunity to grow into a strategic role or territory lead

Why This Role Matters:

Vacant spaces are more than lost revenue—they’re missed opportunities for community, culture, and commerce. Our advisory model helps cities and organizations unlock the potential of their properties quickly and affordably. You’ll be playing a key role in shaping the next chapter of downtown development, arts-driven placemaking, and equitable urban revitalization.

Are you ready to help civic leaders and developers bring underutilized space back to life?
Let’s connect.

About Us
At Zero Empty Spaces, we transform vacant commercial real estate into temporary working artist studios that serve as vibrant hubs for creativity and community engagement. Our innovative model provides affordable studio space for artists to create, collaborate, and sell their work, while also offering property owners a dynamic daily activation in otherwise unused spaces until a permanent tenant is secured.

By occupying these spaces on a temporary basis, we address the challenges of urban blight and retail and vacancies, breathing new life into underutilized properties and fostering artistic expression. This approach not only revitalizes neighborhoods but also expands the appreciation of visual art and supports the growth of thriving cultural communities in cities worldwide.

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