Every company I have dealt with brings on affiliate managers for the SOLE purpose of bringing in new webmasters. There are a huge number of reasons why this can be difficult.
As an Affiliate Manager I think I would personally fit in FLAWLESSLY with a company who is looking for the following.
A) Someone to represent their company, NOT generate an increase in webmasters by going out and posting... networking ... etc .. Rather someone who takes care of their current webmaster's concerns as well as helping current webmasters improve their signup ratios and give them general guidance and assurance.
Someone who will provide an endless amount of ideas on different WAYS to market the products. Most would include financial backing. Being as analytical as I am.. I think I would be excellent at finding the appropriate opportunities for advertising out there in the most cost efficient way possible. Basically maximzing the advertising dollars spent and making sure the campaigns are run with a steady amount of innovation ... not 'like everyone else is'
C) Someone to point out any short comings and work with their developmental team on the backend of their sites to make them as surfer friendly as possible. Same goes for the backend and affiliate sections.
D) Someone who will recommend not only how to improve their current tools they offer webmasters but also offer advice and thoughts on how to give fresh, new, and innovative products to their webmasters to maintain interest.
Such as the idea I am sharing with Morgan right now by ICQ ... I think of stuff like that all the time... No I won't tell anyone
Also.. I'm very analytical and love to look at ANYTHING that could be improved and do what I can to improve it... if it's a numbers game.
That would be my ideal of a perfect job for me as an affiliate manager. But it is not what most companies (if any) are actually looking for. Employers tend to look at how you have affected their bottom line immediately (meaning an increase in the number of webmasters you bring aboard) they don't look at the fact that increasing productivity or retention rates by 3-5% is the equivalent of bringing on ten times the increase in webmster traffic they hoped to see from you.
Just my thoughts though