Associate Account Executive at JR Recruiting in Chicago,, Illinois, United States

Job description

• Associate Account Executive — Logistics Sales & Operations (Entry-Level)
• About the opportunity
• JR Recruiting is partnering with a Fortune 500 global logistics leader — one of the largest and most trusted names in freight, with a technology-forward approach to moving goods for customers around the world — to hire the next class of Associate Account Executives across seven offices.
• This role sits where sales, service, and operations meet. You'll learn the freight business from the inside, support a team (a “pod”) of experienced account executives, and build toward a portfolio of customers that's yous to grow. It's a genuine feeder role into a senior sales career, and the company invests in it accordingly: structured training, a dedicated coach, and a clear promotion path.
• What the first year actually looks like — the more you know
• • Months 1–3: About 70% operational. After a three-week structured training program, you're paired with a coach and embedded in your pod — quoting, building loads, activating shipments, and supporting your team's customers. You'll begin warm outreach to a list of roughly 50 dormant accounts.
• • Months 3–9: As you earn trust with customers and your team, your time shifts from supporting others to building your own portfolio.
• • Beyond: Associate Account Executive → Account Executive → Lead. Advancement is tied to production milestones; most people take 18 to 24 months to reach full productivity.
• Two things worth being clear about: this is not a remote role, and it is not a pure sales seat on day one. The people who thrive here are the ones who want to learn the business before they run their own.

Responsibilities

• • Convert warm and dormant leads into active customer relationships
• • Build trust with small and mid-size shippers and understand their transportation needs
• • Provide pricing using established tools, processes, and market knowledge
• • Respond to customer questions, shipment issues, and service exceptions
• • Execute customer-facing operations: quoting, load building, shipment activation, and escalations
• • Communicate proactively with customers, carriers, suppliers, and internal teams
• • Use reporting, data, and technology to spot opportunities for growth and better service

Requirements

• Who does well here
• • Naturally curious — you want to know how the clock works, not just the time.
• • A self-starter — you look for the answer before you ask the question.
• • Comfortable on the phone — with people you've never met, in the office and with customers. Email is a last resort, not a first move.
• • Competitive and persistent — athletes, competitors, people who like a scoreboard and don't quit at the first no.
• • Resilient — you can tell us about a failure and what you did next.
• • A clear communicator — with a genuine personality that comes through on the phone. You don't have to be loud; you have to be real.
• • Flexible — willing to do the mundane tasks that keep a team running, and to pivot when a customer's season changes.
• • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; recent graduates are encouraged to apply
• • 0–2 years of professional experience. Prior sales, customer service, or transportation/logistics experience earns the higher end of the compensation range
• • Ability to work on-site at one of the listed office locations

Skills

Required

• Naturally curious
• Self-starter
• Comfortable on the phone
• Competitive and persistent
• Resilient
• Clear communicator
• Flexible

Benefits

• What's offered
• • Structured training, a dedicated coach, and a defined promotion path
• • Competitive base salary with commission eligibility as you progress
• • Comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k)
• • Hybrid schedule after ramp
• Associate Account Executive — Logistics Sales & Operations (Entry-Level)
• Locations Chicago, IL · Oakbrook Terrace, IL · Milwaukee, WI · Minneapolis (North Loop), MN · Eden Prairie, MN · Kansas City, MO · Phoenix, AZ
• Compensation $50,000 base; up to $55,000 with prior customer service, sales, or transportation. Commission eligibility after a 90 day period.
• Schedule Full-time, Monday–Friday, roughly 8–5 with some flexibility. In-office five days a week during training and ramp up period, then hybrid (four days in office, Fridays remote).