Associate Portfolio Executive

Chicago,, United States | Posted on 09/11/2026

Aboutthe opportunity

JR Recruiting is partnering witha 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 theinside, 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 thefirst year actually looks like — the more you know

• Months 1–3: About 70% operational. After athree-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 50dormant accounts.
• Months 3–9: As you earn trust with customers andyour 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.

Twothings worth being clear about: this is not a remote role, and it is not a puresales seat on day one. The people who thrive here are the ones who want tolearn the business before they run their own.

Whatyou'll do

• 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, andmarket 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

Who doeswell here

• Naturally curious — you want to know how theclock works, not just the time.
• A self-starter — you look for the answer beforeyou ask the question.
• Comfortable on the phone — with people you'venever met, in the office and with customers. Email is a last resort, not afirst 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 andwhat you did next.
• A clear communicator — with a genuine personality that comes through on the phone. You don't have to be loud; youhave to be real.
• Flexible — willing to do the mundane tasksthat keep a team running, and to pivot when a customer's season changes.

Qualifications

• 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 endof the compensation range
• Ability to work on-site at one of the listed office locations

What'soffered

• Structured training, a dedicated coach, and a defined promotion path
• Competitive base salary with commission eligibility asyou progress
• Comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental,vision, and 401(k)
• Hybrid schedule after ramp

• Step 1: 30-minute conversation with JR Recruiting — we'll walk you through the role honestly and answer your questions
• Step 2: 60 minute interview with the hiring team(video and in person)
• Step 3: Offer, with a start date in one of the monthly cohorts

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex,sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

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).