Sales Account Executive

Applied Ergonomics; Illinois; On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Ergonomics in Skokie, IL is seeking a Sales Account Executive to develop new business opportunities in the Chicago market and surrounding region. You will build relationships with architects, designers, facility managers, real estate professionals, and decision-makers involved in workplace planning.

The role requires a strong B2B sales background in commercial interiors, with the full sales cycle from prospecting to close.

Qualifications

• Proven B2B sales experience in commercial interiors or related industries.
• Ability to create opportunities with design professionals and end-user clients.
• Strong lead follow-up, prospecting, and business development skills.
• Experience managing full sales cycle from prospecting to close.
• Pricing, quoting, and proposal development with internal teams.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining reporting and accountability.
• Understanding client needs and translating to practical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop new business opportunities with end users, design professionals, architects, facility managers, real estate professionals, and other market influencers.
• Follow up on company-provided leads with urgency, discipline, and professionalism.
• Conduct independent prospecting, networking, and relationship-building to create additional opportunities.
• Qualify prospects, uncover client needs, and identify appropriate workplace, furniture, ergonomic, flooring, or wall solutions.
• Manage the sales process from initial contact through proposal, negotiation, and close.
• Work closely with internal design, estimating, project management, and operations teams to develop accurate and executable solutions.
• Take active ownership of pricing, quoting, scope review, and proposal development.
• Present solutions clearly and confidently to clients and decision-makers.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, pipeline information, activity tracking, and follow-up notes.
• Participate in regular biweekly check-ins focused on pipeline progress, activity, priorities, and accountability.
• Represent Applied Ergonomics professionally in the marketplace and at relevant industry events or networking opportunities.

Skills

B2B sales

Relationship building

Prospecting / lead gen

Sales cycle management

Pricing & proposals

CRM proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, design, construction management, or related field

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Applied Ergonomics, founded in 1992 and based in Skokie, IL, is a commercial interiors company serving clients locally and across the United States. The company partners with organizations to create work environments that support productivity, culture, brand identity, and long-term functionality.

Applied Ergonomics provides workplace consultation, space planning, furniture procurement, ergonomic solutions, commercial flooring, demountable walls, delivery, installation, and project coordination. With access to a broad network of manufacturers and in-house design and project management support, the company helps clients move from early planning through completed installation with practical, cost-effective solutions.

Role Description

Applied Ergonomics, founded in 1992 and based in Skokie, IL, is a commercial interiors company serving clients locally and across the United States. The company partners with organizations to create work environments that support productivity, culture, brand identity, and long-term functionality.

Applied Ergonomics provides workplace consultation, space planning, furniture procurement, ergonomic solutions, commercial flooring, demountable walls, delivery, installation, and project coordination. With access to a broad network of manufacturers and in-house design and project management support, the company helps clients move from early planning through completed installation with practical, cost-effective solutions.

Role Description

Applied Ergonomics is seeking a Sales Account Executive to develop new business opportunities in the Chicago market and surrounding region. We are open to candidates with a strong general workplace sales background, as well as candidates with specialized expertise in areas such as demountable walls, healthcare or medical environments, furniture systems, ergonomic solutions, or related commercial interiors categories.

The ideal candidate must be able to create opportunities with both design professionals and end-user clients. This includes building relationships with architects, designers, facility managers, real estate professionals, business owners, executives, and other decision-makers involved in workplace planning and commercial interiors projects.

Company-generated leads are provided, but success in this role will depend on disciplined follow-up, proactive outreach, relationship development, and the ability to identify and advance qualified opportunities. The Sales Account Executive will be responsible for managing the full sales cycle from initial contact through close, including qualifying prospects, understanding client needs, coordinating internal resources, preparing proposals, and presenting solutions.

In-house design, estimating, and project management support are provided, but the Sales Account Executive remains responsible for owning the opportunity. This includes participating in scope development, pricing review, quote preparation, and proposal presentation rather than relying on internal support teams to carry the sales process.

This is an independent role with regular biweekly check-ins, pipeline reporting, and accountability for activity, follow-up, opportunity development, and sales results. The position requires someone who can manage their own schedule, maintain accurate CRM records, communicate clearly, and consistently move opportunities forward.

To support the sales development cycle in commercial interiors, the first nine months will be straight salary. After nine months, compensation will transition to a base-plus-commission structure.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop new business opportunities with end users, design professionals, architects, facility managers, real estate professionals, and other market influencers.
• Follow up on company-provided leads with urgency, discipline, and professionalism.
• Conduct independent prospecting, networking, and relationship-building to create additional opportunities.
• Qualify prospects, uncover client needs, and identify appropriate workplace, furniture, ergonomic, flooring, or wall solutions.
• Manage the sales process from initial contact through proposal, negotiation, and close.
• Work closely with internal design, estimating, project management, and operations teams to develop accurate and executable solutions.
• Take active ownership of pricing, quoting, scope review, and proposal development.
• Present solutions clearly and confidently to clients and decision-makers.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, pipeline information, activity tracking, and follow-up notes.
• Participate in regular biweekly check-ins focused on pipeline progress, activity, priorities, and accountability.
• Represent Applied Ergonomics professionally in the marketplace and at relevant industry events or networking opportunities.

Qualifications

• Proven B2B sales experience, preferably in commercial furniture, workplace interiors, demountable walls, healthcare/medical environments, construction, real estate, architecture/design, or related industries.
• Ability to create opportunities with both design professionals and end-user clients.
• Strong lead follow-up, prospecting, and business development skills.
• Experience managing a full sales cycle from prospecting or lead qualification through close.
• Ability to actively manage pricing, quoting, scope review, and proposal development in coordination with internal design and project management support.
• Strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Comfortable working independently while maintaining structured reporting and accountability.
• Ability to understand client needs and translate them into practical, well-supported solutions.
• Proficiency with CRM systems and standard business productivity tools.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a healthy pipeline and meet revenue goals.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, design, construction management, or a related field preferred, but equivalent professional experience will be considered.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is self-directed, disciplined, and comfortable developing business in a relationship-driven market. They know how to follow up, create urgency, build trust, and advance opportunities without needing daily supervision. They can work effectively with internal design and project management resources while still owning the client relationship, the opportunity, the proposal, and the outcome.

They may be a strong generalist in workplace sales or a specialist in an area such as walls, healthcare, furniture systems, ergonomic solutions, or another relevant commercial interiors category. What matters most is the ability to create opportunities, manage the sales process responsibly, and produce measurable results.