Junior Account Executive

Start your sales career in media, partnerships, and community business development.

Illinois Fitness & Sport Magazine is hiring a Junior Account Executive to support advertising and sponsorship sales for a premium local print and digital media brand serving athletes, families, coaches, fitness enthusiasts, and sports-minded readers across Illinois.

This is an entry-level sales role designed for someone who is motivated, professional, organized, and eager to learn. You do not need extensive sales experience, but you should be comfortable talking with people, building relationships, following up consistently, and representing the brand well in the community.

You will help introduce local and regional businesses to advertising opportunities with the magazine, support outreach efforts, build prospect relationships, and learn how to close and manage accounts over time.

This role is ideal for someone with a background in customer service, hospitality, retail, memberships, community outreach, front desk work, or early sales experience who wants to grow into a professional sales career.

Responsibilities

• Support advertising and sponsorship outreach to local and regional businesses
• Prospect new leads through phone, email, networking, research, and in-person introductions
• Help build and maintain an active sales pipeline
• Schedule meetings and assist with follow-up communication
• Learn to present advertising and partnership opportunities clearly and professionally
• Assist in preparing proposals and sponsorship packages
• Maintain organized records of outreach, follow-up, and pipeline activity
• Build positive relationships with business owners, managers, and community partners
• Represent the magazine professionally at meetings, events, and community functions
• Work closely with leadership to learn the sales process and grow into greater responsibility over time

Qualifications

• 0-2 years of experience in customer service, sales, account support, hospitality, retail, community outreach, memberships, or a related people-facing role
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Comfortable talking to new people in person, by phone, and by email
• Organized and dependable with strong follow-up habits
• Positive attitude and willingness to learn
• Professional presence and strong relationship-building instincts
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving startup environment
• Basic computer skills and ability to manage notes, follow-ups, and scheduling

Preferred background

• Experience in customer-facing roles
• Any exposure to sales, fundraising, memberships, promotions, or business development
• Interest in media, advertising, sports, fitness, or community partnerships
• Familiarity with the Peoria or Central Illinois area is a plus

What success looks like

• Learn the company’s advertising products, audience, and pitch quickly
• Build confidence with outreach and follow-up in the first 30 days
• Begin contributing to prospect meetings and pipeline activity early
• Support new advertiser outreach and relationship development within the first 60 to 90 days
• Grow toward owning accounts and closing business over time

Compensation

This role includes a base salary plus commission, with on-target earnings expected in the $40,000-$55,000+ range depending on performance. Final compensation will depend on experience, qualifications, and potential.

About Illinois Fitness & Sport Magazine

Illinois Fitness & Sport Magazine is a premium local-first publication focused on fitness, sport, performance, wellness, and community. We connect readers with strong storytelling, practical content, and trusted local partnerships across the Illinois sports and fitness landscape.

To apply

Please submit your resume along with a brief note describing:

• any customer service or sales experience you have
• why you are interested in this role
• why you think you would be a strong fit for a relationship-based sales position

Pay: $40,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Application Question(s):

• Why are you interested in this position?
• Describe any experience you have in customer service, sales, memberships, hospitality, retail, or community outreach.
• Are you comfortable speaking with new people by phone, email, and in person?
• Are you comfortable with a role that includes outreach, follow-up, and relationship-building?
• Are you able to work in the Peoria area and attend in-person meetings or events as needed?

Experience:

• customer service or sales: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Peoria Heights, IL 61616