Account Manager

Vortex Freight • Chicago, IL

7d • Remote

About The Position

The Account Manager is responsible for the satisfaction, growth, and retention of assigned Vortex Freight Systems customer accounts. The role develops customer relationships, identifies opportunities to expand freight business, resolves issues, and coordinates communication between customers and internal teams. The position is fully remote for candidates located in the Detroit, Indianapolis, or Chicago areas, but requires substantial customer travel, including at least 50% of work time making in-person visits and 60% travel overall. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the employee must provide their own vehicle.

The Account Manager works closely with Business Development, Customer Service, Operations, Finance, senior leadership, and sales to ensure service quality, develop competitive pricing strategies, and pursue additional customer business. The role also involves account reporting and administration, monitoring service performance and agreements, and supporting claim resolution and collections.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, International Trade, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• At least 1 year of experience in materials, materials planning, logistics, or purchasing/procurement.
• A proven record of maintaining and expanding B2B relationships.
• A reliable personal vehicle for weekly customer visits.
• Strong interpersonal, networking, and presentation skills.
• Ability to make prompt, informed decisions under pressure.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organization and attention to detail.
• Proactive, optimistic, and self-motivated work ethic.
• Ability to travel as needed for client visits.
• Knowledge of freight forwarding, partial loads, and expedited freight services.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Mexican customs and international trade regulations.
• Automotive experience.
• Experience with EDI systems and performance reporting.
• Experience with logistics, materials planning, or purchasing for a manufacturing operation.

Responsibilities

• Work with Business Development to manage and grow existing house accounts by identifying opportunities involving expedited services, new lanes, northbound freight, and partial loads.
• Give accounts consistent attention to foster long-term loyalty and trust.
• Identify account threats, including competitor activity and service issues, and collaborate with senior leadership on corrective actions.
• Schedule and conduct customer visits at least 3–4 times annually, with additional meetings as needed.
• Build strong social and professional relationships with key decision-makers.
• Serve as the primary liaison between customers and the Customer Service Department.
• Conduct monthly calls to all house accounts to assess needs and maintain customer contact.
• Maintain at least 20 face-to-face meetings per month for account relationship upkeep.
• Develop an understanding of each client’s purchasing, logistics, and planning functions.
• Maintain an updated geographic directory for all accounts.
• Prepare and deliver On-Time Performance and Booking Compliance reports.
• Track Long-Term Agreement expiration dates and proactively initiate renewals.
• Monitor route consistency and investigate and address service lapses.
• Manage claim resolutions and escalate persistent issues when necessary.
• Assist with collections for overdue accounts when required.
• Spend at least 50% of work time making in-person customer visits.
• Communicate with Customer Service, Operations, and Finance to support seamless service delivery.
• Participate in operational meetings and share client feedback.
• Understand profit margins and quoting processes to support competitive pricing strategies.
• Work with the sales team on Share of Wallet opportunities.
• Maintain a 100% retention rate for assigned house accounts, increase freight volume per account, position Vortex as the first choice for customer logistics needs, and maintain account KPIs.

Benefits

• Quarterly bonus plan rewarding account retention and growth.
• Phone allowance.
• Car allowance.
• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement, including a pathway to Senior Account Manager and other management roles.
• Collaborative and supportive work environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level