Conference Associate Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

About Henricksen

Henricksen (Oak Brook, IL) is a full-service contract furniture dealership specializing in office, healthcare, education, government, senior living, and hospitality spaces. In 1962, Henricksen opened its doors as a small, family-run dealership. Today, Henricksen is a leading national dealership with twelve offices in Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, DC, and Wisconsin, 300+ full-time employees, and annual sales of $300+ million. With 300+ manufacturer partnerships, Henricksen offers an array of products from systems furniture, casegoods, seating, lounge, and conference furnishings to architectural solutions including modular walls, flooring, lighting, sound masking, and technology equipment. Henricksen is one of the largest privately-owned dealer partners of HNI in the United States. HNI’s furniture brands include Allsteel, Gunlocke, HBF, The HON Company, and Kimball International.

Job Summary

The Account Associate will support the Account Team as a secondary point of contact and liaison, helping to build strong relationships and ensure high-quality service delivery across all parties engaged on assigned account(s). The Account Associate will assist in coordinating day-to-day activities, tracking accountability, and supporting execution across the order lifecycle in alignment with client goals and established agreements. The Account Associate will contribute to client satisfaction and retention by maintaining awareness of client needs and delivering responsive, detail-oriented support. The Account Associate will operate in the best interests of the client and organization, helping identify opportunities that enhance the client experience and overall value.

Responsibilities:

• Client Relationship + Account Support. Support the Account Manager by serving as a point of coordination for work and parties engaged on account(s), including internal teams, partners, and vendors (A&D firms, contractors, facility teams, IT, movers, etc.). Maintain organized documentation of client needs, goals, and expectations across assigned accounts. Assist in building and maintaining positive relationships with client teams, vendors, and partners. Help monitor client satisfaction and flag potential issues or risks to senior team members. Support onboarding of client stakeholders to promote project continuity and success. Respond to client inquiries, requests for information, and basic issue resolution in a timely and professional manner. Maintain visibility into account activity through consistent tracking and communication updates. Assist with post-occupancy follow-up to support ongoing client engagement.
• Sales Order Support. Support the development and coordination of plans and product specifications to align with project goals and overall account strategy. Assist in preparing clear, accurate, and professional quotes for client review in a timely manner. Partner with Account Manager and subject matter experts to help assemble service contracts and supporting documentation for complex projects. Verify pricing details and product information for accuracy and alignment with scope. Support the sales closing process, including documentation, signatures, and deposit tracking.
• Pre-order, Project + Workflow Coordination. Coordinate with Project Management to support planning activities, resource alignment, and scheduling logistics. Track project timelines, deliverables, and workflows to ensure alignment with established goals and milestones. Assist in overseeing project execution by maintaining communication across internal and external teams. Help ensure accountability by following up on action items and escalating issues as needed. Maintain organized records of project activity, ensuring accuracy and accessibility.
• Client + Business Advocacy. Support the Account Manager in tracking progress toward quarterly and annual account goals informed by market conditions. Assist in identifying opportunities to advance client goals through add-on products and services aligned with account strategy. Leverage developing knowledge of client needs, products, and industry trends to help surface relevant opportunities. Support ongoing client engagement by helping coordinate check-ins, sharing product updates, and responding to requests in a timely manner. Partner with Accounting to help track and follow up on outstanding client invoices as needed. Assist in leveraging vendor programs and partner relationships to enhance client value and support overall account performance.
• People + Culture Development. Model and reinforce the organization’s Core Values across interactions and relationships. Coach and collaborate with account and project teams for increased mutual success. Establish and nurture inclusive relationships with colleagues and across teams. Maintain accountability for ongoing learning and improvement required to perform job.

Qualifications – Education and Experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s or associate degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Design, or a related field
• 1–3 years of experience in account coordination, sales support, project coordination, design support, or another client-facing role
• Exposure to contract furniture dealership or a related industry preferred
• Ability to support delivery of client-focused solutions with guidance from senior team members
• Basic understanding of negotiation principles and ability to support mutually beneficial outcomes
• Experience coordinating multiple projects, tasks, or client requests in a fast-paced environment
• Strong Excel and data tracking skills; ability to support reporting and basic analysis
• Proficient and effective communicator (written and verbal) across various audiences
• Strong customer service, problem-solving, and team orientation
• Process and continuous improvement mindset
• Agile with positive and professional demeanor
• Proficient in Microsoft Office365 applications (including MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
• Willingness and ability to participate in off-hour business-related events

Preferred:

• Exposure to contract furniture dealership or a related industry
• Experience with CRM systems and business applications (e.g., order processing, inventory tracking)
• Familiarity with sales processes and order lifecycle preferred

Additional Information

Henricksen offers competitive wages based on skills and experience as well as comprehensive benefits packages. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Henricksen is fully committed to cultivating a culture that is inclusive and integrates its Core Values in every action, every interaction, and every decision that is made.