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Customer Development Associate Jobs in Chicago, IL

Invenergy

Associate, Renewable Development

Chicago, IL · On-site

$85K - $103K/yr

Position Overview As an Associate, Renewable Development you will support the department with the ... Represent Invenergy LLC with customers, landowners, state and local officials and other ...

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All JobsCustomer Development Associate JobsCustomer Development Associate Jobs in Chicago, IL

Customer Development Associate information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$5

$22

$39

How much do customer development associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for customer development associate in Chicago, IL is $22.94, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.11 and $28.70 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a development associate do?

A Customer Development Associate is responsible for building relationships with clients, identifying sales opportunities, and supporting the growth of a company's customer base. They often analyze market trends, assist with product presentations, and use CRM tools to track customer interactions. Strong communication skills and knowledge of sales strategies are essential for this role.

What are some typical challenges a Customer Development Associate might face when working with cross-functional teams?

Customer Development Associates frequently collaborate with departments such as sales, marketing, and product development. One common challenge is aligning customer feedback and insights with the priorities of other teams, which may have different goals or timelines. Effective communication and negotiation skills are essential to ensure that customer needs are accurately represented while respecting each team's objectives. Building strong relationships and maintaining transparency can help overcome these hurdles and drive successful outcomes for both customers and the organization.

What does a client development associate do?

A client development associate is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with clients to promote business growth. They identify client needs, provide solutions, and support account management, often using CRM tools. Strong communication and sales skills are essential for success in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Customer Development Associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Customer Development Associate, you need strong sales acumen, relationship-building skills, and a relevant degree or experience in business or marketing. Familiarity with CRM software, sales analytics tools, and proficiency in Microsoft Office are typically required. Outstanding communication, problem-solving, and adaptability distinguish top performers in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for effectively identifying customer needs, building long-term partnerships, and driving business growth.

What is a Customer Development Associate?

A Customer Development Associate is a professional responsible for building and maintaining relationships with clients to drive business growth. They often identify new business opportunities, understand customer needs, and collaborate with sales and marketing teams to ensure customer satisfaction. Their role may also include gathering feedback, conducting market research, and helping to develop strategies for customer retention. This position is essential for companies aiming to improve their customer base and strengthen client loyalty.

What is the difference between Customer Development Associate vs Sales Representative?

AspectCustomer Development AssociateSales Representative
Primary FocusIdentifying customer needs, building relationships, and supporting product adoptionClosing sales, generating revenue, and acquiring new customers
Required SkillsCustomer service, communication, product knowledgePersuasion, negotiation, sales techniques
Work EnvironmentCustomer-facing, often in teams or support rolesField or office-based, direct sales interactions
Common CertificationsNone specific, often related to customer service or industry knowledgeSales certifications like Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP)

The Customer Development Associate and Sales Representative roles both operate within the sales and customer engagement industry. While the Associate focuses on nurturing customer relationships and understanding needs, the Sales Representative primarily aims to close deals and drive revenue. Both roles require strong communication skills, but their core objectives differ, making them complementary in a sales-driven organization.

What is a customer development role?

A customer development role involves identifying and understanding customer needs, building relationships, and gathering feedback to help improve products or services. It often requires strong communication skills, market research, and the ability to analyze customer data to support business growth.

What is a customer associate's job description?

A Customer Development Associate is responsible for building relationships with clients, understanding their needs, and promoting products or services to increase sales. They often conduct market research, assist with customer inquiries, and support sales strategies using tools like CRM software. Strong communication skills and product knowledge are essential for success in this role.
What are the most commonly searched types of Customer Development jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Customer Development jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Customer Development Associate jobs near you
Infographic showing various Customer Development Associate job openings in Chicago, IL as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $47,717 per year, or $22.9 per hour.
Development Operations Associate

Development Operations Associate

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

$49K - $59K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

About Chicago Public Media
Chicago Public Media is one of the nation's largest local nonprofit news organizations. Home to WBEZ 91.5FM, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Vocalo. Chicago Public Media reaches more than 3.3 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to be the most trusted news source Chicagoans turn to for understanding the people, events, and ideas shaping our community.
Chicago Public Media is a 100% community-funded newsroom powered by nearly 97,000 members whose support makes our journalism possible. This sustained community investment helped drive nationally recognized work in 2025, including 29 awards from esteemed organizations, including the Public Media Journalists Association, the Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the National Association of Black Journalists.
We believe independent journalism is essential to a healthy democracy and that access to objective, fact-based news is a right for every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse content that informs and enriches our community, supported by a dedicated staff of approximately 250 professionals.
For more information, please see the Chicago Public Media Annual Report.
The Opportunity
The Development Operations Associate supports the infrastructure and daily execution of Development fundraising operations at Chicago Public Media. This role ensures the timely and accurate processing of gifts, maintains data integrity within the CRM, supports donor stewardship workflows, and produces standardized operational reports.
This position plays a critical role in supporting organizational growth, particularly as Chicago Public Media expands philanthropic fundraising.
General Responsibilities
Gift Processing, Data Management, & Reporting (55%)
Own the accurate and timely processing of all philanthropic gifts, including:
  • Process all Development gifts and pledges in the CRM in coordination with the finance team
  • Ensure data accuracy of constituent data, financial data, and reporting data
  • Monitor pledge schedules and payment timelines
  • Build and maintain reports as they relate to other areas of responsibilities within the job description.
  • Monitor donor data managed with the CRM and provide support to ensure accuracy and standards of all Development donor data.

Donor Acknowledgment & Stewardship Workflow (25%)
Manage the operational execution of gift acknowledgments:
  • Produce and distribute Development donor acknowledgment letters in a timely manner
  • Maintain acknowledgment timelines and standards
  • Maintain acknowledgment templates

Manage the operational execution of Development tax letters:
  • Produce and distribute annual donor tax letters for Development donors

Event & Campaign Operations Support (20%)
Provide data and tracking support for fundraising events and future campaigns:
  • Manage event gift tracking
  • Support registration data workflows
  • Provide on-site support for Development events in coordination with the Events and Stewardship Manager.

Required Skills and Experience
  • Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in development operations, database management, or administrative operations
  • Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to draft professional correspondence and internal documentation.
  • Experience working with CRM systems to maintain data integrity and streamline operations.
  • Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy in data entry and record-keeping.
  • Excellence in Excel or Google Sheets, including the ability to organize complex data sets and utilize advanced functions.
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to manage repetitive but high-accuracy workflows, ensuring consistency and quality in daily operations.

Preferred Skills and Experience
  • Experience with Revolution CRM
  • Experience in nonprofit fundraising and an understanding of donor cultivation cycles.
  • Familiarity with gift processing workflows, including gift entry, acknowledgment, and reconciliation.

Compensation
The expected pay range for this position is $49,200 to $59,000 per ANNUM.
Chicago Public Media provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the organization reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographical location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.
Working at Chicago Public Media
At Chicago Public Media, we care deeply about our employees as we know attracting, developing, and growing talent is key to our success and enhancing our impact.
Our culture is one where collaboration, diversity of ideas, and innovation are encouraged. We value colleagues who will enhance our culture by bringing new ideas, divergent experiences, and talents to our dynamic workplace.
At Chicago Public Media we believe dedication to a great workplace includes supporting our employees and their families. As a result, we provide a broad and generous benefits package for employees at hire and in the years to come.
Our benefits include a competitive salary and benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, vacation, holidays, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement savings, and a commuter benefits plan.
Chicago Public Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we actively seek and welcome people from all backgrounds, orientations, and life experiences to join our team.
The essential functions described above are not all-inclusive and are not intended to create any contractual or other legal commitment. Chicago Public Media may change the content or format of this job at any time in its sole and exclusive discretion without notice.

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