Sales Associate, CCIS

Job Title: Sales Associate, CCIS

Location: Chicago, IL

Work Arrangement: Remote

Job Type: Regular Full-Time

Union: No

Classification: Non-Exempt

Department: Cross Cultural Interpreting Services (CCIS)

Reports To: Director, CCIS

About Heartland Alliance International & Cross Cultural Interpreting Services (CCIS): Heartland Alliance International (HAI) is a global human rights organization advancing the health and human rights of marginalized communities. HAI implements programs addressing trauma-informed mental health care, access to justice for survivors of rights abuses, and stigma-free health services. Through innovative, equity-driven approaches, HAI promotes human rights protections and gender equality across its global and U.S.-based programs.

As part of its commitment to expanding impact and strengthening long-term financial sustainability, HAI is integrating Cross Cultural Interpreting Services (CCIS) as a new, mission-aligned line of business. CCIS provides professional interpretation and translation services that help healthcare providers, businesses, and community organizations overcome language and cultural barriers. By expanding these services and reaching new markets, CCIS will advance equitable access to essential services while generating earned revenue to support HAI's broader mission. This exciting new chapter presents an opportunity to help grow an established service business while directly contributing to the financial sustainability and social impact of a global human rights organization.

Summary: The Sales Associate is responsible for day-to-day sales and account activities for Cross Cultural Interpreting Services (CCIS), including identifying and responding to requests for proposals (RFPs), developing new telephonic, video, and on-site service accounts, contacting leads, supporting implementation of accounts, and providing ongoing account management.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Sales, RFP & Business Development

Actively prospect hospitals, medical centers, schools, legal firms, social service agencies, and other organizations with language-service needs.

Generate and cultivate new business leads while maintaining accurate, up-to-date prospect and customer information within Salesforce and other lead management databases.

Respond to inquiries made through the website, email or phone.

Actively search for business opportunities through RFPs and other bidding opportunities for language services.

Register as a vendor in local, state, federal, and private-industry bidding systems to receive notifications for bids and proposals.

Prepare and submit responses to RFPs by coordinating with team members to obtain information necessary for proposals and confirm requirements can be met.

Maintain and enhance the RFP database.

Participate in planning and monitoring sales and marketing strategy and coordinate strategy with the Program Director.

Client Account Management

Support the transition of CCIS services into the HAI framework, from its previous owner, including supporting efforts to maintain current client portfolio during the transition.

Conduct regular follow-up with new accounts, cross-sell services, and provide ongoing support.

Ensure client contact information is updated in Salesforce and any other databases.

Maintain regular, professional communication with CCIS clients by responding to sales-related inquiries via phone, email and web channels to ensure high-quality customer services

Analyze reports on client usage volumes and complaints to identify accounts needing attention.

Contract Implementation, Reporting & Administration

Implement new accounts and awarded RFP’s through coordination with the Program Coordinator

Send contracts and work with team members on contracting processes.

Produce reports on sales, prospecting, and RFP activity.

Assist with monthly customer invoicing and email invoices to customers.

Compliance & Team Collaboration

Participates in after-hours on-call rotation schedule (phone/email coverage).

Participates in weekly team meetings.

Provides backup interpreter scheduling support as needed.

Adhere to applicable professional standards, organizational policies, contractual requirements and program guidelines.

Participate in required training and development activities to maintain compliance and strengthen job-related skills.

Collaborate with team members to support business objectives and operational priorities.

Support special projects and perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Required

High school diploma or equivalent

Minimum of three (3) years of related experience in sales, business development, account management, proposal development or related field

Preferred

Associate or bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications or related field

Experience with CRM such as Salesforce

Experience with RFP’s and lead generation.

Experience with language services, healthcare, or professional service industries

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A):

Travel: Ability to make account visits throughout Chicago and the suburbs; approximately 5-10% travel for account visits.

Licenses and Transportation: Position may require use of an employee’s personal vehicle during work hours.

Computer Skills: Demonstrated high degree of computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Outlook, and Excel, and database software. Salesforce or similar CRM software experience preferred. Familiarity with or understanding of language-based translation and interpretation industry terminology may be required.

Language Skills: Ability to write reports, correspondence, and instructions. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from staff, managers, participants, vendors, and the general public.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common-sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to address problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Work Environment: HAI has a dynamic and collaborative work environment. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing

Sit, reach with arms and work with hands to operate computers or equipment

Stand, walk, climb stairs, and may need to kneel or crouch to access workspace equipment

May occasionally need to lift or move items up to 10 pounds

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Heartland Alliance International makes all hiring and employment decisions, and operates all programs, services, and functions without regard to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable militar