Demo

Senior Account Executive

Waste Management
Melrose, IL Full Time
POSTED ON 8/7/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 9/5/2026


I. Job Summary

The Senior Account Executive (SAE) role is responsible for prospecting and closing sales to new customers to achieve budgeted sales goals. This position develops and implements sound selling strategies that ensure revenue growth at target or greater profitability levels by selling to new customers. Additionally, the role is responsible for managing existing business relationships in order to achieve budgeted sales and price goals by developing and implementing sound retention strategies, utilizing strong negotiation efforts to preserve business, and securing contract agreements from previously non-contracted customers. The Senior Account Executive will "save, secure, and convert" by handling all customer cancellation requests, providing ongoing education of contract details to existing customers, and by obtaining customer contract commitments during face-to-face interactions. All customer service escalations within the defined territory will be resolved through this position. SAEs are responsible for maintaining and growing billable value in their assigned accounts.

II. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
 

  • Senior Account Executives are responsible for maintaining and growing billable value in their assigned accounts; preventing customer account losses and growing billable value by selling permanent new waste streams, new services, and new products to current and prospective customers.
  • Initiate business-to-business sales relationships.
  • Responsible for prospecting and closing sales opportunities to achieve budgeted sales goals by developing and implementing sound selling strategies.
  • Manage prospects by developing sound prospect development plans and maintaining key information in the prospect database. Maintain sales pipeline (both in terms of quantity and quality) to achieve new sales goals.
  • Minimize most revenue and accounts by maintaining SSDO relationship health standards and diffusing cancellation requests. Meet or exceed sales call activity goals for proactive account retention.
  • Increase revenue and profitability by executing sound plans on retention calls to improve the customers' service and/or profitability.
  • Establish and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
  • Propose customer solutions that comply with appropriate local, state and federal regulations. Communicate to and work with the Area Sales Managers to resolve unique customer issues.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of customers' needs, pricing and competition; effectively communicate pricing and service strategies; proactively engage other WM business opportunities, referring internally as appropriate.
  • Acquire in-depth industry and company knowledge in order to prepare complex proposals and make recommendations on equipment optimization and leasing options.
  • Maintain current knowledge of internal sale strategies and operational capabilities, and external market trends.
  • Work closely and effectively communicate with Plant Managers and Brokerage Account Managers to assist in upgrading materials to increase profitability and achieve plant goals.


III. Qualifications 

A. Required Qualifications 
 

  • Bachelor's Degree (accredited) or in lieu of degree
  • High School Diploma or GED (accredited) and 4 years of relative work experience
  • 4 years of work experience in direct business-to-business sales, business-to-business cold calling, and phone based business-to-business prospecting resulting in successfully obtaining customer appointments (in addition to education requirement)


B. Preferred Qualifications 


IV. Physical Requirements

Listed below are key points regarding physical demands, physical and occupational risks, and the work environment of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Office: This job primarily operates in a professional office environment and routinely requires the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copy machines, etc.
 

PAY: The expected base pay range for this hybrid position is $70,000-$75,000. This range represents good faith estimate for this position. The specific salary offered to a successful candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate's relevant experience, education, training, certifications, qualifications, and work location. In addition, this position is eligible for monthly commission.

V. Benefits 
At WM, each eligible employee receives a competitive total compensation package that includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short-term disability. In addition, we offer a stock purchase plan, company matching on a 401(k), and more. Employees also receive paid vacation, holidays, and personal days. Please note that benefits may vary by site. 

 

If this sounds like the opportunity that you have been looking for, please click Apply.

ABOUT WM

WM (WM.com) is North America's leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions. Previously known as Waste Management and based in Houston, Texas, WM is driven by commitments to put people first and achieve success with integrity. The company, through its subsidiaries, provides collection, recycling and disposal services to millions of residential, commercial, industrial, medical and municipal customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. With innovative infrastructure and capabilities in recycling, organics and renewable energy, WM provides environmental solutions to and collaborates with its customers in helping them pursue their sustainability goals. WM has the largest disposal network and collection fleet in North America, is the largest recycler of postconsumer materials and is a leader in beneficial use of landfill gas, with a growing network of renewable natural gas plants and the most landfill gastoelectricity plants in North America. WM's fleet includes more than 12,000 natural gas trucks - the largest heavyduty natural gas truck fleet in the industry in North America. Healthcare Solutions provides collection and disposal services of regulated medical waste, as well as secure information destruction services, in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. To learn more about WM and the company's sustainability progress and solutions, visit Sustainability.WM.com.

Equal Employment Opportunity

For United States:  WM is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

For Canada:  WM is committed to the principle of equal employment for all applicants and employees, without discrimination on the basis of all grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please notify us if you require accommodation.

Real ID

In order to travel by air or access federal property, federal law requires individuals have a REAL ID or an acceptable alternative. This position may require the successful candidate to travel by air for business reasons or service federal property. Accordingly, successful candidates must have, or be willing to obtain, a REAL ID or TSAapproved alternative.

What is the value of a WM job? At WM we know that the value of a WM job is more than a paycheck. It's a way to create opportunities for you and your family. This is why we are constantly working to make WM a great place to work and grow a career. We Are WM is what defines the perks of being in the WM family - from benefits, to resources and engagement activities. 

We are People First. We are Committed to Your Growth. We Are Investing in You. We are a Family. We are Stable. We are Always Working for a Sustainable Tomorrow. 

Salary : $70,000 - $75,000

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