Business Unit Manager Jobs in Illinois
Business unit manager jobs in Illinois are consistently active, with the strongest demand concentrated in manufacturing, financial services, healthcare operations, and logistics, and openings at every level from associate manager through senior director. Chicago anchors the market, but Rockford, Peoria, and the broader Chicago suburbs generate significant hiring through companies like Caterpillar, Allstate, and Abbott Laboratories, all of which maintain long-term Illinois operations requiring business unit leadership at scale. The most in-demand specialties are operations management, P&L ownership, and cross-functional team leadership within industrial and corporate environments. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Senior Manager, Business Unit Systems (Hybrid)
Chicago, IL
The American Medical Association (AMA) is the nation's largest professional Association of physicians and a non-profit organization. We are a unifying voice and powerful ally for America's physicians, the patients they care for, and the promise of a healthier nation. To be part of the AMA is to be part of our Mission to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.
At AMA, our mission to improve the health of the nation starts with our people. We foster an inclusive, people-first culture where every employee is empowered to perform at their best. Together, we advance meaningful change in health care and the communities we serve.
We encourage and support professional development for our employees, and we are dedicated to social responsibility. We invite you to learn more about us and we look forward to getting to know you.
We have an opportunity at our corporate offices in Chicago for a Senior Manager, Business Unit Systems (Hybrid) on our Publishing team. This is a hybrid position reporting into our Chicago, IL office, requiring 3 days a week in the office.
This role is responsible for managing the advertising technology ecosystem across multiple vendor and system partnerships supporting revenue, growth, and strategic initiatives for the JAMA Network journals and products. Function as a hybrid Database Manager / Engineer bridging the gap between disparate data sources and systems, both maintaining and enhancing the internal tech stack while designing and implementing integrations and solutions in support of automation. Lead and manage direct reports so that all technology works effectively within the ecosystem and operates under the principle of continuous improvement. Follow established enterprise review and approval processes for technologies and related standards, collaborating with IT, OGC, and Risk Management to ensure alignment with enterprise architecture, security, and data and AI strategy.
Responsibilities:
Advertising Systems Management 60%
- Manage the Naviga platform and related advertising technology systems including upgrades, data interchanges, revenue reporting, and APIs. Work with staff to ensure all business needs and requirements are met pertaining to business models, rate implementation, data and audience segmentation, workflows, integrations, invoicing, and reporting. Train staff when necessary.
- Ensure supported systems and vendor activities comply with AMA security policies and support a wide array of end users: Naviga System Support (end user), Naviga Data Analysis (reporting) including data delivery that feeds the AMA’s financial system.
- Support new product implementations, technology consulting engagements, and technology assessments by serving as the technical lead for vendor partnerships and projects, including aligning revenue objectives with vendor functionality and performance.
- Employ continuous improvement principles with hands-on engineering, including leveraging AI tools, to provide a sound advertising technology ecosystem that supports revenue growth and high efficiency.
- Serve as lead in the AMA IT relationship and ensure that all organizational standards are met while advancing department needs requiring enterprise support.
- Keep abreast of technical, system, and advertising industry changes, advising Director on same.
- Maintain documentation on systems and procedures.
Organizational Responsibilities 20%
- Support Director with operational recommendations and technology initiatives supporting revenue reporting, order fulfillment, sales channels, online presence, and customer success.
- Prepare technical capital and operational budgets.
- Responsible for forecasting and then managing technology costs to budget, reducing expenditure where possible.
- Support Director as needed in RFPs and negotiations, including contract reviews.
Staff Management 20%
- Lead, mentor, and provide management oversight for staff.
- Responsible for setting objectives, evaluating employee performance, and fostering a collaborative team environment.
- Responsible for developing staff knowledge and skills to support career development.
May include other responsibilities as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent work experience and HS diploma/equivalent education required, a Technology discipline preferred.
- 7+ years experience in revenue database administration, advertising/media order entry systems, ad technology, revenue reporting, CRM, and working with multiple vendor-supported systems.
- Experience in people management required; able to attract and develop talent.
- Strong technical knowledge particularly in revenue focused databases and ad tech.
- Knowledge of publishing environments, particularly scientific/technical/medical a plus.
- Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional relationships with vendors and internal stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate systems and recommend system upgrades and workflow improvements.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills are required.
This role is an exempt position, and the salary range for this position is $119,074 - 157,855. This is the lowest to highest salary we believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s pay within the salary range will be determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to business consideration and geographical location, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience. Employees are also eligible to participate in an incentive plan. To learn more about the American Medical Association’s benefits offerings, please click here.
We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity in our workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. As an EOE/AA employer, the American Medical Association will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and veteran or disability status.
THE AMA IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF THE NATION
See All 6 Business Unit Manager Jobs in Illinois
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Find Business Unit Manager JobsBusiness Unit Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Business Unit Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
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What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in business unit manager jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations, or a related field required
- Five or more years of progressive leadership experience managing teams or business units
- Demonstrated P&L responsibility and experience meeting financial performance targets
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills across sales, finance, and operations
- Proficiency with ERP platforms such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics
- Experience presenting strategic plans and performance metrics to senior leadership
Business Unit Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a business unit manager in Illinois?
Most Illinois employers require a bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field, with a master's degree preferred for senior roles at large corporate employers. No state-issued license is required for this role in Illinois. The typical path moves through team lead or operations supervisor positions before advancing to business unit oversight, and candidates who build experience with P&L management and cross-functional leadership in Illinois's manufacturing, financial services, or healthcare sectors move fastest.
How much do business unit managers make in Illinois?
Business unit managers in Illinois earn a median of about $103,570 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $53,240 for the lowest 10% to over $269,320 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire business unit managers in Illinois?
Employers hiring business unit managers in Illinois right now include Novolex, Nutreco, and CVS Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's deep concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters and major industrial operations means business unit manager hiring here tends to favor candidates with experience in high-complexity, multi-site environments.
Which Illinois cities have the most business unit manager jobs?
Chicago, Highland, and Wood Dale have the most business unit manager openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the volume through its dense concentration of corporate headquarters, financial institutions, and logistics hubs, while cities like Peoria and Rockford reflect strong demand from industrial and manufacturing employers such as Caterpillar and major healthcare systems anchored in those metros.
Are there remote business unit manager jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're less common than fully on-site roles because business unit managers typically oversee teams, facilities, or operational functions that require regular in-person presence. About 100% of business unit manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026. The functions most likely to allow remote or hybrid arrangements are those in financial services, technology operations, and corporate strategy rather than manufacturing or distribution.
How can I get hired as a business unit manager in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving up from an operations supervisor, team lead, or department coordinator role at a large Illinois employer, then taking on budget or performance accountability before pursuing a business unit manager title formally. Companies like Caterpillar, Advocate Health, and major logistics firms operating out of the Chicago area and I-80 corridor regularly promote internal candidates into management roles. Building experience with financial reporting, team oversight, and cross-functional projects positions a candidate ahead of others without a formal management title on their resume.
Where can I find and apply to business unit manager jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to business unit manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to Illinois locations. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and target area, and apply directly to the positions that fit.
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