Channel Manager Jobs in Illinois
Channel Manager jobs in Illinois are active and competitive, with demand concentrated in technology, manufacturing distribution, and enterprise software sectors and openings at every level from associate channel coordinator through senior director. Chicago anchors the bulk of hiring, with additional opportunity in Schaumburg and Downers Grove, where companies like CDW, Zebra Technologies, and Motorola Solutions have long maintained channel and partner sales operations. The most sought-after specialties in Illinois are partner enablement, VAR program management, and SaaS channel development. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 31+ Channel Manager jobs
Opportunity with Mars to shape growth strategy for Mars’ Foodservice business!
Mars Foodservice is a division of Mars, Incorporated, specializing in meeting the needs of foodservice professionals. As a market leader with a variety of powerful brands, Mars Foodservice delivers trusted products and culinary expertise to meet consumer tastes and operator needs.
This high-impactManager, Foodservice Channel Intelligence role owns primary research, syndicated and secondary intelligence, and trend foresight. This person will work closely with cross-functional leadership teams on strategic initiatives and identify opportunities that inform commercial strategy, innovation, portfolio decisions, sales enablement, and category growth.
This is a full-time position based in Chicago, IL with a hybrid work schedule. Mars is seeking an individual contributor to serve as the voice of the Foodservice, Vending, and Unattended Retail Operator, Consumer, Shopper, and Marketplace. This role generates actionable insights and future-focused intelligence to influence decisions in the Mars’ Foodservice (aka Away From Home) business.
What will be your key responsibilities?
- Leading qualitative and quantitative primary research with foodservice, vending, and unattended retail decision makers.
- Driving the understanding of the opportunities at the intersection of operator and consumer needs; developing solutions that address both needs and demand.
- Synthesizing multiple sources of information and translating insights into actionable business recommendations.
- Partnering closely with Sales, Innovation, Category, and Portfolio teams to support strategic planning, growth initiatives, and sales enablement.
- Developing forward-looking perspectives that help the business anticipate change and inform strategic priorities.
- Generating compelling, insight-led stories that strengthen customer engagement.
- Bachelors degree in a related field is required; MBA/Graduate-level degree a plus.
- 5 years of professional experience in mixed-methods market research, across shopper, consumer, and/or B2B insights.
- Experience leading qualitative and quantitative primary research projects (including planning focus groups and surveys).
- Expertise effectively leveraging secondary research and syndicated data.
- Strong communication, storytelling, and stakeholder-management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze data and convert insights into successful business recommendations and actions.
- Confidence in serving as a trusted advisor on foodservice operators, consumers, trends, and future growth opportunities for the business unit.
- 5 or more years of experience in Consumer Insights Research, with a high preference for experience inFoodservicechannels.
- Experience conducting mixed-methods research with both business decision makers and consumers.
- Familiarity with syndicated and industry intelligence sources (such as Circana, Technomic, Datassential, or Mintel).
- Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
- Join a purpose driven company, where we are striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
- A strong focus on learning and development from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
- An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting: USD 119,040.00 - USD 163,680.00
Opportunity with Mars to shape growth strategy for Mars’ Foodservice business!
Mars Foodservice is a division of Mars, Incorporated, specializing in meeting the needs of foodservice professionals. As a market leader with a variety of powerful brands, Mars Foodservice delivers trusted products and culinary expertise to meet consumer tastes and operator needs.
This high-impactManager, Foodservice Channel Intelligence role owns primary research, syndicated and secondary intelligence, and trend foresight. This person will work closely with cross-functional leadership teams on strategic initiatives and identify opportunities that inform commercial strategy, innovation, portfolio decisions, sales enablement, and category growth.
This is a full-time position based in Chicago, IL with a hybrid work schedule. Mars is seeking an individual contributor to serve as the voice of the Foodservice, Vending, and Unattended Retail Operator, Consumer, Shopper, and Marketplace. This role generates actionable insights and future-focused intelligence to influence decisions in the Mars’ Foodservice (aka Away From Home) business.
What will be your key responsibilities?
- Leading qualitative and quantitative primary research with foodservice, vending, and unattended retail decision makers.
- Driving the understanding of the opportunities at the intersection of operator and consumer needs; developing solutions that address both needs and demand.
- Synthesizing multiple sources of information and translating insights into actionable business recommendations.
- Partnering closely with Sales, Innovation, Category, and Portfolio teams to support strategic planning, growth initiatives, and sales enablement.
- Developing forward-looking perspectives that help the business anticipate change and inform strategic priorities.
- Generating compelling, insight-led stories that strengthen customer engagement.
- Bachelors degree in a related field is required; MBA/Graduate-level degree a plus.
- 5 years of professional experience in mixed-methods market research, across shopper, consumer, and/or B2B insights.
- Experience leading qualitative and quantitative primary research projects (including planning focus groups and surveys).
- Expertise effectively leveraging secondary research and syndicated data.
- Strong communication, storytelling, and stakeholder-management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze data and convert insights into successful business recommendations and actions.
- Confidence in serving as a trusted advisor on foodservice operators, consumers, trends, and future growth opportunities for the business unit.
- 5 or more years of experience in Consumer Insights Research, with a high preference for experience inFoodservicechannels.
- Experience conducting mixed-methods research with both business decision makers and consumers.
- Familiarity with syndicated and industry intelligence sources (such as Circana, Technomic, Datassential, or Mintel).
- Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
- Join a purpose driven company, where we are striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
- A strong focus on learning and development from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
- An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting: USD 119,040.00 - USD 163,680.00
See All 31 Channel Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Channel Manager JobsChannel Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Channel Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consumer Goods
- Food & Beverage
- Electronics & Hardware
- Distribution & Wholesale
- Banking & Financial Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in channel manager jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field required
- Proven experience managing reseller, distributor, or VAR partner relationships
- Familiarity with CRM platforms such as Salesforce for pipeline tracking and reporting
- Ability to develop and execute joint business plans with channel partners
- Strong presentation and negotiation skills for partner recruitment and retention
- Experience with channel incentive programs, MDF management, or co-op funds preferred
Channel Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a channel manager in Illinois?
Channel manager is not a state-licensed role in Illinois, so there is no board exam or registration required. Most Illinois employers expect a bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or communications, combined with prior experience in sales or partner-facing roles. Candidates who build familiarity with Illinois-based technology distribution ecosystems, particularly in the Chicago metro's dense VAR and managed services market, and earn vendor certifications from major partners like Microsoft or Cisco, stand out most consistently.
Which companies hire channel managers in Illinois?
Employers hiring channel managers in Illinois right now include Bosch, Chervon North America, and GSK, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of technology headquarters and national distribution centers in the Chicago metro area makes it one of the more active states for channel and partner sales roles year-round.
Which Illinois cities have the most channel manager jobs?
Chicago, Illinois, and Naperville are the Illinois cities with the most channel manager openings. Chicago drives the majority of demand as the state's dominant corporate and technology hub, while Schaumburg and Downers Grove are significant because established technology companies like CDW and Zebra Technologies operate major channel sales operations in Chicago's northwest and western suburbs.
Are there remote channel manager jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than most sales roles, since channel management is relationship- and communication-driven work that translates well to remote settings. About 91% of channel manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026. Partner enablement, program management, and inside channel sales roles tend to be the most remote-friendly, while field-facing partner development roles often require in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a channel manager in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving from an inside sales or sales operations role into a junior channel coordinator or partner support position. Large Illinois technology employers like CDW and Motorola Solutions regularly hire associate-level channel roles that prioritize partner communication skills over direct channel experience. Earning a vendor certification from a major software or hardware brand and gaining exposure to Salesforce or similar CRM platforms gives candidates a clear edge when applying to these entry positions.
Where can I find and apply to channel manager jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to channel manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings from employers actively hiring. Find roles that match your experience and location and apply directly from each listing.
See All 31 Channel Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Channel Manager Jobs