Clinical Research Manager Jobs in Illinois

Clinical Research Manager jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, concentrated in pharmaceutical R&D, academic medical centers, and contract research organizations, with openings at every level from entry-level coordinator-to-manager transitions through senior site and program management. Chicago, Deerfield, and Gurnee anchor most of the hiring, with major employers like AbbVie, Baxter International, and University of Chicago Medicine maintaining consistent clinical research manager rosters. The most sought-after specialties are oncology trials management, device and biologics studies, and multi-site coordination. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles69
Top employerRush University Medical Center
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring19
Work type71% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 69+ Clinical Research Manager jobs

Patient Recruitment Coordinator (Clinical Research)
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Added 3d ago
Patient Recruitment Coordinator (Clinical Research)
Koch Family Medicine
Morton, Illinois
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
$22 - $28/hr
On-Site

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Clinical Research Nurse
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Added 4d ago
Clinical Research Nurse
VIVA
Chicago, Illinois
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials
Healthcare Administration
Research & Academia
$40 - $45/hr
Bachelor of Science
11-50

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Clinical Research Coordinator III - IM Rheumatology - Full-time
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Added 5d ago
Clinical Research Coordinator III - IM Rheumatology - Full-time
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials
Research & Academia
$29.36 - $42.61/hr
Bachelor's degree

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Clinical Research Nurse
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Added 5d ago
Clinical Research Nurse
Northwestern Medicine
Orland Park, Illinois
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials
Healthcare Administration
Research & Academia
$40.5 - $64.8/hr
Master's degree in nursing
10,000+

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Senior Clinical Research Coordinator - Gurnee, IL
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Added 6d ago
Senior Clinical Research Coordinator - Gurnee, IL
Iterative Health
Gurnee, Illinois
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
Consulting & Professional Services
Human Resources
Associate's degree
201-500

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See All 69 Clinical Research Manager Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Clinical Research Manager Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Chicago
35 jobs
Peoria
7 jobs
Streeterville
5 jobs
River
3 jobs
Morton
2 jobs
Evanston
2 jobs
Orland Park
2 jobs
Gurnee
1 job
Oak Lawn
1 job

Clinical Research Manager Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Rush University Medical Center13
  • Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago8
  • OSF HealthCare6
  • The University of Chicago6
  • IQVIA5

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services11
  • Education6
  • Transportation & Logistics1

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in clinical research manager jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's degree in life sciences, nursing, or a related clinical field required
  • ACRP or SOCRA certification (CCRC, CCRP, or CCRA) strongly preferred by Illinois employers
  • Minimum three to five years of clinical trial coordination or site management experience
  • Demonstrated knowledge of ICH-GCP guidelines and FDA regulatory requirements
  • Experience managing cross-functional teams and CRO or sponsor relationships
  • Proficiency with clinical trial management systems such as Medidata Rave or Veeva Vault

Clinical Research Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a clinical research manager in Illinois?

The typical path in Illinois starts with a bachelor's degree in a life sciences or healthcare field, followed by hands-on clinical trial experience as a coordinator or associate. Illinois does not require a state-issued license specific to clinical research, but employers consistently favor nationally recognized credentials: the CCRC or CCRA from ACRP, or the CCRP from SOCRA. Academic medical centers and large pharma employers in the Chicago metro treat these credentials as near-requirements for manager-level roles.

Which companies hire clinical research managers in Illinois?

Employers hiring clinical research managers in Illinois right now include Rush University Medical Center, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, and OSF HealthCare, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Illinois's dense concentration of global pharmaceutical headquarters, hospital-based research programs, and contract research organizations makes it one of the more active states for this role year-round.

Which Illinois cities have the most clinical research manager jobs?

Chicago, Peoria, and Streeterville account for the most clinical research manager openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the largest share through its hospital systems and academic medical centers, while Deerfield and the northern suburbs reflect the headquarters presence of companies like AbbVie and Baxter, which maintain large clinical operations teams outside the city proper.

Are there remote clinical research manager jobs in Illinois?

Yes, and more than many clinical roles, because the oversight, budgeting, and vendor management work of a research manager can be done off-site even when trial execution is on-site. About 29% of clinical research manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, with the remote-eligible positions most often covering program-level oversight, regulatory affairs coordination, and CRO relationship management rather than direct site monitoring.

How can I get hired as a clinical research manager in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is moving into a clinical research coordinator role first, then building toward manager responsibilities over one to three years. Large Illinois health systems such as Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, and UI Health regularly post coordinator openings that serve as a direct pipeline into management. Earning a CCRC credential early signals readiness for the next level. Adjacent roles in regulatory affairs, data management, or project coordination at a CRO or pharma company also create a credible lateral path into research management.

Where can I find and apply to clinical research manager jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to clinical research manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and target metro, and apply directly to each employer through the posting.

See All 69 Clinical Research Manager Jobs in Illinois

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