Design Manager Jobs in Illinois

Design Manager jobs in Illinois are in steady demand, with concentrations in product design, UX/UI, brand identity, and architectural or interior design across Chicago's dense creative economy, as well as growing pockets in Rockford and the suburban Chicagoland corridor. The market ranges from associate-level positions at agencies and startups to senior design manager roles overseeing large in-house teams at established corporations. Major employers with a lasting Illinois presence include McDonald's, Motorola Solutions, and Kraft Heinz, all of which maintain active design teams at their headquarters. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles65
Top employerBaxter & Woodman
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring25
Work type47% Hybrid
Top industryConstruction

Showing 5 of 65+ Design Manager jobs

F.H. Paschen
Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) Project Manager
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F.H. Paschen
Added 3d ago
Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) Project Manager
F.H. Paschen
Chicago, Illinois
Creative & Design
Product Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$105k - $150k/yr
Bachelor's degree in construction management
201-500

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JPMorganChase
Payments-Digital & Design-Client Solutions Architect Manager-Vice President
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JPMorganChase
Added 3d ago
Payments-Digital & Design-Client Solutions Architect Manager-Vice President
JPMorganChase
Chicago, Illinois
Business Development
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$114k - $180k/yr
10,000+

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Walgreens
Program/Project Manager Design and Construction
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Walgreens
Added 6d ago
Program/Project Manager Design and Construction
Walgreens
Deerfield, Illinois
Business Operations
Customer Service
Customer Success
$100k - $175k/yr
High school diploma or GED
10,000+

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Invenergy
Manager, Instructional Design & Learning Effectiveness
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Invenergy
Added 1w ago
Manager, Instructional Design & Learning Effectiveness
Invenergy
Chicago, Illinois
Business Operations
Customer Service & Support
Logistics & Fleet Management
Project Management
$118k - $139k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree
1,001-5,000

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GFT
Transit Planning & Design Program Manager
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GFT
Added 1w ago
Transit Planning & Design Program Manager
GFT
Chicago, Illinois
Business Operations
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Project Management
$240k - $260k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in business
5,001-10,000

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See All 65 Design Manager Jobs in Illinois

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

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Design Manager Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Oak Brook
3 jobs
Byron
1 job
Aurora
1 job
Itasca
1 job
Mokena
1 job
Clinton
1 job
Lombard
1 job
Oglesby
1 job

Design Manager Job Market in Illinois

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

Who's Hiring

Baxter & Woodman
Baxter & Woodman5 open roles
JLL
JLL3 open roles
AECOM
AECOM2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Construction & Real Estate
  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Energy
  • Banking & Financial Services
  • Healthcare & Medical Services

What Illinois Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's degree in graphic design, industrial design, UX, or a related creative field
  • Five or more years of design experience with at least two years in a leadership capacity
  • Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional teams and creative workflows end to end
  • Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, or Sketch
  • Experience translating business objectives into design strategy and measurable outcomes
  • Strong portfolio showcasing both hands-on design work and team-led project results

Design Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a design manager in Illinois?

The most direct path is earning a bachelor's degree in a design discipline, then building several years of hands-on design experience before stepping into a lead or senior individual-contributor role. Illinois has no state-issued license for design managers, so employers focus on portfolio strength, demonstrated leadership, and relevant credentials such as a Project Management Professional certificate or a Certified User Experience Professional designation. Chicago's large agency and corporate headquarters market gives candidates strong options for building that track early in their careers.

How much do design managers make in Illinois?

Design managers in Illinois earn a median of about $103,550 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $69,200 for the lowest 10% to over $172,050 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire design managers in Illinois?

Employers hiring design managers in Illinois right now include Baxter & Woodman, JLL, and AECOM, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters and established creative agencies in the Chicago metro means consistent demand across both in-house corporate teams and client-facing studio environments.

Which Illinois cities have the most design manager jobs?

Chicago, Oak Brook, and Illinois have the most design manager openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the majority of listings because it houses the corporate headquarters of major brands alongside a large independent agency ecosystem, while suburban areas like Schaumburg and Downers Grove contribute openings tied to regional offices of national and global companies with design functions.

Are there remote design manager jobs in Illinois?

Yes, and more than many fields, because design management relies heavily on digital collaboration tools and distributed creative workflows. About 71% of design manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how normalized flexible arrangements have become in this field. Strategy, stakeholder communication, and design review functions adapt well to remote settings, while roles overseeing physical product or environmental design tend to require more on-site presence.

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

The most realistic entry path is moving into a junior or mid-level design role at a Chicago-area agency or corporate in-house team and taking on informal leadership responsibilities such as mentoring, running critiques, or coordinating project timelines. Large Illinois employers like Motorola Solutions and Kraft Heinz recruit entry-level designers who grow into lead roles internally. Building a portfolio that shows process thinking alongside finished work, and pairing it with a UX or project management credential, gives candidates a measurable edge when applying for a first formal management title.

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

You can find and apply to design manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings from employers actively hiring. Find roles that fit your experience and specialty, then apply directly to each one.

See All 65 Design Manager Jobs in Illinois

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

Find Design Manager Jobs