Group Leader Jobs in Illinois
Group Leader jobs in Illinois are concentrated in manufacturing, social services, education, and healthcare, with demand at every level from entry-level team leads to senior program managers overseeing large-scale operations. Chicago, Rockford, and Aurora are among the most active hiring markets, anchored by major employers such as Abbott, Caterpillar, and Advocate Health. The most in-demand specialties include production group leaders in industrial settings, youth program leaders in community and nonprofit organizations, and clinical group leaders in integrated health systems. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 12+ Group Leader jobs
- Direct supervision of technicians, Team Leaders, and Team Members
- Responsible for training, developing, teaching, and evaluating employees
- Maintains a high-quality relationship with production managers regarding schedules and needed support
- Performs and teaches all processes and assignment within the department with the ability to fill in as needed
- Support and participate in pilot programs and change activities
- Monitoring and control of capital and expense spending
- Determine team member activity including recommendation of hiring, firing, performance, wage, and salary reviews
- May perform other duties as assigned
- Plans and establishes body shop team agenda and ensures performance scheduling
- Works with the Body Shop Manager to identify and implement processes, equipment, and functional improvements to achieve operational excellence
- 3-5 years of experience in high-volume manufacturing environment with leadership experience; or a combination of experience and education
- Deep understanding of automotive assembly processes, takt time, and assembly line balancing.
- Familiarity with automotive quality management systems and standards (e.g., IATF 16949, ISO 9001, PPAP, APQP).
- Experience tracking, analyzing, and improving manufacturing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), scrap rates, downtime, and throughput.
- Demonstrated project management skills
- Engineering or Technical bachelor’s degree is preferred
- Ability to stand for 8-12 hours per day
- Required to walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
- Ability to lift and carry at least 25 pounds
- Ability to perform all duties in a working environment that may contain dust, high noise levels, hot and cold weather
- Direct supervision of technicians, Team Leaders, and Team Members
- Responsible for training, developing, teaching, and evaluating employees
- Maintains a high-quality relationship with production managers regarding schedules and needed support
- Performs and teaches all processes and assignment within the department with the ability to fill in as needed
- Support and participate in pilot programs and change activities
- Monitoring and control of capital and expense spending
- Determine team member activity including recommendation of hiring, firing, performance, wage, and salary reviews
- May perform other duties as assigned
- Plans and establishes body shop team agenda and ensures performance scheduling
- Works with the Body Shop Manager to identify and implement processes, equipment, and functional improvements to achieve operational excellence
- 3-5 years of experience in high-volume manufacturing environment with leadership experience; or a combination of experience and education
- Deep understanding of automotive assembly processes, takt time, and assembly line balancing.
- Familiarity with automotive quality management systems and standards (e.g., IATF 16949, ISO 9001, PPAP, APQP).
- Experience tracking, analyzing, and improving manufacturing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), scrap rates, downtime, and throughput.
- Demonstrated project management skills
- Engineering or Technical bachelor’s degree is preferred
- Ability to stand for 8-12 hours per day
- Required to walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
- Ability to lift and carry at least 25 pounds
- Ability to perform all duties in a working environment that may contain dust, high noise levels, hot and cold weather
See All 12 Group Leader Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Group Leader JobsGroup Leader Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Group Leader Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in group leader jobs across Illinois.
- Minimum two years of supervisory or team leadership experience in a relevant Illinois industry setting
- Bachelor's degree in business, human services, education, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated ability to coach, evaluate, and develop direct reports in a team environment
- Proficiency with scheduling, performance tracking, and workforce management tools or software
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for reporting to management and coordinating with cross-functional teams
- CPR or first aid certification preferred for group leader roles in healthcare or community services
Group Leader Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a group leader in Illinois?
The path to becoming a group leader in Illinois depends on the sector. In manufacturing and corporate environments, employers typically require a combination of relevant experience and a bachelor's degree, with no state license required. In human services or youth programs, Illinois employers often expect a credential aligned with the program type, such as a Child Development credential issued through the Illinois Department of Human Services. Building experience in a lead associate or senior technician role first is the most common entry point.
Which companies hire group leaders in Illinois?
Companies currently hiring group leaders in Illinois include Rich Products, Rivian, and GFT, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's mix of large manufacturers, integrated health networks, and nonprofit social service agencies means group leader openings appear across a wide range of industries throughout the state.
Which Illinois cities have the most group leader jobs?
Crest Hill, Normal, and Niles have the most group leader openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the largest share of listings given its concentration of corporate headquarters, major hospital systems, and nonprofit organizations, while suburban and secondary cities like Rockford and Aurora reflect strong manufacturing and distribution employer bases that consistently need frontline leaders.
Are there remote group leader jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're limited. Group leader roles are typically hands-on and tied to a physical team, production line, or program site, which makes fully remote work uncommon. About 33% of group leader openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with those exceptions most often appearing in education technology, training coordination, or administrative program management functions.
How can I get hired as a group leader in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a lead associate, senior technician, or program coordinator role at a large Illinois employer and building supervisory experience from there. Employers like Advocate Health, Caterpillar, and Illinois-based community service organizations run new-professional and development programs that place candidates into structured leadership tracks. Completing a relevant credential, such as an Illinois youth worker certification through the Department of Human Services, strengthens applications where formal supervisory experience is limited.
Where can I find and apply to group leader jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to group leader jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring in the state right now. Search the listings to find roles that match your background, then apply directly to the ones that fit your experience and location.
See All 12 Group Leader Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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