Merchandising Manager Jobs in Illinois
Merchandising Manager jobs in Illinois are consistently active across retail, consumer packaged goods, and wholesale distribution, with openings at every level from entry-level merchandise coordinator through senior director of merchandising. Chicago anchors the market as a national retail and CPG headquarters hub, while Schaumburg and Downers Grove host significant corporate buying and planning operations. Well-known employers with lasting Illinois footprints include Walgreens, Sears Holdings legacy operations absorbed by newer players, and PepsiCo's Chicago-area divisions, with the strongest demand in category management, planogram execution, and private-label development. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Your Role at Dollar Tree:
As a Merchandise Assistant Manager at Dollar Tree, you’ll join our Store Manager in leading a dynamic team of associates and creating positive experiences for the communities we serve. In this role, you’ll focus on merchandising and processing freight.
Your job duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:
Assist with all store functions and day-to-day activities
Perform opening and closing procedures as needed
Protect and secure company assets, including store cash
Adhere to all policies and procedures, including safety guidelines
Maintain areas of the store, including stockroom and sales floor, to company standards
Process all corporate directives such as Pull and Hold/Destroy, Task Compliance, Key Survey information requests, and any additional communications related to store activities
Responsible for maintaining the cleanliness throughout the store, including cleaning and restocking bathrooms, sweeping and mopping floors, taking out the trash, and ensuring all areas are neat and presentable
Ensure a positive, safe, and respectful environment while maintaining professional and friendly interactions with customers, associates, and leaders
Other duties as assigned*
In addition, you’ll assist the Store Manager with the following duties as assigned:
Process the receipt and return of DSD merchandise
Manage freight flow in accordance with productivity standards
Order and stock merchandise needs, including frozen & refrigerated, in accordance with productivity standards
Ensure that the sales floor is sales-effective
Plan, merchandise, and maintain Clip Strips and Power Panels with sales effective items
Plan and implement monthly Sales Planners
Your Skills and Experience:
Prior retail and management experience is preferred
Strong communication, interpersonal, and written skills are required
Must be able to lift between 30 and 50 lbs. from floor to above shoulder height and meet demands of frequent walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, climbing, pushing, pulling, and repetitive lifting, with or without reasonable accommodation
Ability to work in a high-energy, team environment is required
Your Perks and Benefits:
We offer a wide variety of rewards to support your health, wealth, and mental well-being. In addition to medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision insurance, we offer:
Employee Assistance Program
Paid time off
Retirement plans with matching contributions
Employee Stock Purchase Program
Educational Assistance
Access to PerkSpot, an employee discount platform for goods and services
And much more!
Who We Are:
At Dollar Tree, we make a difference in the lives of our customers every day by exceeding their expectations and delivering value – it’s what our business is built on. Our associates play an important role in this commitment by embracing change and showing up for their teams and their communities.
We see an exciting path forward as our company continues to grow and transform – and we know that this path starts with you.
Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.
This job specification should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. This is not to be considered a complete list of job duties, which appear in the job description for this position, and which may be amended from time to time at the discretion of Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required by their supervisor.
Please note, this job description is not a contract of employment and may be modified to meet evolving business needs. Employment at Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. is at-will, meaning that either the employee or the company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice.
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19.25See All 26 Merchandising Manager Jobs in Illinois
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Find Merchandising Manager JobsMerchandising Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Merchandising Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Dollar Tree11

- Michaels4

- American Eagle Outfitters2

- Gap1

- Ulta1

What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in merchandising manager jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in marketing, business, retail management, or a related field
- Demonstrated experience managing product assortments, planograms, or category plans
- Proficiency with retail merchandising software and inventory management systems
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data and market trends
- Experience collaborating with buyers, vendors, and cross-functional planning teams
- Familiarity with Illinois retail compliance standards and vendor agreement practices
Merchandising Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a merchandising manager in Illinois?
Most merchandising managers in Illinois begin with a bachelor's degree in marketing, business administration, retail management, or a related discipline, then build experience in roles like merchandise coordinator, buyer's assistant, or category analyst. Illinois requires no state-issued license for this role. Employers in Chicago and the broader metro typically promote from within retail operations or planning departments, so starting in store-level merchandising or a vendor-facing analyst role is the most common path upward.
How much do merchandising managers make in Illinois?
Merchandising managers in Illinois earn a median of about $155,280 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $78,760 for the lowest 10% to over $282,890 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire merchandising managers in Illinois?
Employers hiring merchandising managers in Illinois right now include Dollar Tree, Michaels, and American Eagle Outfitters, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's concentration of national retail headquarters and CPG companies in the Chicago metro makes it one of the more active states for corporate merchandising roles.
Which Illinois cities have the most merchandising manager jobs?
The cities with the most merchandising manager openings in Illinois are Gurnee, Skokie, and Illinois. Chicago dominates because it is home to the corporate headquarters of major retailers and consumer brands, while suburban markets like Schaumburg and Downers Grove attract openings tied to regional distribution centers and mid-size specialty retailers that cluster along the I-90 and I-88 corridors.
Are there remote merchandising manager jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're limited. Merchandising manager work is often tied to physical store visits, vendor meetings, and planogram execution, which keeps most roles on-site or hybrid. About 75% of merchandising manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with the fully remote opportunities concentrated in digital merchandising and e-commerce category management functions.
How can I get hired as a merchandising manager in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is a merchandise coordinator, retail analyst, or buying assistant role at one of Illinois's large retail or CPG employers, such as Walgreens, Ace Hardware, or Ferrara Candy. Many Chicago-area companies run structured rotational or associate buyer programs for recent graduates. Building proficiency in planogram software and earning a certificate from a retail industry association adds a competitive edge when competing for those entry-level openings.
Where can I find and apply to merchandising manager jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to merchandising manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience and location preferences, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 26 Merchandising Manager Jobs in Illinois
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