Principal Jobs in Chicago, IL
Principal jobs in Chicago are in strong demand, concentrated in the Loop, the Near North Side, and along the North Shore corridor, across education, management consulting, and professional services. Employers hiring right now include Options Clearing Corporation, Mars, and Northern Trust. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Principal JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 120+ Principal jobs
Principal Scientist – Fats and Oils
The Principal ScientistFats and Oils is a senior-level role with deep technical expertise and high learning agility, enabling continued growth in product formulation and processing capabilities within Mars snacking.
The role is responsible for leading global technical initiatives inFats and Oilssustainability, contributing to snacking innovation projects and programs, evaluatingalternative and novelFats andOils ingredients, troubleshooting reformulation and processing challenges, supporting supplier management, and upskilling associates across the organization.
What are we looking for?
- Minimum of a Bachelors degree in Food Science
- Minimum 10 years of RD experience in food, beverage or consumer products company (preferably with raw material compliance and specifications experience and Fats and Oil Ingredients, Chocolate, Nutrition Bars, Salty Snacks or Confectionary)
- Knowledge of regulatory bodies including FDA and EFSA.
- Proven ability to work independently and collaborate with global teams.
Provide technical leadership to ensure the FatsOils portfolio delivers on Mars Snacking’s strategic priorities and meets the evolving needs of the business.
Own the ST FatsOils Strategy and collaborate with cross-functional associates to drive continuous improvement.
Deliver hands-on formulation, processing, quality assurance, and food safety support across global RD and production sites.
Serve as a technical project leader or subject matter expert, partnering with other ST colleagues to support sustainability initiatives and the evaluation of alternative FatsOils ingredients, advancing Mars’ sustainability goals and Net Zero by 2050.
Horizon-scan, identify, and recommend potential business opportunities aligned with strategy; monitor emerging scientific research and trends relevant to FatsOils ingredients, chocolate, nutrition bars, salty snacks, and confectionary.
Collaborate with internal teams (Scientific Regulatory Affairs, Global Quality Food Safety, Product Development, etc.) and external partners to generate scientific evidence supporting claims, messaging, and publications.
Partner with RD, Commercial teams, and other Mars segments to develop strategic relationships with key external partners and suppliers, ensuring a robust ingredient pipeline that protects and creates future growth.
Work with RD and Intellectual Property teams to proactively safeguard Mars’ intellectual property.
Represent Mars at key conferences, trade shows, and industry events to strengthen the company’s reputation within the FatsOils sector.
Support the team manager in leading team-building initiatives and serving as a role model to enhance engagement and the overall associate experience within the Ingredient Science team.
Mentor and upskill associates in technical leadership and capabilities.
What can you expect from Mars?
Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
Find out more about what Mars can offer you by visiting our Global Careers site.
The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.
The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting: USD 119,040.00 - USD 163,680.00
Principal Scientist – Fats and Oils
The Principal ScientistFats and Oils is a senior-level role with deep technical expertise and high learning agility, enabling continued growth in product formulation and processing capabilities within Mars snacking.
The role is responsible for leading global technical initiatives inFats and Oilssustainability, contributing to snacking innovation projects and programs, evaluatingalternative and novelFats andOils ingredients, troubleshooting reformulation and processing challenges, supporting supplier management, and upskilling associates across the organization.
What are we looking for?
- Minimum of a Bachelors degree in Food Science
- Minimum 10 years of RD experience in food, beverage or consumer products company (preferably with raw material compliance and specifications experience and Fats and Oil Ingredients, Chocolate, Nutrition Bars, Salty Snacks or Confectionary)
- Knowledge of regulatory bodies including FDA and EFSA.
- Proven ability to work independently and collaborate with global teams.
Provide technical leadership to ensure the FatsOils portfolio delivers on Mars Snacking’s strategic priorities and meets the evolving needs of the business.
Own the ST FatsOils Strategy and collaborate with cross-functional associates to drive continuous improvement.
Deliver hands-on formulation, processing, quality assurance, and food safety support across global RD and production sites.
Serve as a technical project leader or subject matter expert, partnering with other ST colleagues to support sustainability initiatives and the evaluation of alternative FatsOils ingredients, advancing Mars’ sustainability goals and Net Zero by 2050.
Horizon-scan, identify, and recommend potential business opportunities aligned with strategy; monitor emerging scientific research and trends relevant to FatsOils ingredients, chocolate, nutrition bars, salty snacks, and confectionary.
Collaborate with internal teams (Scientific Regulatory Affairs, Global Quality Food Safety, Product Development, etc.) and external partners to generate scientific evidence supporting claims, messaging, and publications.
Partner with RD, Commercial teams, and other Mars segments to develop strategic relationships with key external partners and suppliers, ensuring a robust ingredient pipeline that protects and creates future growth.
Work with RD and Intellectual Property teams to proactively safeguard Mars’ intellectual property.
Represent Mars at key conferences, trade shows, and industry events to strengthen the company’s reputation within the FatsOils sector.
Support the team manager in leading team-building initiatives and serving as a role model to enhance engagement and the overall associate experience within the Ingredient Science team.
Mentor and upskill associates in technical leadership and capabilities.
What can you expect from Mars?
Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
Find out more about what Mars can offer you by visiting our Global Careers site.
The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.
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 120+ Principal Jobs in Chicago
Find roles in Chicago that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal JobsPrincipal Job Market in Chicago
Who's Hiring
- Options Clearing Corporation15
- Mars9
- Northern Trust6
- Oracle4
- EPAM Systems4
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Education
- Manufacturing
Principal Jobs in Chicago: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a principal job in Chicago?
Focus your search on Chicago's Loop-based consulting firms, the city's large public and charter school networks, and the professional services firms anchored in River North and Streeterville. Candidates who stand out typically combine demonstrated leadership in their discipline with deep familiarity with Chicago's specific institutional landscape, whether that means district-level education policy, financial services regulation, or management consulting at the city's major downtown firms.
Which companies hire principals in Chicago?
Employers hiring principals in Chicago right now include Options Clearing Corporation, Mars, and Northern Trust, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Chicago's hiring mix skews toward large management consulting practices, urban public and charter school systems, and professional services firms with significant downtown footprints.
Are there remote principal jobs in Chicago?
Yes, though it depends heavily on the type of principal role: consulting and analytics-focused positions are far more remote-friendly than school-based or site-leadership roles, which are almost always on-site by nature. About 89% of principal openings tied to Chicago are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with the flexibility concentrated in strategy, finance, and technology-adjacent tracks rather than education administration.
How can I get a principal job in Chicago with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Chicago is lateral movement from a senior individual contributor or team lead role inside one of the city's large consulting, financial services, or education organizations. Chicago Public Schools and several major charter networks run leadership pipeline programs that promote internally, while downtown consulting firms often title strong senior associates as principals on a project basis. Building a record of cross-functional ownership within a Chicago institution is the clearest local on-ramp.
Which industries hire the most principals in Chicago?
Most principal openings in Chicago sit in Technology & Software, Education, and Manufacturing, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Chicago's role as a hub for management consulting, financial services, and one of the country's largest public school systems means steady, year-round demand for principal-level leadership across all three sectors.
Related Jobs in Illinois
See All 120+ Principal Jobs in Chicago
Find roles in Chicago that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal Jobs