Program Development Manager Jobs in Illinois
Program Development Manager jobs in Illinois are in steady demand, with the strongest concentration in healthcare systems, nonprofit services, higher education, and workforce development organizations, drawing candidates from coordinator-level roles through senior program leadership. Chicago anchors the market, with significant hiring also in Springfield and Rockford, where organizations like Advocate Health Care, the University of Illinois system, and United Way of Illinois maintain ongoing program development functions. The most sought-after specialties include grant-funded program design, community health initiatives, and curriculum or workforce development. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Location: LAKE FOREST, IL, US, 60045-5202
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Company: Grainger Businesses
Work Location Type: Hybrid
Req Number 332700
About Grainger:
W.W. Grainger, Inc., is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working® by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with products and solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. Known for its commitment to service and award-winning culture, the Company had 2024 revenue of $17.2 billion across its two business models. In the High-Touch Solutions segment, Grainger offers approximately 2 million maintenances, repair and operating (MRO) products and services, including technical support and inventory management. In the Endless Assortment segment, Zoro.com offers customers access to more than 14 million products, and MonotaRO.com offers more than 24 million products. For more information, visit www.grainger.com.
Compensation:
The anticipated base pay compensation for this position is $75,000 per year and eligible for a 5% Management Incentive Program (MIP) based on performance.
Position Details:
Grainger's Financial Development Program (FDP) is recruiting for full-time Financial Analyst positions in a flexible work environment, combining some remote work with work in our downtown Chicago and/or Lake Forest, IL locations. This three-year rotational program offers recent college graduates and early-in-career professionals a unique opportunity to develop the financial, analytical, digital, and end-to-end thinking skills required to be a successful finance professional. Participants gain broad exposure to different areas of corporate finance such as Finance Operations (supporting areas like Sales, Supply Chain, IT), Financial Accounting, Tax, Treasury, Audit, Financial Planning and Analysis, Analytics, Data Science and Finance Shared Services through three 1-year rotations. You will report to a Finance/Accounting leader and have support from a Senior professional, peer mentor, and Leadership mentor.
You Will:
As a participant in Grainger's Financial Development Program, you will be involved in
several activities including a comprehensive onboarding program, development sessions, structured technical trainings, meet and greets with executive leaders, formal mentorship, additional informal and formal networking opportunities, fun social events and more. As a team member you will gain:
Differential exposure to senior leadership throughout Grainger, including finance
Direct experience influencing decisions in multiple divisions of Grainger
Learn, develop and utilize technical skills with visualization tools, such as PowerBI, SQL coding, R or Python
Leverage AI technology and tools towards continuous improvement and productivity
Gain experience working with SAP ERP and financial planning software
Hands-on experience and learning across various areas of Grainger’s finance
organization
Eligibility & Requirements:
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
Expected graduation by January 2027, but no sooner than 2 years prior
Currently enrolled in a college or university and working towards a bachelor's or master's degree in a business or STEM-related discipline or have completed an undergraduate degree in the above areas with 1–2 years of related work experience
No visa sponsorships required now or in the future
Highly Preferred Skills:
Working knowledge and/or experience with AI tools and automation
Analytical and critical thinking skills, including an ability to summarize data into
information, reach logical conclusions, evaluate, and improve processes
Proven problem solving and critical thinking capabilities
Strong written and verbal communication skills with comfortability to collaborate
with all levels
Proven ability to meet tight deadlines, prioritize workload, and actively
participate/lead projects
Ability to work in a fast-paced and evolving environment adapting agile methodology and principles
Experience with Excel, various data structures and ability to create ad-hoc
databases for financial modeling
Continuous improvement-mindset through processes and technology
Rewards and Benefits:
Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage starts on day one of
employment.
Access to up to 50% of your paycheck based on hours worked before payday.
18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.
6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
Employee discounts, parental leave, and other benefits.
FDP participants are awarded a $15,000 Restricted Stock Unit Grant upon graduation of the 3-year program that vests at 33% each year after graduation.
For additional information and details regarding Grainger’s benefits, please click on the link below:
https://experience100.ehr.com/grainger/Home/Tools-Resources/Key-Resources/New-Hire
The rate of pay provided above is not a guarantee of compensation. The rate reflects the expected base pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position.
Grainger reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion at any time, consistent with applicable law.
We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
We are also committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.
See All 36 Program Development Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsProgram Development Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Program Development Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Fintech
- Insurance
- Manufacturing
- Chemicals & Materials
- Banking & Financial Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in program development manager jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in public administration, social work, education, or a related field required
- Three or more years managing program lifecycle from design through evaluation
- Demonstrated experience securing or managing grant funding for program operations
- Proficiency with project management tools and data tracking or reporting platforms
- Strong written communication skills for proposals, reports, and stakeholder presentations
- Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and community or organizational partnerships
Program Development Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a program development manager in Illinois?
Most program development manager roles in Illinois require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as public administration, social work, nonprofit management, or education, with a master's degree preferred at larger organizations. Illinois does not require a state-issued license for this role, but employers in healthcare and social services often expect alignment with Illinois Department of Human Services or Illinois Department of Public Health program standards. Building experience through program coordinator or grants administrator roles at Chicago-area nonprofits or state-funded agencies is the most common path.
Which companies hire program development managers in Illinois?
Employers hiring program development managers in Illinois right now include Caterpillar, Northwestern Mutual, and AbbVie, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's concentration of large hospital systems, federally funded community organizations, and research universities means openings appear consistently across healthcare, workforce development, and higher education sectors.
Which Illinois cities have the most program development manager jobs?
Chicago, Peoria, and Mossville have the most program development manager openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the majority of listings because of its dense cluster of large nonprofits, academic medical centers, and state agency regional offices, while Springfield's concentration of state government and policy organizations and Rockford's growing healthcare and workforce development sector account for hiring outside the metro.
Are there remote program development manager jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than many management roles, since program development work centers on planning, writing, and stakeholder communication that translates well to remote settings. About 50% of program development manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting genuine flexibility in the field. Grant writing, reporting, and program design phases tend to be the most remote-compatible, while community outreach and partner engagement components typically require in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a program development manager in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is starting as a program coordinator or grants associate at a nonprofit or community health organization in the Chicago metro, then moving into development responsibilities as you demonstrate results. Large Illinois employers like Rush University Medical Center, the Chicago Department of Public Health, and United Way of Metropolitan Chicago regularly bring on entry-level program staff who grow into management roles. A portfolio showing grant proposals, logic models, or program evaluation reports gives candidates without formal management experience a concrete edge in the hiring process.
Where can I find and apply to program development manager jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to program development manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across healthcare, education, nonprofit, and government sectors. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the employer without any intermediary steps.
See All 36 Program Development Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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