Project Development Manager Jobs in Illinois
Project Development Manager jobs in Illinois are consistently active, with demand concentrated in infrastructure, clean energy, healthcare construction, and commercial real estate development, covering roles from coordinator-level through senior director. Chicago anchors the market, but Rockford and Peoria also generate steady hiring tied to manufacturing expansion and municipal infrastructure projects. Employers like Clayco, AECOM, and Advocate Aurora Health have maintained a lasting presence in Illinois and regularly bring on project development professionals. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 19+ Project Development Manager jobs
We use the term "Practice Builder" to describe our best client servers – the men and women who exhibit leadership by winning and doing work, managing projects profitably, and mentoring the next generation.
- Craft a bold vision for growth.
- Lead business development efforts to win work from new and existing clients.
- Provide high-quality service in a profitable manner.
- Contribute to the professional development of staff.
- Benefit from comprehensive support in accounting, administrative, marketing, recruiting, IT, and production.
- Have the autonomy to build and grow your business with the full backing of a firm consistently recognized as one of the best in the industry.
This role offers the freedom to lead and grow your business, with the rewards of a performance-based environment (including base salary + bonuses), and the potential to advance to ownership.
- Define and execute the vision for our Land Development practice, ensuring sustainable growth and innovation.
- Apply an entrepreneurial spirit to create a vision for growth in the local Land Development practice and beyond.
- Develop and maintain strong client relationships, positioning our firm as a trusted partner in the Land Development industry.
- Drive business development efforts, leveraging industry connections to secure new opportunities and expand market presence.
- Supervise and lead Land Development design projects, providing technical expertise and strategic oversight.
- Ensuring quality and timeliness of deliverables, and supervising the execution of work.
- Lead and mentor a high-performing team, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented work environment.
- Ensure project profitability, resource allocation, and seamless transitions of work to qualified staff.
- Uphold integrity and sound business principles, driving operational excellence and long-term success.
- 10+ years of civil engineering, design, and management of Land Development projects.
- Bachelor's Degree in civil engineering or a related field.
- Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in the state for which you are applying.
- Extensive client contacts and relationships.
- Business development skills, proven ability to win work, and marketing experience including writing proposals, scopes of work, and budgeting for projected work.
- Demonstrated ability to manage projects profitably.
- Strong desire and ability to be engaged with clients solving project problems.
- Ability to manage & mentor staff, and direct resources effectively in a positive manner.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and technical skills.
- Strong technical skills with AutoCAD Civil3D.
Salary Range:
Eligible for Performance Based Bonus Compensation.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work for Kimley-Horn in the U.S. without employer sponsorship. We do not typically sponsor H1-B or any other work visa petitions.
Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to1- company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
We use the term "Practice Builder" to describe our best client servers – the men and women who exhibit leadership by winning and doing work, managing projects profitably, and mentoring the next generation.
- Craft a bold vision for growth.
- Lead business development efforts to win work from new and existing clients.
- Provide high-quality service in a profitable manner.
- Contribute to the professional development of staff.
- Benefit from comprehensive support in accounting, administrative, marketing, recruiting, IT, and production.
- Have the autonomy to build and grow your business with the full backing of a firm consistently recognized as one of the best in the industry.
This role offers the freedom to lead and grow your business, with the rewards of a performance-based environment (including base salary + bonuses), and the potential to advance to ownership.
- Define and execute the vision for our Land Development practice, ensuring sustainable growth and innovation.
- Apply an entrepreneurial spirit to create a vision for growth in the local Land Development practice and beyond.
- Develop and maintain strong client relationships, positioning our firm as a trusted partner in the Land Development industry.
- Drive business development efforts, leveraging industry connections to secure new opportunities and expand market presence.
- Supervise and lead Land Development design projects, providing technical expertise and strategic oversight.
- Ensuring quality and timeliness of deliverables, and supervising the execution of work.
- Lead and mentor a high-performing team, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented work environment.
- Ensure project profitability, resource allocation, and seamless transitions of work to qualified staff.
- Uphold integrity and sound business principles, driving operational excellence and long-term success.
- 10+ years of civil engineering, design, and management of Land Development projects.
- Bachelor's Degree in civil engineering or a related field.
- Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in the state for which you are applying.
- Extensive client contacts and relationships.
- Business development skills, proven ability to win work, and marketing experience including writing proposals, scopes of work, and budgeting for projected work.
- Demonstrated ability to manage projects profitably.
- Strong desire and ability to be engaged with clients solving project problems.
- Ability to manage & mentor staff, and direct resources effectively in a positive manner.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and technical skills.
- Strong technical skills with AutoCAD Civil3D.
Salary Range:
Eligible for Performance Based Bonus Compensation.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work for Kimley-Horn in the U.S. without employer sponsorship. We do not typically sponsor H1-B or any other work visa petitions.
Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to1- company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
See All 19 Project Development Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsProject Development Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Project Development Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in project development manager jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in construction management, civil engineering, business, or a related field
- PMP certification or equivalent project management credential strongly preferred by Illinois employers
- Five or more years of experience managing development projects from feasibility through closeout
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate with municipal permitting offices and Illinois regulatory agencies
- Proficiency with project management platforms such as Procore, MS Project, or Smartsheet
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for stakeholder reporting and contract negotiation
Project Development Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a project development manager in Illinois?
Most project development manager roles in Illinois require a bachelor's degree in construction management, civil engineering, urban planning, or business administration. Illinois does not issue a state license specific to project development managers, but employers consistently expect a Project Management Professional credential through the Project Management Institute or a Certified Construction Manager designation through the Construction Management Association of America. Candidates typically move up from project coordinator or assistant project manager roles within Illinois firms before reaching the development manager level.
How much do project development managers make in Illinois?
Project development managers in Illinois earn a median of about $103,470 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $65,300 for the lowest 10% to over $163,910 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire project development managers in Illinois?
Employers hiring project development managers in Illinois right now include Atwell, Molex, and Fanisko, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's concentration of large general contractors, healthcare systems, and clean energy developers means openings appear across a wider range of sectors than in most Midwest states.
Which Illinois cities have the most project development manager jobs?
Chicago, Elgin, and Lombard have the most project development manager openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the bulk of demand through its commercial construction, transit infrastructure, and corporate headquarters activity, while smaller metro areas like Rockford and Peoria generate openings tied to manufacturing facility expansions and county infrastructure programs that rely on locally based project development staff.
Are there remote project development manager jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're limited. Project development managers regularly work across physical sites, attend municipal review meetings, and coordinate on-the-ground contractors, which keeps most Illinois roles at least partially on-site. About 100% of project development manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026. Pre-development and planning-phase work, including feasibility analysis, grant writing, and stakeholder reporting, is most likely to be performed remotely.
How can I get hired as a project development manager in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a project coordinator or assistant project manager role inside a large Illinois general contractor or developer such as Pepper Construction, Power Construction, or a regional infrastructure firm. Clayco and AECOM both run structured associate programs for recent graduates in construction management or engineering from Illinois universities. A PMP Associate credential or enrollment in the exam track, combined with internship experience on Illinois public or commercial projects, meaningfully improves candidacy for employers who require documented project exposure before promoting into development manager responsibilities.
Where can I find and apply to project development manager jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to project development manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Search the listings for roles that match your experience level, preferred metro, and sector focus, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 19 Project Development Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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