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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Project Director will assist in overseeing the grant to ensure goals are met, reports are completed and submitted on time, and all contract obligations are followed. The Project Director will provide supervision and coaching to the CADC and two Employment Specialists, while carrying a small caseload and working with participants as needed.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Provide supervision and support to Workforce Development team
- Oversee grant, ensure expectations and goals are met
- Complete reports as needed
- Complete vocational assessments and obtain required eligibility documentation.
- Develop individualized employment plans and assist participants in achieving employment goals.
- Provide short-term prevocational training, employment readiness workshops, and career coaching/planning, employer connections, job placement, and retention services.
- Coordinate services with workforce partners, vocational rehabilitation providers, educational institutions, local workforce boards, and community agencies for client referrals.
- Promote services that support treatment, recovery, rehabilitation, and help prevent relapse, recidivism, and overdose through meaningful employment.
- Meet regularly with participants before and after employment to provide ongoing support and follow-along services.
- Maintain accurate participant records, case notes, and required documentation in Sumac within 24 hours.
- Participate in team meetings, collaborate with treatment providers (with participant consent), and perform other duties as assigned.
Education/Experience/Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Social Services, Workforce Development, Rehabilitation, Psychology, or a related field, or three (3) years of equivalent experience.
- Experience in workforce development, employment services, behavioral health, or substance use recovery required.
- Lived experience with substance use disorder and/or co-occurring diagnosis preferred.
- Strong communication, coaching, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
- Commitment to person-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and recovery-oriented practices.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office and electronic case management systems.
Travel & Special Requirements
Regular local travel throughout the service area is required. Must possess a valid Illinois driver's license, reliable transportation, current insurance, and a satisfactory driving record.
Pay: $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Project Director will assist in overseeing the grant to ensure goals are met, reports are completed and submitted on time, and all contract obligations are followed. The Project Director will provide supervision and coaching to the CADC and two Employment Specialists, while carrying a small caseload and working with participants as needed.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Provide supervision and support to Workforce Development team
- Oversee grant, ensure expectations and goals are met
- Complete reports as needed
- Complete vocational assessments and obtain required eligibility documentation.
- Develop individualized employment plans and assist participants in achieving employment goals.
- Provide short-term prevocational training, employment readiness workshops, and career coaching/planning, employer connections, job placement, and retention services.
- Coordinate services with workforce partners, vocational rehabilitation providers, educational institutions, local workforce boards, and community agencies for client referrals.
- Promote services that support treatment, recovery, rehabilitation, and help prevent relapse, recidivism, and overdose through meaningful employment.
- Meet regularly with participants before and after employment to provide ongoing support and follow-along services.
- Maintain accurate participant records, case notes, and required documentation in Sumac within 24 hours.
- Participate in team meetings, collaborate with treatment providers (with participant consent), and perform other duties as assigned.
Education/Experience/Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Social Services, Workforce Development, Rehabilitation, Psychology, or a related field, or three (3) years of equivalent experience.
- Experience in workforce development, employment services, behavioral health, or substance use recovery required.
- Lived experience with substance use disorder and/or co-occurring diagnosis preferred.
- Strong communication, coaching, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
- Commitment to person-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and recovery-oriented practices.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office and electronic case management systems.
Travel & Special Requirements
Regular local travel throughout the service area is required. Must possess a valid Illinois driver's license, reliable transportation, current insurance, and a satisfactory driving record.
Pay: $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
See All 28 Project Development Manager Jobs in Illinois
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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
- Technology & Software
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, Cushman & Wakefield, and Outform, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 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 Aurora 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 75% of project development manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of October 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 28 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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