Research Manager Jobs in Illinois
Research Manager jobs in Illinois are active and competitive, with demand concentrated in pharmaceutical and biotech research, market and consumer insights, healthcare systems research, and academic and policy research, covering roles from entry-level research associates stepping into management through senior and principal research managers. Chicago anchors the market, but significant hiring also occurs in Evanston and Deerfield, where established employers like Abbott Laboratories, Baxter International, and the University of Chicago maintain substantial research operations. The most sought-after specialties in Illinois listings are clinical research management, market research, and health policy research. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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This is a hybrid (3 days) on-site position in our Chicago office.
Job Summary
- Serve as a senior individual contributor reporting directly to the Executive Director, Accounting Research & Operations, acting as the authoritative technical accounting strategist for CME Group.
- Direct technical accounting research, formulate authoritative position papers, and advise business units on the financial implications of routine and non-routine corporate transactions.
- Partner cross-functionally with financial reporting, corporate accounting, and executive leadership to ensure seamless quarterly and annual SEC compliance and adoption of emerging accounting standards.
What You’ll Get
- A supportive environment fostering career progression, continuous learning, and an inclusive culture.
- Broad exposure to CME's diverse products, asset classes, and cross-functional teams.
- A competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. Explore our full range of benefits
What You’ll Do
- Lead technical accounting research across routine and complex transactions under authoritative U.S. GAAP.
- Formulate robust, executive-ready accounting position papers that document methodologies, technical interpretations, and final conclusions.
- Advise business units and functional leaders on accounting implications, aligning strategic initiatives with corporate financial standards.
- Evaluate the financial structure of proposed mergers, acquisitions, new products, and strategic investments submitted for Executive Leadership and Board review.
- Author and review financial statement footnote disclosures and MD&A contributions for quarterly and annual SEC filings.
- Direct technical accounting interactions with external auditors to ensure alignment and timely resolution of accounting considerations.
- Curate and modernize the internal technical accounting research repository, synthesizing new standards and authoritative guidance for firmwide accessibility.
- Monitor emerging FASB and SEC regulatory initiatives, evaluate organizational impact, and draft formal comment letters representing CME Group’s position.
- Establish, update, and maintain a comprehensive corporate accounting policy manual reflecting current regulatory standards.
- Deliver targeted educational presentations and implementation frameworks to guide cross-functional teams through technical accounting transitions.
- Champion reporting technology enhancements and process automation to elevate research workflow efficiency.
What You’ll Bring
- Hold an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license (required).
- Bring 4+ years of progressive technical accounting, policy research, and SEC reporting experience.
- Possess a Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
- Apply comprehensive knowledge of U.S. GAAP authoritative literature (working familiarity with IFRS is a plus).
- Demonstrate a proven track record of writing concise, impactful technical memorandums and executive summaries for senior leadership.
- Leverage prior accounting experience within the financial services industry or public accounting serving financial sector clients.
- Lead cross-functional change management when interpreting and operationalizing new accounting standards across diverse business units.
- Utilize advanced proficiency across productivity platforms, including Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides) and Microsoft Office. Navigate financial and enterprise systems effectively, with hands-on experience in Workiva (Wdesk), Workday, and SharePoint preferred.
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#LI-DS2
#LI-Hybrid
CME Group is committed to offering a competitive total rewards package for our employees that recognizes their contributions to the business and reflects our long-term investment in their future. The pay range for this role is $119,900-$199,800. Actual salary offered will be dependent on a wide array of factors including but not limited to: relevant experience, skills, education and comparison to internal employees (where relevant). Our compensation program also includes an annual target bonus opportunity for all employees, as well as the opportunity to become an owner in the company through our broad-based equity program. Through our benefits program, we strive to offer flexibility, value and choice. From comprehensive health coverage, to a retirement package that includes both a 401(k) and an active pension plan, to highly competitive education reimbursement provisions, paid time off and a mental health benefit, CME Group offers a holistic benefits package for our team and their dependents.
CME Group: Where Futures are Made
CME Group is the world’s leading derivatives marketplace. But who we are goes deeper than that. Here, you can impact markets worldwide. Transform industries. And build a career by shaping tomorrow. We invest in your success and you own it – all while working alongside a team of leading experts who inspire you in ways big and small. Problem solvers, difference makers, trailblazers. Those are our people. And we’re looking for more.
At CME Group, we embrace our employees' unique experiences and skills to ensure that everyone’s perspectives are acknowledged and valued. As an equal-opportunity employer, we consider all potential employees without regard to any protected characteristic.
Important Notice: Recruitment fraud is on the rise, with scammers using misleading promises of job offers and interviews to solicit money and personal information from job seekers. CME Group adheres to established procedures designed to maintain trust, confidence and security throughout our recruitment process.
See All 30 Research Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research Manager JobsResearch Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research manager jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant research discipline such as social sciences, public health, or business
- Minimum three to five years of progressive research experience with at least one year in a supervisory or lead role
- Demonstrated ability to design, execute, and report on quantitative and qualitative research projects
- Proficiency with research and statistical software such as SPSS, SAS, R, or Qualtrics
- Strong project management skills including budgeting, timeline oversight, and cross-functional team coordination
- Experience presenting research findings and strategic recommendations to senior leadership and stakeholders
Research Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research manager in Illinois?
Research manager roles in Illinois do not require a state-issued license, but employers consistently expect a bachelor's degree at minimum, with a master's degree preferred in fields such as public health, social sciences, business, or a discipline tied to the employer's research focus. Most candidates progress by building several years of hands-on research experience, then demonstrating leadership on projects. In Illinois, credentials like the Professional Researcher Certification from the Insights Association strengthen a candidacy, particularly in market and consumer research roles.
How much do research managers make in Illinois?
Research managers in Illinois earn a median of about $159,670 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $85,210 for the lowest 10% to over $281,660 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire research managers in Illinois?
Employers hiring research managers in Illinois right now include Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, AbbVie, and OSF HealthCare, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's dense concentration of pharmaceutical headquarters, major hospital systems, and policy-focused nonprofits around Chicago means hiring is spread across private industry, academic medical centers, and mission-driven organizations.
Which Illinois cities have the most research manager jobs?
Chicago, River, and Peoria account for the most research manager openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because it is home to the headquarters of major pharmaceutical, financial, and consumer goods companies alongside large academic medical centers, while Evanston and Deerfield draw openings from Northwestern University's research enterprise and the North Shore pharmaceutical corridor anchored by companies like Baxter International and AbbVie.
Are there remote research manager jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than most fields, because research management is largely analytical and coordination-focused rather than hands-on or site-dependent. About 89% of research manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based nature of the work. Market research and policy research roles tend to offer the most remote flexibility, while clinical research management positions usually require at least partial on-site presence at trial sites or lab facilities.
How can I get hired as a research manager in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a research coordinator or research analyst role first, then moving into management after demonstrating project leadership. Large Illinois employers like the University of Chicago Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago regularly hire research associates and coordinators as structured entry points. Earning the Professional Researcher Certification or completing a graduate certificate in research methods from an Illinois university strengthens early-career applications. Lateral moves from roles such as data analyst, program coordinator, or survey specialist are common stepping stones in this market.
Where can I find and apply to research manager jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to research manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across industries including pharmaceutical, healthcare, market research, and policy. Find roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 30 Research Manager Jobs in Illinois
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