Talent Manager Jobs in Illinois
Talent Manager jobs in Illinois are active and competitive, concentrated in entertainment management, sports representation, corporate talent acquisition, and performing arts development, with openings at every level from entry-level coordinator to senior director. Chicago anchors the market by far, with additional activity in Evanston and Naperville, and well-established employers like United Center management, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and Publicis Groupe regularly seek talent managers for their Illinois operations. The most in-demand specialties are corporate talent strategy, artist and athlete representation, and HR-integrated talent development. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Description
Employer Brand Relationship
At CDW, we make it happen, together. Trust, connection, and commitment are at the heart of how we work together to deliver for our customers. It’s why we’re coworkers, not just employees. Coworkers who genuinely believe in supporting our customers and one another. We collectively forge our path forward with a level of commitment that speaks to who we are and where we’re headed. We’re proud to share our story and Make Amazing Happen at CDW.
Job Summary
The Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition for Corporate Functions is responsible for leading and developing a high-performing team of recruiters while personally managing full-cycle recruitment for corporate function roles. This individual will partner closely with senior leaders and HR stakeholders to design and execute talent strategies that attract, asses, and hire top talent across disciplines such as Finance, HR, Legal, Strategy and Enterprise Business Operations. The Senior Manager balances hands-on recruitment with people leadership, ensuring recruiting excellence, process efficiency, and a strong candidate experience aligned with CDW’s values and business objectives.
This position is based in Chicago, Illinois and requires two days per week onsite at one of CDW’s Chicago locations.
What you’ll do
- Collaborate with HR Business Partners and senior business leaders to understand current and future talent needs across corporate functions, translating workforce plans into effective recruiting strategies.
- Provide consultative guidance to stakeholders on market conditions, talent availability, role scoping, and competitive hiring practices.
- Align recruiting priorities and capacity to business objectives, ensuring resources are deployed effectively across requisitions and critical initiatives.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of talent acquisition strategy, including workforce segmentation, role prioritization, and proactive talent pipelining.
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of three recruiters, fostering high performance, accountability, and engagement.
- Set clear expectations, performance goals, and development plans aligned with functional and organizational objectives.
- Provide ongoing coaching on recruiting best practices, stakeholder management, candidate assessment, and inclusive hiring behaviors.
- Monitor team workload, quality of hire, and service levels, reallocating resources as needed to meet changing business demands.
- Build bench strength within the recruiting team through mentoring, succession planning, and capability development.
- Personally manage full-cycle recruitment for senior-level and/or complex roles within corporate/backbone functions, including intake, sourcing, assessment, offer negotiation, and close. Act as a trusted advisor to hiring managers, ensuring a disciplined and consistent hiring process while maintaining flexibility for business needs.
- Develop and execute targeted sourcing strategies using multiple channels, including direct sourcing, referrals, and talent networks.
- Ensure a high-quality, inclusive candidate experience from initial engagement through onboarding.
- Apply strong assessment judgment to evaluate candidates against role requirements, leadership competencies, and cultural alignment.
- Build strong, credible relationships with senior leaders and cross-functional partners, serving as a subject-matter expert in talent acquisition.
- Facilitate effective hiring manager alignment on role requirements, timelines, and decision-making processes.
- Navigate competing priorities and complex stakeholder dynamics with professionalism and influence.
- Ensure recruiting processes are efficient, compliant, and consistently applied across the team.
- Leverage data and metrics (e.g., time-to-fill, quality of hire, candidate experience, diversity outcomes) to drive informed decisions and continuous improvement.
- Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, enhance tools, and improve scalability while maintaining quality.
- Hold the team accountable for building diverse candidate slates and mitigating bias in assessment and selection.
- Represent the organization effectively in the external talent market, articulating the employer value proposition for corporate function roles.
What we expect of you
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience.
- 7 years experience in full lifecycle recruiting
- 5 years team leadership experience
- Ability to communicate effectively and in a constructive manner with customers, coworkers, management and executives
- Eager to take on new tasks/responsibilities and passion for customer experience, operational excellence and continuous development
- Demonstrated intellectual curiosity that seeks to question the status quo and look for ways to advance business objectives
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities/projects, meet deadlines, facilitate change and delegate responsibilities
- Through knowledge of recruiting practices including, but not limited to, employment policies and practices, legal compliance, sourcing solutions, interviewing and selection techniques
- Experience with CRM tools; such as, Phenom and Eightfold and applicant tracking systems; such as, Workday
Pay range: $140,000-$162,400 depending on experience and skill set
Annual bonus target of 15% subject to terms and conditions of plan
Benefits overview: https://cdw.benefit-info.com/
Salary ranges may be subject to geographic differentials
About CDW
We make technology work so people can do great things.
CDW is a leading multi-brand provider of information technology solutions to business, government, education and healthcare customers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. A Fortune 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Index, CDW helps its customers to navigate an increasingly complex IT market and maximize return on their technology investments. Together, we unite. Together, we win. Together, we thrive.
CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.
CDW is committed to being an AI-fluent organization
As a leader, you will champion and be accountable for our vision of becoming an AI-fluent organization. We expect leaders to model curiosity, encourage responsible AI adoption, and foster a culture of continuous learning. You don’t need deep technical expertise, but you should be comfortable exploring how AI can enhance strategy, decision-making, and team performance. Your role includes guiding others in building confidence and capability with AI tools and practices, while promoting openness to experimentation and shared learning.Additionally, CDW is committed to fostering an equitable, transparent, and respectful hiring process for all applicants. During our application process, our goal is to understand your experience, strengths, skills, and qualifications. As an AI forward company, we see AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for new ways of thinking, creating, and communicating. We encourage candidates to embrace an AI mindset, one that’s curious, adaptive, and ready to explore what’s possible. We welcome thoughtful use of AI to expand your perspective and elevate how you share your story, while ensuring your application remains rooted in your own background, judgment, and voice.
About Us
CDW is a Fortune 500 technology solutions provider that helps businesses, government, education, and healthcare organizations achieve what’s possible through technology. What makes CDW different isn’t just what we do—it’s how we do it. At CDW we act as one—building trust, speaking candidly, and working together to achieve more. We play to win—focusing on what matters most and delivering for our customers. And we think forward—staying curious, moving fast, and continuously learning. We believe meaningful work happens when people feel supported, heard, and empowered to contribute. That’s why we think of ourselves as coworkers, not just employees—working together to solve complex challenges and deliver real impact for our customers and communities.
As a full‑stack, full‑lifecycle technology partner, CDW brings deep expertise, strong relationships, and broad industry knowledge to help turn ideas into outcomes. When you join CDW, you become part of a collaborative environment where your work matters, your growth is supported, and your contributions help shape what’s next.
Together, we deliver the full promise of what technology can do. Together, we Make Amazing Happen.
CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.
See All 39 Talent Manager Jobs in Illinois
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Find Talent Manager JobsTalent Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Talent Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Staffing & Recruiting
- Technology & Software
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in talent manager jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field required
- Three or more years of experience in talent management, recruitment, or HR business partnering
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with candidates, agents, or internal stakeholders
- Proficiency with applicant tracking systems such as Workday, Greenhouse, or iCIMS
- Strong negotiation and contract review skills relevant to talent agreements or offer processes
- Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams including legal, finance, and department heads
Talent Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a talent manager in Illinois?
Becoming a talent manager in Illinois typically starts with a bachelor's degree in human resources, communications, business, or performing arts management. Illinois does not require a state-issued license for most talent management roles, but those working as talent agents representing artists or athletes must register with the Illinois Department of Labor under the Illinois Employment Agency Act. Building experience through HR coordinator, recruiter, or artist liaison roles at Chicago-based agencies, entertainment companies, or large corporate employers is the most direct path.
How much do talent managers make in Illinois?
Talent managers in Illinois earn a median of about $56,560 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $31,200 for the lowest 10% to over $124,720 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire talent managers in Illinois?
Employers hiring talent managers in Illinois right now include Robert Half, CDW, and Gap, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Chicago's concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters, entertainment agencies, and hospitality groups makes it one of the more consistently active markets for this role in the Midwest.
Which Illinois cities have the most talent manager jobs?
Chicago, Rosemont, and Naperville have the most talent manager openings in Illinois. Chicago's size and its mix of corporate headquarters, advertising agencies, sports organizations, and performing arts institutions drives the bulk of demand, while suburban areas like Naperville and Evanston generate openings tied to large regional employers and university-affiliated organizations headquartered there.
Are there remote talent manager jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 90% of talent manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting the role's reliance on digital communication, video interviews, and cloud-based HR platforms. The functions most likely to be fully remote are corporate talent acquisition and HR business partnering, while artist representation and on-site HR roles tend to require more in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a talent manager in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is landing an HR coordinator or recruiting coordinator role at a Chicago-area employer that has a clear internal promotion track into talent management. Large Illinois employers like Northwestern Medicine, United Airlines, and Kraft Heinz run structured early-career HR programs and rotational associate opportunities that place candidates without deep experience into talent functions. Lateral moves from adjacent roles in entertainment coordination, talent agency assistance, or campus recruiting are also common entry points, and completing a Professional in Human Resources credential strengthens any application.
Where can I find and apply to talent manager jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to talent manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across corporate, entertainment, and nonprofit employers. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly through the listings.
See All 39 Talent Manager Jobs in Illinois
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