Vendor Manager Jobs in Illinois
Vendor Manager jobs in Illinois are in steady demand, with openings concentrated in supply chain, retail, healthcare procurement, and financial services at levels from entry-level coordinator through senior director. Chicago anchors most hiring activity, with strong secondary markets in Naperville and Rockford, where companies like Walgreens, Caterpillar, and United Airlines maintain large procurement and vendor operations. The most sought-after specializations in Illinois are technology vendor management, supplier diversity compliance, and contract lifecycle management. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job Title: Benefit & Vendor Relations Manager
Location: Hybrid – Springfield, IL
Position Summary
The Benefit & Vendor Relations Manager oversees the administration, vendor management, financial controls, compliance, and delivery of employee benefit programs. This role serves as a primary contact for benefit vendors and consultants while ensuring plans are administered accurately and in accordance with plan documents, regulatory requirements, and company objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee administration of health, welfare, retirement, and related employee benefit programs.
- Manage benefit vendors and consultants, including service levels, renewals, implementations, escalated issues, and performance improvement.
- Lead annual open enrollment, benefit communications, employee education, and new-hire orientation.
- Oversee benefit invoices, payments, accruals, reconciliations, and related financial controls.
- Coordinate benefit audits, regulatory filings, required notices, and compliance activities.
- Manage complex eligibility, enrollment, claims, appeals, and employee benefit issues.
- Lead benefit plan changes, vendor transitions, system testing, payroll deduction validation, and data-feed coordination.
- Maintain benefit reporting, compliance calendars, procedures, and audit-ready documentation.
- Support qualified and non-qualified retirement plan administration, as applicable.
- Identify opportunities to improve vendor performance, employee experience, internal controls, and operational efficiency.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of experience in employee benefits, vendor management, or a related HR function.
- Strong knowledge of benefit plans, administration practices, financial controls, and applicable regulations.
- Experience managing vendors, audits, compliance activities, open enrollment, employee escalations, and benefit implementations.
- Strong analytical, project management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and benefit administration systems; Workday experience preferred.
Preferred Qualifications
- CEBS, PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification.
Salary Range: $89,800 – $125,500
- Salary is commensurate with experience, location, skills, and other relevant factors.
Horace Mann was founded in 1945 by two Springfield, Illinois, teachers who saw a need for quality, affordable auto insurance for teachers. Since then, we've broadened our mission to helping all educators protect what they have today and prepare for a successful tomorrow. And with our broadened mission has come corporate growth: We serve more than 4,100 school districts nationwide, we're publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: HMN) and we have more than $12 billion in assets.
We're motivated by the fact that educators take care of our children's future, and we believe they deserve someone to look after theirs. We help educators identify their financial goals and develop plans to achieve them. This includes insurance to protect what they have today and financial products to help them prepare for their future. Our tailored offerings include special rates and benefits for educators.
EOE/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status
For applicants that are California residents, please review our California Consumer Privacy Notice
All applicants should review our Horace Mann Privacy Policy
Job Title: Benefit & Vendor Relations Manager
Location: Hybrid – Springfield, IL
Position Summary
The Benefit & Vendor Relations Manager oversees the administration, vendor management, financial controls, compliance, and delivery of employee benefit programs. This role serves as a primary contact for benefit vendors and consultants while ensuring plans are administered accurately and in accordance with plan documents, regulatory requirements, and company objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee administration of health, welfare, retirement, and related employee benefit programs.
- Manage benefit vendors and consultants, including service levels, renewals, implementations, escalated issues, and performance improvement.
- Lead annual open enrollment, benefit communications, employee education, and new-hire orientation.
- Oversee benefit invoices, payments, accruals, reconciliations, and related financial controls.
- Coordinate benefit audits, regulatory filings, required notices, and compliance activities.
- Manage complex eligibility, enrollment, claims, appeals, and employee benefit issues.
- Lead benefit plan changes, vendor transitions, system testing, payroll deduction validation, and data-feed coordination.
- Maintain benefit reporting, compliance calendars, procedures, and audit-ready documentation.
- Support qualified and non-qualified retirement plan administration, as applicable.
- Identify opportunities to improve vendor performance, employee experience, internal controls, and operational efficiency.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of experience in employee benefits, vendor management, or a related HR function.
- Strong knowledge of benefit plans, administration practices, financial controls, and applicable regulations.
- Experience managing vendors, audits, compliance activities, open enrollment, employee escalations, and benefit implementations.
- Strong analytical, project management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and benefit administration systems; Workday experience preferred.
Preferred Qualifications
- CEBS, PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification.
Salary Range: $89,800 – $125,500
- Salary is commensurate with experience, location, skills, and other relevant factors.
Horace Mann was founded in 1945 by two Springfield, Illinois, teachers who saw a need for quality, affordable auto insurance for teachers. Since then, we've broadened our mission to helping all educators protect what they have today and prepare for a successful tomorrow. And with our broadened mission has come corporate growth: We serve more than 4,100 school districts nationwide, we're publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: HMN) and we have more than $12 billion in assets.
We're motivated by the fact that educators take care of our children's future, and we believe they deserve someone to look after theirs. We help educators identify their financial goals and develop plans to achieve them. This includes insurance to protect what they have today and financial products to help them prepare for their future. Our tailored offerings include special rates and benefits for educators.
EOE/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status
For applicants that are California residents, please review our California Consumer Privacy Notice
All applicants should review our Horace Mann Privacy Policy
See All 8 Vendor Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Vendor Manager JobsVendor Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Vendor Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Distribution & Wholesale
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in vendor manager jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business administration, or a related field
- Demonstrated experience negotiating vendor contracts and managing supplier relationships
- Proficiency with procurement platforms such as SAP Ariba, Coupa, or Oracle
- Strong analytical skills for evaluating vendor performance and cost reduction opportunities
- Familiarity with Illinois commercial contract law and compliance requirements
- CPSM or CPVM certification preferred by mid-size and enterprise Illinois employers
Vendor Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a vendor manager in Illinois?
Most vendor manager roles in Illinois require a bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business administration, or a related discipline. There is no state-issued license required for the role. Illinois employers typically prioritize candidates who have completed a procurement-focused program, hold a Certified Professional in Supply Management credential, and have experience in contract administration or supplier coordination gained through internships or adjacent roles in purchasing or operations.
How much do vendor managers make in Illinois?
Vendor managers in Illinois earn a median of about $153,370 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $100,990 for the lowest 10% to over $225,450 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire vendor managers in Illinois?
Employers hiring vendor managers in Illinois right now include BCU, CSL, and Harbor, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters and major distribution hubs means large, established employers across retail, healthcare, and manufacturing drive consistent demand for this role throughout the year.
Which Illinois cities have the most vendor manager jobs?
Chicago, Illinois, and Kankakee have the most vendor manager openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates due to its density of corporate headquarters, logistics infrastructure, and healthcare systems, while Naperville and Rockford attract openings through major manufacturing and technology employers headquartered in the collar counties and northwestern Illinois corridor.
Are there remote vendor manager jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than many fields. About 71% of vendor manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how much of the work centers on contract review, supplier communication, and data analysis rather than on-site operations. The most remote-friendly specializations are technology vendor management and software procurement, where day-to-day tasks are largely digital.
How can I get hired as a vendor manager in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into vendor management from a purchasing coordinator or procurement analyst role, which large Illinois employers such as those in the Chicago healthcare and retail sectors regularly post as junior positions. Pursuing an entry-level supplier relations or contract support role at a company with a structured procurement rotation gives hands-on exposure. Earning a CPSM certification or completing a supply chain certificate through an Illinois university system significantly strengthens applications when direct experience is limited.
Where can I find and apply to vendor manager jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to vendor manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from Illinois employers across industries. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your experience and location preference, and apply directly to each position without any intermediary steps.
See All 8 Vendor Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Vendor Manager Jobs