Manager, Research

Position Description: Manager, Research

Position Title: Manager, Research

Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid)

Reports to: Senior Vice President, Research

About Illinois EDC

The Illinois Economic Development Corporation (Illinois EDC) is a nonprofit, public-private partnership advancing statewide business attraction, investment, and job creation. Working in close collaboration with state leadership, industry partners, and regional stakeholders, Illinois EDC positions Illinois as a premier global destination for business expansion.

The Economic Research Center provides data-driven insights and analytical support that inform statewide economic development strategy, business recruitment and retention efforts, policy development, and stakeholder engagement.

Position Overview

The Research Manager owns a defined portfolio of Illinois EDC's applied economic research, producing industry, workforce, and competitiveness analysis that supports business attraction and expansion, informs policy positions, and equips executive leadership and partner organizations with decision-ready insight.

The Research Manager reports to the Senior Vice President of Research. This role works closely with Business Development, Marketing and Communications, and colleagues throughout the organization, and serves as a primary analytical resource for time-sensitive requests tied to active projects and prospects.

The ideal candidate is analytically strong, highly organized, and motivated by applying research to real-world economic development challenges. Candidates should be comfortable working in an evolving environment, helping shape processes and tools as the team's research portfolio grows, while maintaining consistent quality under deadline pressure.

Responsibilities

• Lead applied research projects on Illinois industries, workforce, demographics, investment activity, and economic performance, from scoping through final deliverable.
• Respond to analytical requests from Business Development and executive leadership in support of active projects, including site-selection data requests, competitive benchmarking against peer states, and cost and labor market analysis.
• Produce high-quality presentations and visual tools that translate complex economic data into actionable insights for internal teams and non-technical audiences.
• Develop research products that position Illinois as a competitive, data-driven location for investment, including white papers, industry briefs, and public-facing analysis.
• Monitor economic trends, risks, and opportunities affecting Illinois' key industries and communicate implications for strategy and policy.
• Maintain the accuracy, consistency, and documentation of core datasets and recurring analytical products, ensuring findings are reproducible and defensible under external scrutiny.
• Develop and maintain research documentation, templates, and standards that support consistent delivery as the team's work scales.
• Support and review the work of junior research staff on shared projects.
• Handle confidential and commercially sensitive information in accordance with organizational policies.

Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in economics, urban planning, public policy, regional science, or a related field.
• 3+ years of relevant professional experience in applied economic or policy research; prior project management experience preferred.
• Strong analytical background with experience using multiple economic and demographic data sources. (e.g., U.S. Census, BLS, BEA)
• Demonstrated ability to translate data into clear, actionable insights for non-technical audiences.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple competing priorities under deadline.
• Collaborative mindset and experience working across teams and organizations.
• Customer-service orientation when supporting internal partners, stakeholders, and prospective businesses.
• Experience with economic development and business intelligence data sources (e.g., Lightcast, Moody's, PitchBook) preferred.
• Experience with at least one data visualization platform (e.g., Tableau, Datawrapper, or Flourish) preferred.
• Experience with statistical or data science tools (e.g., R, Python), geospatial tools (e.g., ArcGIS), or CRM systems preferred.
• Familiarity with the Illinois economy preferred.

Work Environment & Compensation

• Hybrid work schedule (typically 3 days in-office, 2 days remote), with occasional travel.
• Salary range: $65,000-$80,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, and sick leave.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Illinois EDC is an equal opportunity employer and committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization. Please contact us for any accommodations needed in the application process.