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Founding Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Enboarder

Customer Success Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$90 - $140/hr

We are now scaling to $1M+ ARR and looking for a founding team to join us on the adventure The Role We are looking for a Founding Customer Success Manager to join our team as one of our first key ...

Mpower Direct

Residential Sales Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$120K/yr

Since our founding in 2009, our mission has been to offer sustainable, affordable, and reliable ... We're searching for a dynamic and experienced outside sales manager to join our growing team and ...

Mpower Direct

Residential Sales Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$120K/yr

Since our founding in 2009, our mission has been to offer sustainable, affordable, and reliable ... We're searching for a dynamic and experienced outside sales manager to join our growing team and ...

Mpower Direct

Residential Sales Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$120K/yr

Since our founding in 2009, our mission has been to offer sustainable, affordable, and reliable ... We're searching for a dynamic and experienced outside sales manager to join our growing team and ...

Mpower Direct

Residential Sales Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$65 - $75/hr

Since our founding in 2009, our mission has been to offer sustainable, affordable, and reliable ... We're searching for a dynamic and experienced outside sales manager to join our growing team and ...

Pilot Flying J

Travel Center General Manager

Joliet, IL · On-site

$54K - $80K/yr

Haslam II and currently led by CEO Adam Wright, our founding values, people-first culture and ... Pilot Flying J is seeking an experienced Retail General Manager to oversee our high-volume retail ...

The Tile Shop

Assistant Manager

Tinley Park, IL · On-site

Company Description A Tradition of Excellence Since our founding in 1985, The Tile Shop has ... Must have weekend availability * 1+ years of experience in retail management * Previous sales ...

The Tile Shop

Assistant Manager

Lake Zurich, IL · On-site

Company Description A Tradition of Excellence Since our founding in 1985, The Tile Shop has ... Must have weekend availability * 1+ years of experience in retail management * Previous sales ...

The Tile Shop

Assistant Manager

Lombard, IL · On-site

Company Description A Tradition of Excellence Since our founding in 1985, The Tile Shop has ... Must have weekend availability * 1+ years of experience in retail management * Previous sales ...

The Tile Shop

Assistant Manager

Deerfield, IL · On-site

Company Description A Tradition of Excellence Since our founding in 1985, The Tile Shop has ... Must have weekend availability * 1+ years of experience in retail management * Previous sales ...

The Tile Shop

Assistant Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

Company Description A Tradition of Excellence Since our founding in 1985, The Tile Shop has ... Must have weekend availability * 1+ years of experience in retail management * Previous sales ...

Bonefish Grill

Restaurant Manager

Orland Park, IL · On-site

Our founding belief at Bonefish Grill is that, if we take care of our people, Bonefish will take ... With limited supervision, the Manager is responsible for the daily operations of the FOH/BOH ...

Bonefish Grill

Restaurant Manager

Algonquin, IL · On-site

Our founding belief at Bonefish Grill is that, if we take care of our people, Bonefish will take ... With limited supervision, the Manager is responsible for the daily operations of the FOH/BOH ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsFounding JobsFounding Manager JobsFounding Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL

Founding Manager information

What is a founding manager?

A Founding Manager is one of the earliest leaders or executives in a startup or new company. They are responsible for helping to establish the organization’s vision, culture, and operational foundation. Their duties typically include overseeing daily operations, strategic planning, hiring initial team members, and driving early growth. Founding Managers often work closely with other founders to make critical decisions and set the direction for the company's future. Their role tends to be very hands-on and multifaceted, especially during the company's formative stages.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a founding manager?

To thrive as a Founding Manager, you need strong leadership, strategic planning, and business development skills, often backed by entrepreneurial experience or a degree in business management. Familiarity with startup tools such as project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello), CRM platforms, and basic financial systems is highly beneficial. Exceptional communication, resilience, and adaptability are crucial soft skills for navigating uncertainty and motivating early teams. These qualities enable a Founding Manager to drive growth, build a cohesive team, and successfully launch and scale new ventures.

What are some unique challenges a founding manager might face when building an early-stage team?

As a Founding Manager, you’ll often be tasked with assembling a team from the ground up, which can be both exciting and challenging. One common hurdle is recruiting and retaining top talent with limited resources and minimal brand recognition. You’ll also need to wear multiple hats, balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution, while fostering a collaborative culture in a fast-paced, uncertain environment. Flexibility, resilience, and strong communication skills are crucial for navigating these challenges and setting the foundation for long-term success.

What is the difference between Founding Manager vs Project Manager?

AspectFounding ManagerProject Manager
CredentialsExperience in startup leadership, business developmentProject management certifications (PMP, CAPM), relevant industry experience
Work EnvironmentStartup or new business environment, high uncertaintyCorporate or organizational settings, structured projects
Employer & Industry UsageFounders, startups, new business venturesCompanies across industries managing specific projects
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding leadership roles in startupsManaging projects, timelines, and deliverables

The Founding Manager typically leads new business initiatives, focusing on startup growth and strategic direction, often with entrepreneurial experience. In contrast, a Project Manager oversees specific projects within established organizations, ensuring timely delivery and resource management. While both roles require leadership and organizational skills, the Founding Manager operates in a more dynamic, uncertain environment, whereas the Project Manager works within structured project frameworks.

What are the most commonly searched types of Founding jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Founding jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Founding Manager jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Founding Manager jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Founding Manager jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Founding Manager jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Founding Manager jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Founding Manager job openings:

Founding Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Founding Manager job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution.

Customer Success Manager

Enboarder

Chicago, IL • On-site

$90 - $140/hr

Other

Posted 18 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Develop and implement customer success strategies to ensure customer satisfaction and retention

  • Act as the main point of contact for existing customers, providing support and guidance to help them achieve their goals

  • Onboard new customers and ensure successful conversion of new pilot customers

Job description

About Letter AI

Letter AI is the world's first unified revenue acceleration platform powered natively by generative AI. Our platform empowers sales teams at customers like Lenovo and Redpanda to ramp up faster with AI-powered training and coaching, instantly find and personalize collateral for customers, and engage their buyers with the industry's first AI Sales Room. We've raised $2.7M in seed funding from top-tier VC firms, including Y Combinator, Formus Capital, Soma, Pioneer Fund, and TechNexus. We are now scaling to $1M+ ARR and looking for a founding team to join us on the adventure

The Role

We are looking for a Founding Customer Success Manager to join our team as one of our first key hires. You will play a pivotal role in shaping the company, our culture, and our customer engagement strategies. You will fully own the customer success journey, ensuring that both existing and new customers derive maximum value from our platform.

Your key responsibilities will include:

  • Develop and implement customer success strategies to ensure customer satisfaction and retention
  • Act as the main point of contact for existing customers, providing support and guidance to help them achieve their goals
  • Onboard new customers and ensure successful conversion of new pilot customers
  • Monitor customer health metrics and proactively address any issues or concerns
  • Gather customer feedback and work with the product team to drive continuous improvement
  • Build strong relationships with customers, understanding their needs and advocating on their behalf
  • Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to identify opportunities for expansion and upselling
Qualifications for the role

Qualifications for the role include:

  • 3+ years of experience in customer success, account management, or a related field
  • Proven track record of managing customer relationships and driving customer success
  • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to think strategically about customer needs
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment and manage multiple priorities
  • Experience with customer success tools and platforms is a plus

As a part of the team at this early stage, you will not only receive a competitive salary and benefits, but also a meaningful equity stake in the company.

How We Operate

At Letter AI, we want you to be unapologetically you while operating with our core principles in mind:

  • Customer-obsessed: Make your customers unreasonably happy and everything else will fall into place
  • Ambitious yet practical: Set big goals, but stay grounded with disciplined execution and ruthless prioritization
  • Direct yet kind: Never hold back from speaking your mind, but do so in a way that is kind to your colleagues
  • Driven yet humble: Push for excellence and deliver fast, but keep your humility

Join us on this exciting journey to build the world's next generational sales tech company. We look forward to hearing from you!

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