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Operations Leader Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

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Operations Manager - Commercial Operations

Cicero, IL · On-site

$80K - $100K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This is a field-first leadership role responsible for driving technician performance, maintaining service quality, ensuring fleet reliability, and supporting the day-to-day administrative operations ...

Operations Lead - Old Orchard

Skokie, IL

$19 - $23/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Operations Leader * Lead & execute inventory management processes effectively with a focus om maximizing inventory accuracy and reducing shrink * Investigate and root cause inventory accuracy issues ...

Operations Team Leader

Granite City, IL · On-site

$76K - $95K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... operations in a safe and environmentally compliant manner, within budget and according to customer needs. * Champions and Leads their Team in the SunCoke Visible Safety Program including Safety ...

Operations Team Leader

Granite City, IL

$76K - $95K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... operations in a safe and environmentally compliant manner, within budget and according to customer needs. * Champions and Leads their Team in the SunCoke Visible Safety Program including Safety ...

Showing results 41-60

Operations Leader information

See Illinois salary details

$12

$27

$62

How much do operations leader jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for operations leader in Illinois is $27.09, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.69 and $30.05 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Operations Leader vs Operations Manager?

AspectOperations LeaderOperations Manager
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree, leadership experience, industry-specific certificationsBachelor's degree, management experience, certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning, cross-department collaboration, high-level decision makingOverseeing daily operations, team management, process optimization
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in large organizations, corporate settings, and industries like manufacturing and logisticsCommon in various industries including retail, manufacturing, and service sectors
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding leadership roles, strategic responsibilitiesManaging daily operations, team leadership

The main difference between an Operations Leader and an Operations Manager lies in their scope and focus. Operations Leaders typically focus on strategic planning and high-level decision making, while Operations Managers oversee daily operations and team management. Both roles require relevant experience and certifications, but Operations Leaders often operate at a higher strategic level within organizations.

What are 5 careers in operations leadership?

Five careers in operations leadership include Operations Manager, Supply Chain Manager, Logistics Director, Production Supervisor, and Business Operations Director. These roles typically require strong organizational, problem-solving, and leadership skills, often supported by experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and relevant certifications. They involve overseeing daily operations, optimizing processes, and managing teams to ensure efficiency and productivity.

What does an operations leader do?

An operations leader oversees the daily activities and strategic planning of an organization to ensure efficiency and productivity. They manage teams, optimize processes, and implement policies, often using tools like project management software, and require strong leadership and organizational skills.

What is an operations leader?

Operations Leaders are professionals responsible for overseeing and managing the daily activities of a company's operations to ensure efficiency, productivity, and quality. They coordinate between various departments, implement process improvements, and monitor key performance indicators. Operations Leaders play a crucial role in strategic planning, resource allocation, and problem-solving to help organizations achieve their goals. Their leadership ensures that business operations run smoothly and align with overall company objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an operations leader?

To thrive as an Operations Leader, you need strong organizational, analytical, and leadership skills, often supported by a degree in business, management, or a related field. Familiarity with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, process improvement methodologies (like Lean or Six Sigma), and project management certifications is highly valuable. Excellent communication, problem-solving abilities, and adaptability set standout candidates apart in this role. These skills and qualifications are essential for driving operational efficiency, leading teams, and ensuring organizational objectives are met effectively.

What are some common challenges operations leaders face when managing cross-functional teams?

Operations Leaders often navigate challenges such as aligning diverse team priorities, ensuring clear communication across departments, and balancing competing deadlines. Collaboration between different functions—like logistics, production, and customer service—requires strong relationship-building skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving. Successful Operations Leaders foster a culture of transparency and continuous improvement to address these challenges, enabling their teams to work cohesively toward shared organizational goals.

Is operations a high paying job?

Operations leaders typically earn higher salaries compared to many other management roles, with compensation varying based on industry, experience, and company size. They often receive additional benefits such as bonuses and stock options, especially in larger organizations or in roles requiring advanced skills in logistics, process improvement, and team management.

What are the most commonly searched types of Operations Leader jobs in Illinois?

The most popular types of Operations Leader jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Operations Leader jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Operations Leader job openings:

Infographic showing various Operations Leader job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $56,338 per year, or $27.1 per hour.

Marketing Operations Leader, Baby & Child Care

Kimberly-Clark

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Retirement

Posted 16 days ago


Kimberly-Clark rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 67 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

33rd of 540 rated manufacturers


Job description

Join the team behind iconic brands like Huggies®, Kleenex®, Cottonelle®, Scott®, Kotex®, Poise®, Depend®, and Kimberly-Clark Professional®. At Kimberly-Clark, it’s all here for you—innovation, growth, and the chance to make a real impact. 

You’re not the person who will settle for just any role. Neither are we. Because we’re out to create Better Care for a Better World, and that takes a certain kind of person and teams who care about making a difference. Here, you’ll bring your professional expertise, talent, and drive to building and managing our portfolio of iconic, ground-breaking brands. In this role, you’ll help us deliver better care for billions of people around the world. It starts with YOU. 

About You

In one of our professional roles, you’ll focus on winning with consumers and the market, while putting safety, mutual respect, and human dignity at the center.

The Marketing Operations Leader provides strategic leadership over the development and execution of the integrated marketing planning process within the Baby & Child Care sector for Kimberly-Clark North America. In this role you’ll collaborate with external & internal agencies (media, creative, PR, etc.) to ensure that agency business models & capabilities effectively service Kimberly-Clark’s operating standards & requirements and ensure that all agencies are collaborating to support a cohesive, channel-agnostic view of consumer-centric planning & execution. This position also requires collaboration with internal brands and marketing teams to drive the operating model for both annual planning and responsive activation & optimization of brand marketing plans, including the development of key standards, tools, timelines, and best practices. This position requires broad understanding of marketing processes, common agency deliverables and budget management. To be successful in this role, the selected candidate will need to have a proven history of building high-functioning, cohesive inter-agency teams, as well as practical experience with integrated execution to enable effective decision making.

Job responsibilities include:

  • Manage the sector-level operating rhythm, leading key marketing processes such as annual planning.
  • Lead the implementation of new marketing capabilities or processes at the sector level when needed
  • Oversee project delivery at the sector level, working in partnership with Project Management
  • Manage sector-level internal and external collaboration, ensuring cross-functional teams are brought in at the right points throughout the project life cycle
  • Oversee the creative production process in partnership with external resources, ensuring best practices are followed and talent renewals are managed appropriately
  • Lead the development of agency scopes of work optimizing staffing models and individual role archetypes.
  • Drive cost efficiencies by negotiating project-based agency scopes as business needs require.
  • Drive the mid-year and end-of-year agency performance evaluation cycle, collaborating across sectors and with Procurement to ensure timing and schedule alignment. Single point of contact to coordinate brand and agency feedback.
  • Serves as point of contact with sector-level agencies to assist in resolving agency conflicts or performance inclusive of agency talent. Guide brand teams and agencies on staffing concerns.
  • If new/additional agency resources are required, the Marketing Ops Manager will research options, in partnership with Global Marketing Operations and Procurement. Responsible for operational training with new agency.
  • Provide leadership support to the Financial Coordinators and brand marketing teams to ensure effective financial tracking, reporting and compliance with all internal and external financial controls & requirements.

To succeed in this role, you will need the following qualifications:

  • 8+ years of experience in marketing programs across multiple platforms on agency or client side
  • Client-facing experience and agency experience
  • Deep understanding of marketing processes, common agency deliverables and budget management.
  • Strong operations management experience across complex organizations, including project management abilities in a leadership role
  • Ability to self-manage while managing assigned teams and projects under tight deadlines
  • Ability to expertly handle multiple projects and priorities working with various internal and external partners and organizational levels
  • Proficient with MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience in marketing and operations management
  • Strong project management abilities in a leadership role
  • Self-motivated and willing to expand knowledge
  • Strong Agency Management experience

Led by Purpose. Driven by You.

Total Benefits

We believe that our employees are our greatest asset, and we're committed to providing them with the resources they need to be successful. If you're looking for a rewarding career with a company that cares about its employees, then Kimberly-Clark is the place for you.​

Here are just a few of the benefits you’d enjoy working in this role for Kimberly-Clark. For a complete overview, see www.mykcbenefits.com​

Flex That Works at Kimberly-Clark
We believe great work happens when people come together with purpose. That’s why we offer a flexible work model that blends remote work with intentional in-person collaboration — helping you connect, grow, and innovate while maintaining the balance you value.

To Be Considered
Click the Apply button and complete the online application process. A member of our recruiting team will review your application and follow up if you seem like a great fit for this role.

In the meantime, please check out the careers website.

And finally, the fine print….


For Kimberly-Clark to grow and prosper, we must be an inclusive organization that applies the diverse experiences and passions of its team members to brands that make life better for people all around the world, which is why we seek to build a workforce that encompasses the experiences of our consumers.  When you bring your original thinking to Kimberly-Clark, you fuel the continued success of our enterprise. We are a committed equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. Statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for this position. 

Employment is subject to verification of local policies.

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests which may include drug screening, background check, and DMV check. 

Veterans and members of the Reserve and Guard are highly encouraged to apply.

This role is available for local candidates already authorized to work in the role’s country only. Kimberly-Clark will not provide relocation support for this role.

#LI-Hybrid

At Kimberly-Clark, pay is just one aspect of our total rewards package, which also includes a variety of benefits and opportunities to achieve, thrive and grow. Along with base pay, this position offers eligibility for a target bonus and a comprehensive benefits suite, including our 401(k) and Profit Sharing plan. The anticipated base pay range for this role is provided above for a fully qualified hire. Actual pay will depend on several factors, such as location, role, skills, performance, and experience. Please note that the stated pay range applies to US locations only.

What Kimberly-Clark employees say

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Kimberly-Clark logo

About Kimberly-Clark

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Huggies®. Kleenex®. Cottonelle®. Scott®. Kotex®. Poise®. Depend®. Kimberly-Clark Professional®. You already know our legendary brands--and so does the rest of the world. In fact, 25% of people in the world use Kimberly-Clark products every day. We know that these amazing Kimberly-Clark products wouldn't exist without skilled workers, like you. Here, you'll use your skills to make some of the most helpful things for billions of people all around the world - all in a safe, stable, and caring environment. While our products support better lives for billions of people around the world, our company passionately supports the ability for over 45,000 employees to do their best work and enjoy life.

Industry

Manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Irving, TX, US

Year founded

1872