Community Development Support Specialist

Oak Lawn; Oak Lawn (IL); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Village of Oak Lawn is seeking a Community Development Support Specialist to handle transfer stamp administration, data management, and front-counter customer service within the Community Development Department.

The role provides cross-functional support to Building and Zoning, Business Licensing and Registration, and Special Events, reporting to the Director of Community Development. Full-time, on-site position based in Oak Lawn, IL.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate degree or coursework in business administration, public administration, records management, or a related field preferred.
• Two years of administrative, clerical, records, financial-transaction, or customer service experience preferred; municipal government experience is desirable.
• Experience working with databases, permit or licensing systems, property records, or high-volume public counter operations is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary staff contact for transfer stamp applications, status questions, document requirements, payment procedures, and scheduled completion or pickup.
• Verify seller and buyer information, property records, and required approvals before processing transfer stamps.
• Provide front-counter, telephone, and email customer service to residents, property owners, contractors, businesses, event organizers, and internal departments.
• Support multiple departments with application intake, records management, and cross-department collaboration.

Skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Multi-tasking

MS Office

BS&A software

Compliance with procedures

Data entry

Written communication

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma

Associate degree or coursework in business/public administration

Tools

BS&A

SharePoint

Permit systems

MS Excel

Outlook

Job description

Community Development Support Specialist

Job Title: Community Development Support Specialist

Department: Community Development

Reports to: Director of Community Development

Effective Date: 08/03/2026

Job Classification: Full-Time

Union Status: Non-Union

The Community Development Support Specialist is a full-time department support position responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Village real estate transfer tax stamp process, accurate maintenance of municipal data and records collected by the Community Development Department, and front-counter customer service coverage for Community Development operations. The position provides cross-functional administrative support to Building and Zoning, Business Licensing and Registration, and Special Events. The employee serves the department as a whole, receives work direction from the Community Development management team, and does not make final code, zoning, licensing, or policy determinations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Transfer Stamp Administration

• Serve as the primary staff contact for transfer stamp applications, status questions, document requirements, payment procedures, and scheduled completion or pickup.
• Receive and review applications and supporting documentation for completeness; verify seller and buyer information, property records, research to ensure unpermitted work has not occurred, required approvals, and applicable fees before processing.
• Coordinate transfer stamp requirements with Utility Billing, sewer inspection, Property Maintenance, Finance, and other Village staff as needed, while keeping the transfer stamp process under the established Community Development workflow.
• Enter and maintain transfer stamp information in BS&A, SharePoint, spreadsheets, and other approved systems; document pending items, approvals, payments, issuance, and completion dates.
• Prepare transfer stamp documents, receipts, correspondence, reports, and tracking logs in accordance with Village procedures.
• Identify discrepancies or incomplete information and route technical, legal, or policy questions to the appropriate manager or department.

Customer Service and Cross Division Support for the Community Development Department

• Provide front-counter, telephone, and email customer service to residents, property owners, contractors, businesses, event organizers, and internal departments.
• Explain established procedures, provide forms and checklists, assist customers with application requirements and online systems, and route additional technical questions to the appropriate staff member.
• Support Building and Zoning through application intake, permit and contractor-registration support, inspection scheduling or status assistance when authorized, document scanning, and records routing.
• Support Business Licensing and Registration through application intake, renewals, record verification, payment support, expiration tracking, reminder notices, and status communications.
• Support Special Events through application intake, checklist tracking, interdepartmental routing, correspondence, approval-status updates, and maintenance of event records.
• Provide counter and workflow coverage during staff absences, peak service periods, and seasonal workload increases; cross-train in core Community Development processes.
• Maintain professional, consistent, and accurate customer service while avoiding unauthorized interpretations of ordinances, codes, or legal requirements.
• Participate in staff training and process-improvement efforts and perform other duties consistent with the position as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong customer service skills and the ability to communicate clearly, respectfully, and consistently with the public and Village staff.
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, organization, follow-through, and records-management discipline.
• Ability to manage multiple transactions, deadlines, interruptions, and competing priorities in a public-facing office environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Word, and Excel; ability to learn BS&A and other municipal software systems.
• Ability to follow written procedures, identify incomplete or conflicting information, and elevate matters requiring technical or managerial judgment.
• Ability to handle payments, personal information, and confidential records with discretion and accountability.
• Effective written communication, data-entry, basic mathematical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently on assigned responsibilities and collaboratively across multiple Community Development divisions.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate degree or coursework in business administration, public administration, records management, or a related field preferred.
• Two years of administrative, clerical, records, financial-transaction, or customer service experience preferred; municipal government experience is desirable.
• Experience working with databases, permit or licensing systems, property records, or high-volume public counter operations is preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, reach, and use a computer and standard office equipment for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate in person and by telephone and to review detailed electronic and paper records.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry files, supplies, or materials weighing up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment and Schedule

• Work is performed primarily in an office and public service counter environment with frequent interruptions and direct interaction with the public.
• This is a full-time position. Regular and reliable attendance during assigned Village business hours is required.
• Occasional schedule adjustments may be required to support department operations or special events.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications, and may be revised to meet operational needs.

Salary Range is $55-65K.

The Village of Oak Lawn is seeking qualified applicants, without regard to sex, race, color or ethnic origin. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We offer a competitive salary, a generous benefit package and career growth opportunities.

Deadline for cover letter and resume is August 5, 2026.