COMMUNITY LIVING SPECIALIST

City of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 67,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Chicago invites applications for a Community Living Specialist in the Department of Family and Support Services. This senior-level role focuses on planning, coordinating, and evaluating Elder Rights and related Senior Services programs to improve outcomes for older adults.

The position emphasizes program oversight, data analysis, report writing, and collaboration with delegated agencies, staff, and funders.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree or higher in a relevant field with related social service program experience.
• Experience planning, implementing and administering social service programs.
• Strong analytical skills to analyze data and prepare summaries.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple programs and initiatives within the Senior Services Division.
• Provide oversight and support to Delegate Agencies and analyze performance data.
• Write quarterly and annual reports.
• Monitor and guide staff, contracted agencies and partners in Elder Rights portfolios.
• Ensure compliance with evaluation procedures and standards.
• Coordinate ongoing staff training for Legal Services and provider agencies.
• Conduct outreach regarding Adult Protective Services, Medicare, and Senior Services.
• Develop work plans and set priorities to achieve outcomes.
• Monitor budgets, prepare and review RFPs.
• Receive training in SHIP, Ombudsman, and Adult Protective Services when appropriate.
• Attend trainings as determined by funder needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Senior services program management

Project management

Data analysis & reporting

Education

Master's degree or higher in Gerontology, Psychology, Social Services, Public Health or related field

Bachelor's degree in the listed fields with 2 years of related work experience

Job description

COMMUNITY LIVING SPECIALIST

Department of Family and Support Services

(Senior Division)

Number of Positions: 2

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: 74,160

Job Number: 421239

This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) - BARGAINING UNIT 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

Under general supervision, this class functions as generalists participating in planning, coordinating and evaluating various Family and Support Service programs, and performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Managing multiple programs and initiatives of the Senior Services Division.
• Providing oversight and support to Delegate Agencies and analyzing performance data.
• Writing quarterly and annual reports.
• Monitors, oversees, and provides technical assistance and direction to staff, contracted agencies and other program partners in administering Senior Services' Elder Rights services program portfolio.
• Monitors compliance to procedures utilized in program evaluation.
• Coordinates and implements appropriate on-going training for staff working with Legal. Services programs, Delegates, and Provider Agencies.
• Conducts outreach regarding Adult Protective Services, Medicare, Legal Services, and Senior Services programs overall.
• Develops work plans and priorities for program activities to achieve desired outcomes
• Monitors program budgets, prepares and reviews RFPs.
• Receive training and certification, when appropriate, in programs in Elder Rights Portfolio including but not limited to Senior Health Insurance (SHIP); Ombudsman; and Adult Protective Services.
• Attend trainings and continuing education as indicated by funder and program needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Additonal duties may be required for this position.

Location:

Department of Family and Support Services

Address: 1615 W. Chicago Ave, Chicago IL 60622

Shift: Mon - Fri, 9:00am - 5:00pm

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree or higher in Gerontology, Psychology, Social Services, Public Health or a directly related field, plus one year of work experience in the planning, implementation, and administration of social service programs; or a Bachelor's degree in the above listed fields and two years of work experience in the planning, implementation, and administration of social service programs.

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications:

N/A

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:

This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral parts of the interview will be selected.

Desired Skills:

• Previous experience managing Social Services programs with an emphasis on Senior Services or the aging population
• Previous project management experience
• Previous experience in collecting, analyzing, and producing summaries of quantitative and/or qualitative data

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

City of Chicago :: Classification and Pay Plan

APPLICATION EVALUATION:

Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:

To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor

Job Posting

Oct 15, 2026, 5:00:00 AM

Closing Date (Period for Applying) - External: Oct 30, 2026, 4:59:00 AM

BU: 03

Salary: $74,160

Pay Basis: Yearly