GRANT ESTABLISHMENT SPECIALIST TEAM B

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; Springfield (IL); On-site; USD 76,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is seeking a Grant Establishment Specialist to provide technical assistance and guidance on a variety of grant programs from federal and state funding sources. The role supports the grant lifecycle from application to administration within a fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidate will manage multiple grant projects, review complex documentation, and communicate clearly with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Requires four years of college, preferably with courses in business or public administration.
• Requires two years of responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization.
• Two years of experience reviewing extensive application documents and obtaining approvals for funding.
• Experience with grant administration activities is preferred.
• Experience with public presentations is preferred.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, SharePoint, and grant reporting/tracking systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance to governmental, non-profit, and for-profit grant recipients on project planning, grant preparation, and execution.
• Review surveys/applications for completeness to evaluate funding merit.
• Conduct routine follow-up of pending grantees to determine compliance and timely completion.
• Evaluate reports from multiple data sources showing potential problems in the grant process.
• Provide technical assistance with registration and prequalification in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act portal.
• Perform full life cycle grant management duties.

Skills

Administrative experience

Grant management

Communication skills

Written communication

Education

Four-year college degree (business or public administration preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Outlook

SharePoint

Grant reporting/tracking systems

Job description

We continually strive for a workforce that reflects the growing diversity within the State of Illinois. A variety of employee backgrounds, perspectives, ideas and experiences are crucial to our ability to most effectively serve the public. Bilingual skills welcome

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

The State of Illinois is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Further, federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.

Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job, interview for a job, or for any other activity related to the hiring process. Examples of reasonable accommodation include, but are not limited to, making a change to the application process (if possible), providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.

To be provided a Reasonable Accommodation during the hiring process, you will need to provide a certification of disability from a physician, psychiatrist, school official or an Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor. Supporting documentation should be uploaded under My Documents → Additional Documents section for each application.

Any questions on Reasonable Accommodations can be directed to Central Management Services Disability Resource Center at [e-mail] or call [phone] for further information and to request or discuss an accommodation.

Sponsorship for Employment

The State of Illinois does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B visa status), nor is the State able to provide extensions of optional practical training (OPT) under the STEM-designated degree program for F-1 students. To be considered for permanent employment with the State of Illinois, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Disclosure of Salary Information

In compliance with the Illinois Equal Pay Act, 820 ILCS 112/1 et seq., the State does not seek, request, or require a job applicant’s wage or salary history. Employment decisions are not made based on an applicant’s wage or salary history. To that end, please do not include wage or salary information in your resume or other profile or application materials.

Date: Sep 8, 2026

Location: Springfield, IL, US, 62701

Job Requisition ID: 57807

Opening Date: 09/08/2026

Closing Date: 09/22/2026

Agency: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Class Title: EXECUTIVE II - 13852

Skill Option: None

Bilingual Option: None

Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $6,820 monthly; Full Range $6,820 - $9,875 monthly

Job Type: Salaried

Category: Full Time

County: Sangamon

Number of Vacancies: 3

Bargaining Unit Code: RC062 Technical Employees, AFSCME

Merit Comp Code

This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.

• PLEASE UPLOAD A COPY OF YOUR UNOFFICIAL COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS FOR VERIFICATION OF COURSEWORK***

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Position Overview

The Office of Grants Management is seeking to hire a Grant Establishment Specialist. This position serves as a dedicated business professional providing technical assistance and guidance regarding a variety of grant programs at the same time, from both federal and state funding sources, as associated with the processing of grant applications submitted to Department offices. The ideal candidate will be able to take on these tasks quickly and conduct their work in a timely manner. This unique environment provides a steady workload and is a key aspect of the grant establishment and grant administration process. We welcome interested applicants who can manage this important workflow inside this exciting environment to apply.

Essential Functions

• Under general direction, provides technical assistance to governmental, non-profit, and for-profit grant recipients with project planning, grant preparation, and execution to ensure the project application is accurate and contains all required technical information and data.
• Assists in providing review of surveys/applications for completeness to evaluate the merit of proposals for funding assistance from appropriate funds.
• Conducts routine follow-up of pending grantees to determine compliance and timely completion.
• Evaluates reports from multiple data sources showing potential problems and areas of holdup in the grant process.
• Provides technical assistance to governmental, non-profit, and for-profit grant recipients with registration and prequalification in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) portal.
• Performs full life cycle grant management duties.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college, preferably with courses in business or public administration.
• Requires two (2) years of responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization.

Specialized Skills

• Requires two (2) years of experience reviewing extensive application documents, including program narrative and budget analysis, and obtaining numerous approvals required for successful completion of the review.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers two (2) years of experience reviewing extensive application documents, including program narrative and budget analysis, and obtaining numerous approvals required for successful completion of the review.
• Prefers two (2) years of professional experience handling a large volume of projects simultaneously while meeting required timelines.
• Prefers two (2) of professional experience extracting pertinent information from extensive submitted documents to successfully process grant projects.
• Prefers two (2) years of professional experience providing detailed technical assistance, including written and verbal instruction of complicated requirements, in a clear manner.
• Prefers two (2) years of professional experience with grant administration activities.
• Prefers two (2) years of professional experience administering a public program.
• Prefers two (2) years of professional experience with public presentations.
• Prefers intermediate level proficiency utilizing software such as Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, SharePoint, and especially grant reporting/tracking systems.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last‑minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non‑State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non‑State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.

About The Agency

The mission of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is to create equitable economic opportunities across the State of Illinois. By attracting and supporting major job creators, investing in communities, strengthening Illinois’ world‑class workforce, fostering innovation, and ushering in the new clean energy economy, DCEO works to fortify Illinois’ reputation as a global economic powerhouse while ensuring Illinois is the best state to live, work and do business.

Work Hours

Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm

Headquarter Location

1 W Old State Capitol Plz, Springfield, Illinois, 62701

Work County

Sangamon

Agency Contact

Email: [e-mail]

Posting Group

Leadership & Management

Revolving Door

Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non‑State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non‑State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (“OEIG”) or may be subject to a fine.

Nearest Major Market

Springfield