RECRUITMENT & RESOURCES SPECIALIST

State of Illinois; East St. Louis (IL); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension program

Health, Life, Dental, and Vision Ins.

Flexible work schedules

Paid holidays

Paid parental leave

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Job summary

State of Illinois is seeking a Social Service Program Planner IV for the Department of Children and Family Services. The role focuses on recruitment, resource development, and service coordination to support foster care initiatives. Hybrid in East St.

Louis with strong bilingual requirements and a competitive benefits package. Ideal candidates will hold a master’s degree, have two years of relevant experience, and are proficient in Spanish.

Qualifications

• Requires a master’s degree and progressive professional experience in social services or program planning.
• Ability to utilize the Spanish language in performance of all duties.
• U.S. work authorization; no visa sponsorship offered.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualizes and coordinates foster care recruitment within an assigned area.
• Supports and strengthens relationships with foster parents.
• Identifies local resource needs and develops localized plans.
• Translates and interprets for Spanish-speaking clients regarding services and forms.
• Provides professional assistance to casework staff on complex service needs.
• Maintains reports and analyzes data to inform recruitment and placement decisions.
• Develops contracts for unmet service needs with the Office of Contract Administration.

Skills

Spanish language proficiency

Strong communication

Education

Master's degree

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.

Job Requisition ID: 57593
Opening Date: 11/02/2026
Closing Date: 11/18/2026
Agency: Department of Children and Family Services
Class Title: SOCIAL SERV PROGRAM PLANNER IV (41314)

Title: Social Service Program Planner - Recruitment/Resources SS
Skill Option: None
Bilingual Option: Spanish
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $7,602/Monthly (Full Range $7,602 - $11,110/monthly)
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code: RC062 Technical Employees, AFSCME

Merit Comp Code

Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Anticipated Hybrid Work Schedule Availability:1 to 5 Days per week in office, depending on operational needs
Headquarter Location:East St. Louis - 10 Collinsville Ave
Work County:St. Clair

Supervisor: D. Humphrey-Vinson
Agency Contact: Maria Guerrero

Email: [e-mail]

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

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 Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as Social Service Program Planner IV. DCFS offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a generous pension program. We invite you to join our innovative team to help make a positive difference in the lives of the children and families of Illinois.

Essential Functions

• As a Recruitment and Resources Specialist, conceptualizes, coordinates, monitors, and develops the foster care recruitment program for an assigned area, working to ensure the effective implementation of a locally focused, targeted foster home recruitment plan.
• Provides professional support and strengthens Department relationships with foster parents.
• Develops and implements a localized plan to identify resource needs.
• Translates and interprets, both orally and in writing, for Spanish speaking clients regarding services available and the proper completion of forms.
• Provides professional assistance and resource development support to casework staff with specialized, problematic service need cases.
• Provides and maintains reports and analyzes data with respective workers, supervisors, and administrators to facilitate an understanding and awareness of foster parent recruitment and resource needs in order to effectively develop recruitment plans and address placement and service needs.
• In conjunction with the Office of Contract Administration, develops contracts for unmet service needs.
• Develops and maintains a high level of knowledge regarding foster program data analysis and its application to program improvement on a regional and statewide level.
• 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 a master’s degree.
• Requires two years of progressively responsible professional experience in community organization, social service work, or in program planning and development.
• Requires ability to utilize the Spanish language in the performance of all duties.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, including evening and weekend travel. Requires appropriate, valid driver's license.
• 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.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

DCFS is deeply committed to the welfare and protection of children. Our goal is to protect children by strengthening and supporting families. In every effort, from receiving hotline calls to reaching family reunification or foster care and adoption, children and families are our focus.

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• A Pension Program
• Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually
• 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)
• 10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)
• - Personal, Sick, & Vacation rates modified for 12-hour & part-time work schedules (as applicable)
• 13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years
• Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)
• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Deferred Compensation Program - A supplemental retirement plan
• Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
• GI Bill® Training/Apprenticeship Benefits eligibility for qualifying Veterans
• 5% Salary Differential for Bilingual Positions
• Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)

For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx

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.

This position DOES NOT contain “Specialized Skills” (as that term is used in CBAs).