Business Consultant, Business Administration

Business Consultant

Department: Department of BACP, Small Business Center Division

Number of Positions: 1 (additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)
Starting Salary: $68,616.00

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.

Applicants must submit bids through the City of Chicago bidding site (). Failure to follow the bidding instructions will result in a rejected application. Applications are accepted until 11:59 pm CDT on 7/13/2026.

Under supervision and with a customer‑service orientation, a business consultant provides licensing consultation and services to business owners operating in the City of Chicago. The consultant delivers licensing and permitting support for new businesses, expanding operations, and renewing existing licenses and permits, ensuring all legal standards are met.

• Conducts need assessments of current or planned business activities to determine regulatory requirements.
• Interviews clients and reviews completed applications and business documents to identify required licenses and permits.
• Advises clients of required inspections prior to issuance of licenses and permits.
• Educates applicants on the steps of the licensing process for their unique application.
• Interacts with staff in municipal agencies and City departments to facilitate processing of licenses and permits.
• Directs business owners to local, state, and national assistance programs and initiatives to support start‑up and expansion plans.
• Communicates clearly and effectively to applicants about requirements and next steps.

Additional duties may be required.

Location: 121 N. La Salle Street, Room 800
Days: Monday – Friday
Hours: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Minimum qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree or higher in Business Administration or a directly related field, plus one (1) year of business planning or consulting work experience.

Alternative qualifications if the minimum is not met:

• Five (5) years of business planning or consulting work experience

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate's degree in Business Administration or a directly related field, plus three (3) years of business planning or consulting work experience

Applicants will complete an interview that includes a written exercise and/or a skills assessment test. Those with the qualifications best suited to the responsibilities, based on interview performance, will be selected in seniority order according to the collective bargaining agreement.

Benefits information is available at: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..html

Salary and title structure information can be found at: https:// Classification/

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer. Commitments to hiring applicants with diverse experience, including veterans and residents of Socio‑Economically Disadvantaged Areas, are governed by ordinances 2‑74‑020 and 2‑74‑075. These hiring preferences apply to non‑bidders; bidders are considered before external candidates as defined by the collective bargaining agreements.

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

For additional information, contact the Small Business Center Division through the City’s official channels.