Grants Research Specialist

GRANTS RESEARCH SPECIALIST DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND SUPPORT SERVICES Grants Division

Starting Salary: $90,144.00

New hires are paid the starting rate. Current employees’ pay rate is determined by their job title and years of service

Number of Positions: 1

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 10/08/2026

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 UNITS 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

Under general supervision, the class performs grant writing and research activities relating to the identification of funding sources and the development of grant applications; and performs related duties as required

• Researches various sources to identify and assess available grant opportunities provided through public and private agencies
• Prepares summaries and provides recommendations to management on available funding opportunities for new or existing programs and initiatives to support or enhance department operations
• Prepares grant applications and writes grant proposals, including the development of program concepts, budgets, and timelines for program implementation
• Reviews completed grant applications to ensure proposed programs are in compliance with grantor’s funding requirements
• Monitors grant funded programs and works with program staff to monitor their implementation and to ensure compliance with funding source reporting requirements
• Evaluates program proposals submitted by agencies for funding and makes recommendations for the allocation of funds and the selection of agencies based on established criteria
• Attends various workshops and seminars to gather information on available grant opportunities
• Represents the department at public hearings and community meetings regarding grant funded programs and project initiatives
• Coordinates with other city departments in the administration and implementation of grants
• Assists with audit by compiling required documents

1615 W Chicago Ave

Monday – Friday

9:00am – 5:00pm

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business Administration, Public Administration, or a directly related field, plus two (2) year of grants preparation, community outreach, or project management experience

This position requires applicants to complete an interview which will include a skills assessment as part of the interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral and written parts of the interview will be selected.

Initial evaluation will be based on the information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resources staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow 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

To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience, the City of Chicago has adopted ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States, residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA), and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders.

For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. The learn more about our hiring processes,

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

Sep 24, 2026, 12:00:00 AM