Grant Operations and Accessibility Specialist

Overview

Title: Grant Operations and Accessibility Specialist
Department: Special Education
Campus

Location:

Normal, IL

The Grant Operations and Accessibility Specialist supports the effective implementation of a statewide, grant-funded initiative by coordinating grant operations, fiscal oversight, and accessibility practices across all project activities. This role works in close partnership with other institutional offices to ensure that project operations, documentation, and deliverables are aligned with sponsor requirements, university policies, and applicable accessibility standards. In addition to overseeing day-to-day grant operations, the Grant Operations and Accessibility Specialist provides project-level leadership to support accessible design and equitable access to publicly funded resources.

The position serves as a central coordination point between fiscal administration, project leadership, and content developers to promote consistency, transparency, and operational readiness throughout the life of the grant.

Illinois State University is authorized to do business within the State of Illinois. All work under this appointment is required to be performed from within the State of Illinois. Illinois State University does not authorize out-of-state work.

$37.53 - $38.46/hour

• Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
• Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
• Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
• Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
• Paid benefit time
• Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./

• Bachelor’s degree in education, public administration, business administration, finance, information technology, accessibility studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of professional experience in grant administration, fiscal management, or sponsored project operations within a higher education, public education, or nonprofit setting.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating grant budgets and financial reporting, including expenditure monitoring, reconciliation, and documentation, in alignment with sponsor and institutional requirements.
• Working knowledge of university or public-sector administrative systems and processes, such as financial management and procurement workflows.
• Demonstrated knowledge of, or ability to acquire expertise in, digital accessibility standards and practices (i.e., ADA Title II, Section, Section 508, and WCAG) with employer-supported professional development.
• Experience coordinating or performing document and digital content accessibility efforts, such as accessible documents, presentations, captions, or alternative text, in collaboration with others.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accurate records and meet project deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain fiscal, administrative, and accessibility-related expectations to diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and accessible practice in educational or public-sector environments.

• Professional experience in a higher education institution or public education institution, particularly within sponsored programs, grants administration, academic support units, or statewide initiatives.
• Experience supporting or coordinating accessibility practices in educational, administrative, or public-facing contexts, including collaboration with instructional designers, faculty, or accessibility specialists.
• Experience developing, refining, or documenting grant operations workflows, templates, or internal guidance materials.
• Experience supporting equity-focused or inclusive education initiatives, particularly those serving students with disabilities or other underserved populations.
• Ex…