GRANTS RESEARCH SPECIALIST

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

GRANTS RESEARCH SPECIALIST

OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

Grants Division

Number of Positions: 1

Starting Salary: $90,144.00

This position is open to current AFSCME BIDDERS AND the PUBLIC. Only 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 are considered BIDDERS and are eligible to bid. Qualified BIDDERS who properly submit a bid application will receive preference over any non-bidders.

BID INSTRUCTIONS: Apply on the bid site: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/103/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en AND

1. Check the box on your profile titled "Currently employed by the City of Chicago"

2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled 'payee/employee number')

3. Select your correct bargaining unit

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION.

*Successful candidates must pass a drug screen and a background investigation. Persons offered employment must pass all pre-employment exams prior to appointment.

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

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.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

* Conduct research to identify and assess sources of available grant opportunities provided through public and private agencies.

* Prepare summaries and provide recommendations to management on available funding opportunities for new or existing programs and initiatives to support or enhance department operations.

* Prepare grant applications and write grant proposals, including the development and writing of program the program narrative, budgets and budget narratives, and timelines for program implementation.

* Review completed grant applications to ensure proposed programs are in compliance with grantor's funding requirements.

* Accept grant awards in accordance with city grant guidelines.

* Monitor grant funded programs and work with program staff to monitor their implementation and to ensure compliance with funding source reporting requirements.

* Evaluate program proposals submitted by agencies for funding and make recommendations for the allocation of funds and the selection of agencies based on established criteria.

* Communicate with grantors.

* Attend workshops, seminars, and other training to enhance occupational skills and to gather information on available grant opportunities.

* Attend operational and administrative hearings to enhance their knowledge and understanding of public safety agency needs and operations.

* Represent the department at public hearings and community meetings regarding grant funded programs and project initiatives.

* Coordinate with other city departments in the set-up, administration, and implementation of grants.

Additional duties may be required for this position.

DEPARTMENT: Office of Public Safety Administration

DIVISION: Grants

ADDRESS: 3510 S Michigan Ave - Public Safety Headquarters

SHIFT: Monday through Friday

HOURS: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

DAYS OFF: Saturday and Sunday

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

* 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) years of grants preparation, community outreach, or project management experience.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected. Selected Bidders will be hired in seniority order according to the collective bargaining agreement.

Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:

* Previous experience with federal and state grant projects

* Previous experience with competitive grant writing

* Previous experience identifying and securing new funding sources for programs

* Previous project management experience

* Previous experience in a position which requires preparing reports, budgets and grant applications

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on 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 any and 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.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

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

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor