Job Requisition ID: 56012
Opening Date: 06/30/2026
Closing Date: 07/15/2026
Agency: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Class Title: EXECUTIVE II - 13852
Skill Option: None
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary (Effective 7/1/26) $6,820 monthly; Full range is $6,820 - $9,875 monthly
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
County: Cook
Number of Vacancies: 3
Bargaining Unit Code: RC062 Technical Employees, AFSCME
Merit Comp Code: This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position. All applicants who want to be considered for this position MUST apply electronically through the illinois.jobs2web.com website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the SuccessFactors employee career portal. Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery) will not be considered. Position OverviewJoin a mission-driven team dedicated to advancing equitable economic opportunity across Illinois. The Office of Economic Equity & Empowerment (OE3) Cannabis Loans and Grants Program is seeking a detail-oriented, solutions-focused professional to support the administration of innovative funding programs that help build a more inclusive and thriving cannabis industry. In this role, you will manage key components of the lifecycle of state-funded cannabis loans and grants - from intake and enrollment through funding, monitoring, and compliance. You will work closely with applicants, approved recipients, internal partners, and state financial offices to ensure accurate processing, timely disbursement, and long-term sustainability of the program's portfolio. As a subject matter expert, you will guide potential recipients and partners through the program's requirements, support audits and internal reviews, and help ensure that projects and borrowers remain in compliance with state statutes, contract terms, and reporting expectations. Your analytical work will contribute to program evaluation, portfolio monitoring, and economic impact analysis at both the project and program-wide levels. This role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact on communities and entrepreneurs who have historically been excluded from economic opportunity due to the war on drugs. Ideal candidates bring strong analytical skills, excellent attention to detail, comfort working with financial documentation, and a commitment to equitable economic development. If you're passionate about public service, community empowerment, and operational excellence - and are ready to support a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative - we encourage you to apply.
Essential Functions- Prepares and administers loan enrollments, loan payments/funding, and grant administration following the policy and procedures under the Cannabis Social Equity Program in the Office of Economic Equity & Empowerment (OE3).
- Serves as a subject matter expert on Cannabis Direct Forgivable Loans, Technical Assistance Cannabis Grants, and other program deliverables to potential recipients and program partners.
- Performs evaluations and analysis of projects, loans, grants, program operations, and the program's loans and grants portfolio.
- Assists OE3 Loans and Grants manager on program deliverables, compliance, stakeholder engagement, partnerships, and outreach.
- Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.
Minimum Qualifications- Requires knowledge, skills and mental development equivalent to completion of four years of college, preferably within courses in business or public administration.
- Requires two years of responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization.
Specialized Skills- Requires two (2) years of experience performing loan and grant management in Cannabis programming with an understanding of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA) for Adult Use Cannabis Social Equity programming.
- Requires two (2) years of experience meeting with community leaders and stakeholders and making presentations and/or delivering training/technical assistance.
- Requires two (2) years of experience working with data reporting/tracking systems such as Excel, Smartsheets, or other related systems.
Preferred Qualifications- Prefers two (2) years of experience performing loan and grant management in Cannabis programming with an understanding of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA) for Adult Use Cannabis Social Equity programming.
- Prefers two (2) years of experience meeting with community leaders and stakeholders and making presentations and/or delivering training/technical assistance.
- Prefers two (2) years of experience working with data reporting/tracking systems such as Excel, Smartsheets, or other related systems.
- Prefers two (2) years of experience with management of grants and programs.
- Prefers two (2) years of experience with state programs and resources available to industries and communities for economic development purposes.
Conditions of Employment- Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
- Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
- Requires the ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnights stays as appropriate.
- Requires appropriate, valid driver's license.
- The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.
Work Hours: Monday - Friday; 8:30a - 5:00p
Headquarter Location: 555 W Monroe St, Chicago, Illinois, 60661
Work County: Cook
Agency Contact: [email protected] (FOR INQUIRIES ONLY - INTERESTED APPLICANTS MUST APPLY ONLINE)
Posting Group: Leadership & Management
This position DOES contain "Specialized Skills" (as that term is used in CBAs).
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONSUse the "Apply" button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.
If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so.
State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees - a link is available at the top left of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon.
Non-State employees should log in on the using the "View Profile" link in the top right of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.
If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:
State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid
Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com - click "Application Procedures" in the footer of every page of the website.
The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your "junk mail", "spam", or "other" folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:
