Salary: $82,377.00 - $114,290.00 Annually
Location : Municipal Services; 800 N Field Dr, Lake Forest, IL
Job Type: Full Time
Department: Innovation and Technology
Opening Date: 09/22/2026
DescriptionAre you a collaborative, curious, and process-minded technology professional who enjoys helping people work smarter? The City of Lake Forest is seeking an Innovation Coordinator to support City-wide innovation, technology implementation, business process improvement, and organizational change initiatives.
This full-time role works closely with City departments to understand operational needs, improve workflows, support technology adoption, and help ensure software and systems are used effectively to improve efficiency and service delivery. The Innovation Coordinator serves as a primary point of contact between departments, Innovation and Technology staff, and vendors during technology and process improvement projects.
This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys solving problems, translating business needs into practical technology solutions, supporting users through change, and balancing project work with hands-on technical support in a public service environment.
Examples of Duties - Review business processes and identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, automate, or improve operations through technology.
- Work with City departments to understand operational needs, challenges, workflows, and goals.
- Translate department needs into clear business and technical requirements for IT staff, vendors, and stakeholders.
- Support technology and process improvement projects from planning through implementation.
- Coordinate project plans, timelines, milestones, deliverables, testing, training, implementation, and post-implementation follow-up.
- Develop project documentation, requirements, workflows, process maps, procedures, user guides, training materials, and communications.
- Support successful technology adoption through change communication, training coordination, feedback, and follow-up.
- Provide responsive, customer-focused technology support through the helpdesk ticketing system and direct user assistance.
- Assist with software deployments, system upgrades, technology rollouts, Microsoft 365, Active Directory, procurement, vendor coordination, inventory, and other IT operational initiatives.
Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems, Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, Public Administration, Project Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
- More than five years of experience in project management, project coordination, business analysis, technology implementation, process improvement, IT support, or a related technology/business systems environment preferred.
- Experience in municipal government, local government, or another public-sector environment preferred.
- Relevant technical or professional certifications preferred, including CompTIA, Microsoft, ITIL, PMP, CAPM, Prosci Change Management, Lean Six Sigma, or similar credentials.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to coordinate multiple projects, timelines, deliverables, risks, issues, vendors, and stakeholders.
- Knowledge of business analysis, process improvement, project coordination, technology implementation, and organizational change management principles.
- Strong interpersonal, customer service, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences.
- General understanding of computer hardware, software, networking, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, Microsoft 365, and helpdesk support practices.
- Ability to learn new technologies, build productive relationships, support change, and balance strategic project work with day-to-day operational support.
Supplemental InformationFull Benefits Package- Full salary range: $82,377 - $114,290, depending on qualifications
- Insurance: Medical (PPO/HMO), dental, vision
- Leave: 13 paid holidays, front-loaded vacation and sick time, parental leave
- Retirement: IMRF pension, plus 457(b) and Roth options
- Additional Benefits: Tuition reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program, legal and life coverage, Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, longevity bonuses, and annual merit bonus opportunities based on exceptional performance
Interested applicants are encouraged to review the full job description here:
City Benefits Include:
- BCBSIL PPO and HMO insurance options, Delta Dental, and VSP Vision Insurance
- 40 hours of vacation time and 48 hours of sick time front-loaded to employees and available for immediate use
- Vacation, Sick, Floating Holidays, Emergency Leave, and Paternity Leave Available
- 457 and RHS accounts through Mission Square
- Pension funded by IMRF
- Education Reimbursement, Employee Assistance Programs, Legal Shield and Norton LifeLock Discounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness
- $50,000 Guaranteed Life Insurance for employee through Securian, Supplemental available for employee, spouse, and children
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