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Title: Grant Operations and Accessibility Specialist
Department: Special Education
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

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.

Additional Information

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.

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$37.53 - $38.46/hour

University Benefit Highlights

- 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: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/ 
 

Required Qualifications

● 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.

Preferred Qualifications

● 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.
● Experience participating in or supporting cross-functional project teams, including coordination across fiscal, programmatic, and content development roles.

Work Hours

General work hours are M-F, 8am - 4:30pm.  Evening or weekend hours may be expected, depending on business need.

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:
1. Remain at a workstation for extended periods
2. Move about in various locations on and off campus as needed to complete day-to-day work
3. Effectively communicate on a daily basis

Proposed Starting Date

3/1/2026

Required Applicant Documents

Resume/C.V.
Cover Letter
Reference List (specifically, the names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of at least three professional references)

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Contact Information for Applicants

Nikki Michalak
nakempe@ilstu.edu

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.