Grants and Compliance Manager

Position Type:
Community Development/Grants & Compliance Manager

Date Posted:
6/11/2026

Location:
New Civic Center

Closing Date:
07/02/2026
$107,185.33 - $160,778.61/year

*Starting salary is dependent upon qualifications, but in most cases is no higher than the midpoint for the range.

NATURE OF WORK:

The Grants & Compliance Manager is responsible for evaluating and applying for competitive federal, state, and private funding to expand funding to address the City's housing and community development goals and oversee the day-to-day operations of the Grants & Compliance Division. The position requires knowledge and expertise relating to housing finance and building effective working relationships with state and regional partners including the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Cook County, and the Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) to develop partnerships that achieve mutual goals.


This position is responsible for the administration and management of funded programs and projects, reporting, and compliance for various local, state and federal grants including but not limited to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) entitlement grants, and the PRO Housing competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This position also oversees projects and programs funded by the City's Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) and other funding sources to achieve the goals of the City's Strategic Housing Plan in collaboration with the Planning & Zoning and Building & Development Services divisions. This position supervises the Housing & Grants Supervisor, whose direct reports are the Senior Grants & Compliance Specialist, Housing & Economic Development Analyst, Housing Loan Specialist, and CDBG Financial Analyst.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Specific assignment will include some or all of the following):

• Identify, evaluate, and apply for competitive funding opportunities from federal, state, and private sources to support and expand housing and community development programs.
• Support the development and implementation of programs and projects aligned with the City's adopted plans and initiatives.
• Serve as the City's subject matter expert in housing finance, including loan structuring, underwriting, and leveraging public/private funds for housing initiatives.
• Supervise the Housing & Grants Supervisor and provide strategic direction and support to their team, including the Senior Grants & Compliance Specialist, Housing & Economic Development Analyst, Housing Loan Specialist, and CDBG Financial Analyst.
• Oversee the lifecycles of federal, state, and local grants, including entitlement programs such as CDBG and HOME; ensure compliance with all regulatory and reporting requirements, including the HUD Consolidated Plan process.
• Oversee implementation, reporting, and monitoring of programs and projects funded by the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) and other public/private sources.
• Ensure financial accountability and compliance for all grant-funded projects.
• Build and maintain partnerships with regional and state agencies such as IHDA, CMAP, Cook County, and HACC to coordinate and align efforts on housing and community development initiatives.
• Represent the City in regional housing and grant-related forums and consortia.
• Monitor program outcomes and ensure timely and accurate submission of required reports to funding agencies and City leadership.
• Develop and maintain performance metrics to assess the effectiveness of housing and grant programs.
• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures that support equitable housing and grant administration.
• Work with nonprofit agencies and developers to leverage external resources and expand capacity to provide for the needs of Evanston residents and businesses.
• Advise senior leadership and City Council on grant opportunities, program performance, and strategic initiatives.
• Foster professional development and ensure high performance across the Grants & Compliance Division.
• Collaborate with other divisions, such as Planning & Zoning and Building & Development Services, to integrate housing and community development goals.
• Ensure compliance with the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO).
• Staff the Housing & Community Development and Social Services Committees in compliance with the Open Meetings Act, including meeting notices, agendas, packets, and minutes.
• Attend City Council and other City Boards, Commissions, and Committees meetings as needed.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF WORK:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and seven years of work experience in Housing Policy, Public Administration, Real Estate Development, Grant Management, Financing, or a substantially similar area, OR ten years of comparable work experience in lieu of a degree:
• Minimum of four (4) years of progressively greater managerial and supervisory responsibility
• Three (3) years of experience with affordable housing finance sources (e.g. HOME, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, or substantially similar).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

• Grant writing and funding sources for housing and community development projects and programs.
• Budgeting and financial management, including federal single audits.
• Demonstrated track record of obtaining grant awards.
• Housing and economic development finance documents, including project agreements, mortgages/loans, subordination agreements, and land use restriction agreements.
• Underwriting funding requests for housing and applicants' capacity to carry out proposed work, budgets, staffing estimates, financial pro formas, etc., to determine feasibility.
• Analyzing real estate pro formas, business plans, and other documents used to determine financial feasibility and return on investment.
• Applying principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Interpreting federal and state statutes and regulations, and technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form.
• Working with and relating to diverse groups of people from varying socioeconomic and racial/ethnic backgrounds, and dealing with individuals and groups at all levels.
• Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs.
• Modern office practices and technology, including personal computer hardware and software.
• Administrative principles and methods, including goal setting, program and budget development, and implementation
• Methods and techniques of effective project management, contract administration, and preparation and presentation of technical reports
• Clear and concise oral and written communication
• A positive and proactive approach when responding promptly to the development community and residents.
• Attending evening meetings as needed.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF WORK:

• The position requires the ability to work in a primarily sedentary position, with the ability to occasionally use force to exert up to 10 pounds.
• The ability to lift, carry, sit, bend, stoop, climb, or otherwise move objects, books, materials, etc., using up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• The ability to occasionally work outside in a variety of weather and environmental conditions.
  SUPERVISION:
• Work is performed under the general supervision of the Director of Community Development
• Supervision is exercised over professional staff; may act in the absence of the director, as assigned.

PUBLIC CONTACT:

• The employee has regular and frequent contact with department and division employees and other City employees; regular contact with individual citizens and groups, including elected officials.
• Meetings are virtual and in-person.
• Presentations during evening public meetings are part of the scope of this position.

SELECTION METHOD TYPE OF ELIGIBILITY LIST LIFE OF ELIGIBILITY LIST


Structured Oral Interview


To apply for this position, please apply online at on or before the closing date.

Chosen candidates will be required to provide proof of licenses, certifications, and education required for this position. Candidates will also be subject to qualifying pre-employment processes, including medical examination, drug/alcohol screen, employment verification, and criminal background check.

The City of Evanston is an equal opportunity employer and ensures against discrimination in employment on the basis of a person's race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, source of income, housing status, or gender identity. The City of Evanston is also committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. Any person needing mobility or communications access assistance should contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io (voice) or View phone number on click.appcast.io (TTY).