Community Economic Development Jobs in Chicago, IL

The Deputy Director, Business Development plays a critical role in Illinois’ aggressive efforts to attract businesses and create jobs in communities across the state. The Deputy Director, Business Development will oversee all of DCEO’s competitive incentive tax credit and grant programs to attract and retain businesses and promote the State’s superior business attributes. Companies participating in the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program committed to creating nearly 4,000 jobs and nearly $2.5 billion in private investment in the first three months of 2026 alone. The State of Illinois has significantly increased its business attraction and retention toolkit since 2019 – making Illinois more competitive as it vies to attract large job creators. If you are passionate about business attraction and looking to lead a large portfolio or programs managed by a highly talented team, apply today.    

1. Functions as Deputy Director overseeing all objectives for the Office of Business Development.

• Directs, designs and implements tax credit and grant programs to support business attraction and retention in
  Illinois.
• Formulates and implements policy and legislation in partnership with the Office of Legislative Affairs to ensure that
  Illinois remains competitive with other states.
• Possesses authority to negotiate and bind the agency to agreements with companies in collaboration with the Chief
  Business Attraction and Development Officer on issues of substantial impact to other programmatic areas of the
  Agency.
• Ensures long-term compliance and continuity within programs.
• Directs clear and effective marketing of the Office’s programs.
• Directs the Office to ensure a high level of professionalism and customer service.
• Contributes proactively to business attraction and retention pipeline development and management in partnership
  with other Offices under the Chief Business Attraction and Development Officer.
• Maintains a broad understanding of the state’s business climate and analyzes relative effectiveness of the Office’s
  programs.

2. Serves as full-line supervisor.

• Assigns and reviews work.
• Provides guidance and training to assigned staff.
• Counsels staff regarding work performance.
• Reassigns staff to meet day-to-day operating needs.
• Establishes annual goals and objectives.
• Approves time off.
• Adjusts first level grievances.
• Effectively recommends and imposes discipline up to and including discharge.
• Prepares and signs performance evaluations.
• Determines and recommends staffing needs.

3. Directs the preparation and administration of the budget for the Office of Business Development with full authority
to allocate and control expenditures.

• Directs, reviews and coordinates Office budget formulation and submission.
• Adheres to agency policy, mission and Office of Management and Budget regulations and procedures for budget
  proposals.
• Develops annual spending plan.
• Directs Office’s obligations, commitments, and expenditures.

4. Serves as the Department’s Subject Matter Expert on the state’s large business incentives programs.

• Travels, with some overnight stays, in the performance of duties.
• Confident speaker to businesses, economic development organizations, elected officials and local governments
  regarding state incentives programs.
• Comprehensive knowledge of underlying state strategic plans and priority sectors.

5. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties
enumerated above.

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four years of college.
• Requires prior experience equivalent to four years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization.

• Prefers four or more years of experience in the development or management of public administration programs in the business, finance, or marketing fields.
• Prefers four or more years or professional supervisory experience.

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Requires the ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

The mission of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is to create equitable economic opportunities across the State of Illinois. By attracting and supporting major job creators, investing in communities, strengthening Illinois’ world-class workforce, fostering innovation, and ushering in the new clean energy economy, DCEO works to fortify Illinois’ reputation as a global economic powerhouse while ensuring Illinois is the best state to live, work and do business.