Description
BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
STAFF ASSISTANT
DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND SPECIAL EVENTS (DCASE)
Executive Administration Division
Number of Positions: 1
(Additional vacancies pending budget approval possible)
Starting Annual Salary: $68,616
All qualified and interested candidates must apply online at
Chi.gov/DCASEJobs
This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City’s collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) – BARGAINING UNIT 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.
BID INSTRUCTIONS: Apply on the bid site: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/103/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en AND
1. Check the box on your profile titled “Currently employed by the City of Chicago”
2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled ‘payee/employee number’)
3. Select your correct bargaining unit
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION
Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 08/10/2026
The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city — to strengthen and celebrate Chicago.
DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city — serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago.
The Staff Assistant will provide administrative support to the Executive Administration Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), which include functions related to Human Resources, Special Projects, Information Technology, and Arts Education. In this capacity, the position will be responsible for the following:
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Implement administrative and organizational practices and procedures for the division, such as developing, preparing, organizing, maintaining, and storing the division’s confidential files, documents, and filing system, managing inquiries, and using judgment to ensure the appropriate team members are informed of operations and the office runs smoothly and efficiently
Maintain calendars, schedule appointments, prepare documents, serve as a note taker at meetings and events, and brief employees in advance of meetings and appointments by using Microsoft software products, Outlook/Office Suite and other scheduling and meeting tools to avoid scheduling conflicts and to prepare for meetings
Relieve division staff of administrative, clerical, and office functions, such as filing, organizing, ordering office supplies, formatting document lists, mail merges using Microsoft software, and other related clerical functions
Maintain confidentiality of all materials, specifically personnel forms and human resources documents to maintain integrity and to comply with rules and policies
May assist with the travel request process for the department, including compiling travel documents, uploading information into the city’s system, making travel and hotel arrangements, and preparing paperwork for travel reimbursements
Assist with time and attendance processes, including reviewing edit forms for accuracy and completion, entering data into the city’s system, generating reports, responding to inquiries, and filing documents
Additional duties may be required for this position.
Location: Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
Executive Administration Division
78 E. Washington St., Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL 60602
Days: Monday – Friday
Hours: 9:00AM – 5:0PM
THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education, Training, and Experience
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree or higher in Business Administration, Public Administration or a related field, plus one (1) year of administrative experience
Should the above criteria not be fulfilled, the following options are acceptable:
Five (5) years of administrative work experience- Graduation from an accredited college with an Associate’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or a directly related field, plus three (3) years of administrative work experience
NOTE: You must provide your transcripts or diploma, professional license, or training certificates at time of processing, if applicable.
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:
This position requires applicants to complete a universal assessment, and a writing exercise as part of the oral interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral and written parts of the interview will be selected. Selected Bidders will be hired in seniority order according to the collective bargaining agreement.
Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:
Demonstrated work experience managing multiple projects/tasks
Experience with customer service/communicating with a variety of people
Experience with scheduling meetings and events and responding to inquiries
Previous administrative/secretarial work experience in the areas of human resources
Previous work experience maintaining and generating reports
Previous work experience writing responses and correspondence
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html
For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:
https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf
APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.
ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.
The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.
City of Chicago
Brandon Johnson, Mayor
