Government OPT Jobs in Illinois
Government F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Illinois are concentrated in Chicago, Springfield, and Champaign, where agencies including the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology, Cook County government, and federally funded research bodies hire international graduates in policy analysis, data science, public health, and urban planning roles. Most positions require EAD authorization and compliance with E-Verify requirements.
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SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Job Number: 419915
Description
BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Senior Administrative Assistant
Business Affairs & Consumer Protection
Bureau or Division Name (if applicable)
Number of Positions: 1
(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)
Starting Salary: $62,544
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 11:59 pm CDT on 11/10/2026.
Under general supervision, performs administrative and office management support functions of a complex nature for a City manager, OR supervises staff performing office, clerical and/or administrative functions, and performs related duties as required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
- Researches, compiles, and analyzes data to prepare programmatic and administrative reports
- Relays and interprets management directives to staff
- Participates in the conduct of studies and special projects and prepares reports on findings
- Studies office operational processes, prepares reports on findings, and recommends procedural changes to improve efficiencies
- Creates and maintains databases and spreadsheets using various software packages
- Schedules events, meetings, and coordinates office support services
- Explains laws, rules, and procedures for complying with or obtaining departmental programs or services
- Audits work and program records to ensure compliance with required protocols
- Edits and proofreads documents and reports
- Drafts correspondence for supervisor's signature
- Orders and maintains materials and supplies and resolves problems with vendors
- Researches costs, monitors, and analyzes expenditures to assist in the preparation of the annual budget
- Maintains basic accounting and petty cash records for office-related expenditures
- Establishes and implements work standards and clerical and administrative procedures and ensures standards are met
- Provides instruction and training to staff on work operations and evaluates their performance, as required
- Reviews and reconciles clerical and data entry discrepancies
- Assists staff in resolving complex or sensitive operational work problems
- Supervises the maintenance, filing, scanning, and storage of electronic and manual records
- Interprets personnel policies and procedures to staff
- Attends meetings in the absence of the supervisor
- Processes administrative notices of violations (ANOVs) to the Department of Administrative Hearings
- Supports the intake, triage, and management of complaints, calls, and inquiries received by the Business Compliance Enforcement (BCE) unit
- Communicates with the public, complainants, and businesses regarding complaints, inquiries, and requests for information
- Oversees the filing, storage, and maintenance of office and electronic filing systems and updates tracking logs and databases
- Assists with planning, coordinating, and tracking management activities and operational priorities
- Serves as a liaison between BCE staff and other City departments and external contacts
- Coordinates the ordering, storage, and distribution of office supplies and/or coordinates equipment repair and maintenance
Note: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; there may be other duties that are essential to particular positions within the class.
Location: 2350 W Ogden, Chicago
Days: Monday – Friday
Hours: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Three (3) years of administrative, office assistant or secretarial experience.
Should the above criteria not be fulfilled, the following options are acceptable:
- A diploma or a certificate of completion from a vocational or business education program in Office Administration, plus two (2) years of administrative, office assistant or secretarial experience
- Graduation from an accredited college with an Associate’s degree, plus one (1) year of administrative, office assistant or secretarial experience
Educational & Employment Verification:
Please be advised that if you are selected to be hired, you must provide, upon request, adequate information regarding your education and employment history as it relates to the qualifications of the position for which you are applying. If you received your degree internationally, all international transcripts/diplomas must be accompanied by a Foreign Credential Evaluation. If the City of Chicago cannot verify this information, any offer extended to you will be withdrawn, and you will not be hired.
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
This position requires applicants to successfully pass a skills assessment test and complete an interview. Test results will be sent out by the Department of Human Resources after they have been analyzed and compiled. The candidates who receive a passing score on the skills assessment test will be invited to interview for the position. Candidate(s) receiving a passing score on the test and possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the interview, will be selected in seniority/lottery order.
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: City of Chicago :: Classification and Pay Plan
APPLICATION EVALUATION:
Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resources 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 or 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
Job Posting
: Oct 27, 2026, 12:00:00 AM
Closing Date (Period for Applying) - External
: Nov 10, 2026, 11:59:00 PM
BU: 01
Salary: $62,544
Pay Basis
: Yearly
OPT Government Job Roles in Illinois
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Search Government Jobs in IllinoisGovernment OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which government employers in Illinois sponsor F-1 OPT visas?
Illinois government employers that regularly hire F-1 OPT holders include the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology, Cook County Bureau of Technology, the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development, and federally funded institutions such as Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. These employers are enrolled in E-Verify, which is a federal requirement for OPT employment authorization verification.
Which cities in Illinois have the most government F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Chicago generates the highest volume of government F-1 OPT positions in Illinois, driven by Cook County agencies, the City of Chicago, and a dense cluster of federally funded research facilities. Springfield, as the state capital, offers opportunities across executive branch agencies. Champaign and Urbana attract government contractors and federally affiliated research roles connected to the University of Illinois system.
What types of government roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Illinois?
Government roles that commonly qualify for F-1 OPT employment in Illinois include data analyst, policy research associate, GIS specialist, public health analyst, urban planner, and IT systems engineer positions. These roles typically require at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field, satisfying the specialty occupation standard that underlies OPT eligibility and, for STEM degree holders, the 24-month STEM OPT extension.
How do I find government F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate lists verified government F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Illinois, filtered by employer E-Verify enrollment and LCA filing history so you can see which agencies have actively hired OPT workers. Search by location and filter for government and public sector roles to surface positions in Chicago, Springfield, and Champaign. Checking employer LCA records through Migrate Mate helps confirm a hiring agency's actual sponsorship track record before you apply.
Are there any Illinois-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in government roles?
Illinois state agencies are subject to E-Verify enrollment under state law, meaning your Employment Authorization Document will be checked through the federal system before you begin work. Some Illinois government positions, particularly in law enforcement or roles requiring security clearances, have citizenship or permanent residency requirements that make them unavailable to F-1 OPT holders. Confirming citizenship eligibility in the job posting before applying saves significant time in the government hiring process.