APEX Operations Coordinator

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Technology (EIT), Small Business Office seeks a purpose-driven, initiative-taking individual interested in becoming the Operations Coordinator for its Department of Defense (DoD) funded, for new and existing small businesses. The Operations Coordinator provides management direction and oversees the activities of the Illinois APEX Accelerator. Prepares reports and statements for DoD, the State of Illinois, DCEO, and the Illinois Small Business Development Center Network. We invite qualified applicants to apply for the position of APEX Accelerator Operations Coordinator and become part of DCEO’s team of professionals that ensure our program continues to provide best-in-class government contracting and certification technical assistance to Illinois small businesses. We encourage all to apply.

Essential Functions

• Implements operational policies and procedures for the Illinois APEX Accelerator to ensure program goals and objectives are met.
• Monitors and evaluates the activities of the Illinois APEX Accelerator program.
• Works with network coordinator, grantees, DCEO fiscal, and EIT program staff to ensure the timely execution of APEX grants.
• Draft and finalize annual program proposal for Department of Defense funding.
• Draft and finalize Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) and the evaluation of the applications received for the selection of local APEX Accelerator partners.
• Confers with other coordinators and management on the integration of program activities to address administrative problems and implement program improvements.
• Prepares and delivers outreach presentations at conferences and workshops to organizations, business groups and chambers of commerce.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires the knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college, preferably with courses in business or public administration.
• Requires two (2) years of responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization.

Specialized Skills

• Requires two (2) years professional experience in a public or private organization focused on government contracting and socio-economic status technical assistance.
• Requires two (2) years of professional experience with assisting grantees to understand the general business principles and practices for Federal and state awards outlined in 2 CFR 200. 
• Requires two (2) years of experience working with Department of Defense (DoD) cooperative agreements. 
• Requires two (2) years professional experience with Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) program reviews. 
• Requires two (2) years of professional experience preparing compliant Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) reports.
• Requires two (2) years professional experience preparing annual applications for DoD funding and program administration. 
• Requires professional experience with issuing GATA compliant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcements. 
• Requires two (2) years professional experience in reconciling grantee expenses for accurate reimbursement of reasonable, allowable, and allocable costs. 
• Requires two (2) years professional experience with developing work plans and tracking of progress made toward program goals. 
• Requires two (2) years professional experience with monitoring and evaluating program data to ensure compliance with prescribed policies and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers two (2) years professional experience in a public or private organization focused on government contracting and socio-economic status technical assistance.
• Prefers two (2) years of professional experience with assisting grantees to understand the general business principles and practices for Federal and state awards outlined in 2 CFR 200. 
• Prefers two (2) years of experience working with Department of Defense (DoD) cooperative agreements. 
• Prefers two (2) years professional experience with Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) program reviews. 
• Prefers two (2) years professional experience with preparing compliant Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) reports. 
• Prefers two (2) years professional experience preparing annual applications for DoD funding and program administration. 
• Prefers two (2) years experience with issuing GATA compliant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcements. 
• Prefers two (2) years professional experience in reconciling grantee expenses for accurate reimbursement of reasonable, allowable, and allocable costs. 
• Prefers two (2) years professional experience with developing work plans and tracking of progress made toward program goals. 
• Prefers two (2) years professional experience with monitoring and evaluating program data to ensure compliance with prescribed policies and procedures.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license. 
• Requires the ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. 
• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history. 
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

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.