Rehabilitation Services Senior Policy Advisor
Springfield, IL, US, 62762
Job Requisition ID: 50497
Opening Date: 10/16/2025
Closing Date: 10/29/2025
Agency: Department of Human Services
Class Title: SENIOR PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTR - 40070
Skill Option: Health and Human Services
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: Anticipated Salary: $9,300 - $11,300 per month ($111,600 - $135,600 per year)
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
County: Sangamon
Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code: None
Merit Comp Code: Term Appointment/ Agency
A resume is highly encouraged to evaluate your qualifications and skills as part of your application. Please attach a DETAILED Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV) to the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application if you decide to provide one.
Why Work for Illinois?
Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.
No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.
Position Overview
The Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) is the state’s lead agency serving people with disabilities. The mission of the Division is to assist individuals with disabilities in achieving their goals of employment, education, and independent living. This position is the Division’s senior policy advisor and liaison to the federal government and required advisory bodies on employment, community integration and youth transition issues. The Division of Rehabilitation Services is seeking to hire a dynamic and organized policy advisor with strong communication and leadership skills.
Essential Functions
- Serves as the Rehabilitation Services Senior Policy Advisor for the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS).
- Formulates primary program policy and policy guidelines for administration and delivery of vocational, educational, and independent living rehabilitation programs in Illinois.
- Serves as DRS liaison to DHS Policy and Legislative staff on the implementation of rules, legislation, and policies and to advisory bodies, specifically the Illinois Statewide Rehabilitation Council (SRC).
- Serves as an advisor on disability and educational issues in DRS.
- Serves as full-line supervisor.
- Travels to represent the DRS at meetings and conferences.
- Performs other duties as assigned or required which are reasonably within the scope of duties enumerated.
Minimum Qualifications
- Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college.
- Requires four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in policy development for a vocational rehabilitation program or direct service program working with individuals with disabilities.
Preferred Qualifications
- Four (4) years of professional experience analyzing, interpreting, formulating, and preparing recommended changes to state and federal policies, rules, procedures, and laws guiding the implementation of administration and delivery of vocational, educational, and independent living rehabilitation programs.
- Four (4) years of professional experience working with federal statutes related to rehabilitation programs such as the Rehabilitation Act and amendments, the Social Security Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Workforce Innovative Opportunities Act (WIOA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act, etc.
- Two (2) years of professional experience interacting with and communicating clearly and tactfully with a wide range of individuals that may include state agency officials, the public, internal and external stakeholders, community service providers, professional and lay groups, and employees.
- Three (3) years of professional experience reviewing proposed federal and state legislation including bills, amendments, and resolutions to determine the impact on rehabilitation programs for a public or private organization.
- Two (2) years of experience developing and preparing analytical summaries in an accessible format for a wide variety of audiences using a variety of platforms, such as Access, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Two (2) years of professional experience in strategic planning, policy development and implementation, and the preparation of impact analysis.
Conditions of Employment
- Requires the ability to travel.
- 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.
*All conditions of employment listed are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.
Work Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday; 1-hour unpaid lunch
Work Location: 100 South Grand Ave E, Springfield, Illinois, 62762
Division of Rehabilitation Services
Director's Office
Policy/Rules/Legislation
Agency Contact: DHS.HiringUnit@illinois.gov
Posting Group: Leadership & Management; Social Services
About the Agency:
The Illinois Department of Human Services uplifts individuals and communities across Illinois. Our mission is to respond to the needs of all people in Illinois so they can lead healthy, safe, and enriched lives. Our vision is the future we are shaping with dignity and the well-being for everyone in Illinois. Our values are the principles that guide us as we work to remove systemic barriers and create lasting opportunities with Compassion, Accessibility, Responsibility, and Equity.
Term Appointment: Candidates hired into a term position shall be appointed for a term of 4 years and are subject to a probationary period. The term may be renewed for successive four-year terms at the Director of the Department of Human Services’s discretion.
As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:
- A Pension Program
- Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance
- 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually
- 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)
- 10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)
- Personal, Sick, & Vacation rates modified for 12-hour & part-time work schedules (as applicable)
- 13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years
- Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)
- 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
- Deferred Compensation Program - A supplemental retirement plan
- Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
- Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
- GI Bill® Training/Apprenticeship Benefits eligibility for qualifying Veterans
- 5% Salary Differential for Bilingual Positions
- Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)
For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://cms.illinois.gov/benefits/stateemployee.html
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Use the “Apply” button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.
If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so.
State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees – a link is available at the top left of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon.
Non-State employees should log in on the using the “View Profile” link in the top right of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.
If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:
State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid
Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com – click “Application Procedures” in the footer of every page of the website.
State employees should include temporary assignment in the application profile. Temporary assignment verification forms can be uploaded to the Additional Documents section.
The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:
- donotreply@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
- systems@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
Nearest Major Market: Springfield