Grant Writer

Salary/Pay Plans

The salary listed is Step 1 in a structured pay plan. At 6 months of employment with the District, the salary will increase to Step 2: $91,062.92. At 18 months, the salary will increase to Step 3: $96,924.10. There are 9 total steps for TAM 14 of the pay plan (view full pay plan). These increases are based on service time in the job classification and require a 'Meets Standard' performance rating.

Original Entrance - Introduction

This examination is open to all candidates, both internal and external, who meet the minimum requirements.

Applications will be accepted only during the designated filing period for this examination. The opening and closing dates of the filing period are listed in this announcement. Applications must be filed by the following method:

Submitted online through the District's Online Employment Center at www.districtjobs.org. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on the closing date in order to be considered.

The deadline for filing an application will not be extended due to any unavailability of the District's Online Employment Center. The District will not be liable for the Online Employment Center being unavailable for any period of time, and it is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application form is completed and submitted in a timely manner. Therefore, it is recommended that applications be submitted early in the filing period.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application form is completed and submitted in a timely manner by the method described above.

Descriptions and dates of education, experience and any required license or certification should be very clear so that it is understood exactly how the applicant meets the minimum requirements. Prospective employees will be required to provide documentation of the required education, experience and licensure/certification upon employment. Falsification of a material statement in an application may constitute grounds for rejection of the application, exclusion from the examination, removal from the eligible list, or discharge of an employee from his or her position in the Classified Service.

Minimum Requirement Date: The minimum requirements for this examination must be met by the qualification date listed in this announcement.

Residency Requirement: There is no residency requirement to participate in the examination; however, all District employees must be domiciled within the boundaries of the District within six months of successful completion of probation. (The District is in Cook County, Illinois, covering approximately 90% of the county area.)

Veterans' Preference: In Original Entrance examinations, five points for Veterans' Preference will be added, in accordance with the District statute, to the scores of those candidates who attain a passing score in all phases of the examination. Information regarding the periods of eligible service, the documentation needed to file a claim and Veterans' Preference claim forms can be obtained through the District's website, by clicking here, or requested at the test site.

Probationary Period: The probationary period for this classification is one year (250 days worked).

Hiring and Employment Objectives: The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is committed to hiring and employment practices that base employee selection on a candidate's knowledge, skill and ability to perform effectively on the job; provide equal employment opportunity to all applicants; prohibit the entry of political reasons or factors and other improper considerations into any stage of the selection and hiring processes; and create a transparent, honest and fair hiring system.

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D

Reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities will be made in accordance with applicable laws. Requests for testing accommodations are to be made within one week after the close of the filing period. For information regarding accommodation for individuals with disabilities, phone (312) 751-5170 (voice) or (312) 751-5916 (TTY).

Original Entrance - Examination

Duties: Under general supervision, researches and completes applications for alternative funding for District projects such as capital improvement projects.

Minimum Requirements: Graduation from a four-year accredited college or university majoring in business or public administration, communications, journalism, urban planning or a related field. Substitution: Professional experience in grant writing or technical writing activities may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. Professional certification as a grant writer may be substituted for one year of the required education.

Examination: The examination will consist of a written test weighted 50% and a written exercise (computer-based writing sample using word processing software, Microsoft Word) weighted 50%. The minimum passing score on the written test will be 70% unless determined otherwise by the Director of Human Resources. Candidates must achieve a passing score on each test to be eligible to compete in each subsequent test and to have their names placed on the eligible list.

The written test will assess candidates' knowledge, skill and ability in areas such as: grant research, writing, and management; information processing and planning; written communication; and oral and interpersonal communication.

The written exercise will assess candidates' knowledge, skill and ability in written communication including concept development, organization, mechanics, and appropriateness of style and tone.

Examination Process: All applicants will be advised by email if they have been admitted to the examination process. Applicants who do not receive a response to their application by end of day, Friday, September 5, 2025 should contact the Employee Selection Office at (312) 751-5100.

WRITTEN TEST: The written test will be administered on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, 3857 West 111th Street, Chicago, IL.

Candidates should report at 9:00 a.m. with the approved (printed) admission letter and driver's license or other form of photo identification. Calculators will be provided. The use of books, study guides, cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, laptops or other aids during the test is prohibited.

WRITTEN EXERCISE: Candidates who pass the written test will be informed by email regarding the date, time, and place of the written exercise tentatively scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 2025 at MWRD Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, 6001 W. Pershing Road, Cicero, IL 60804.

Original Entrance - Appointments

Appointments will be made from an eligible list with three categories: A (Exceptionally Well Qualified), B (Well Qualified) and C (Qualified). Candidates in the highest category will be given first consideration for appointment. The eligible list has a duration of three years. Appointment is subject to successfully passing a physical examination, a drug test and a criminal history background investigation.