Job Opportunities

For most full-time positions not included in a bargaining unit, the positions fall under the authority of the Urbana Civil Service System. For more information, you can visit our web page about Civil Service.

Civil Service FAQ

What is Civil Service?
For most full-time positions not included in a bargaining unit, the positions fall under the authority of the Urbana Civil Service system.  

Most full-time positions at the City of Urbana are governed by the Urbana Civil Service system unless otherwise specified.

• Urbana Civil Service Rules
• City Code Sec. 2-99
• Civil Service Commission

What is a Civil Service Register?
A Civil Service Register is a list of applicants who have met or exceeded the passing score set by the Urbana Civil Service Commission for that position.  Only applicants on the list will be considered for hiring.  If you are on the list but are not hired initially, you may still be considered if another position becomes open later on.  Lists are usually valid for one to two years, and we will notify you when we plan to decertify a list so that you can reapply for that position if you wish. 

FMLA regulations require all employers to post the updated FMLA notice.

If you need additional assistance, please contact the Human Resources division at (217) 384-2326 or e-mail: hr [at] urbanail.gov (HR[at]urbanail[dot]gov).

Veterans Preference Points

If you are a veteran applying for a Civil Service position, you may be entitled to five points added to your final score. To ensure you receive credit, please upload your DD-214 form or other related documentation with your application.

Civil Service Exams

Military personnel should contact the Human Resources and Finance Department to request a make-up written examination if they have military orders in connection with current service that indicate they are unavailable on the day of a Civil Service examination.

To request a make-up, submit an application for an open position to Femi Fletcher at jobs [at] urbanail.gov (jobs[at]urbanail[dot]gov) and request the accommodation in writing (email is acceptable) with a copy of your military orders attached to the email. Please include your email address, daytime base phone number, and/or name and phone number of a friend or family member with whom you have regular contact and entrust with your personal communication.

GI Bill

If you are offered a public safety position, you may be eligible to receive GI Bill benefits during training.

Special Accommodations

If you are a person with a disability or a disabled veteran and are applying for a job at the City of Urbana, we want to ensure your application process goes as smoothly as possible. If you need additional assistance, information, or answers to your questions, feel free to contact the Human Resources and Finance Department at 217-384-2326.

Military Leave

As a public employer, the City supports and affirms the following regulations covering military leave, including:

Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA): USERRA provides protection rights of reinstatement to employees who participate in the National Guard and Reserve (38 U.S.C. §§ 4301–4333).

Local Government Employees Benefits Continuation Act: United States reserve members and Illinois National Guard members who are employed by the local government are able to retain their employee benefits throughout periods of active service. Reserve and National Guard members are entitled to their salary minus the amount of military base pay received for active duty (50 ILCS 140).

Municipal Employees Military Active Duty Act: This Act authorizes municipal authorities to make pension payments on behalf of service members during periods of active duty in lieu of deductions from salary (50 ILCS 120).

Public Employee Armed Services Rights Act: When called into active duty, the rights and benefits of Reserve and National Guard members are protected. This includes insurance benefits, promotional, employment, contractual, or salary benefits, and pension rights (5 ILCS 330).​

FAQs About Applying for Employment in the City of Urbana

What is the difference between a minimum qualification and a desired qualification?
A minimum qualification is one that you must have in order to be considered for the position. If you do not have all of the minimum qualifications stated on the job announcement, we will not be able to pass your application on to the next step of the hiring process. A desired qualification is not required to pass on to the next phase of the hiring process. If you don’t have one or more of the desired traits, you will still be considered. However, the more desirable traits you have, the higher your application score will be.

In the supplemental questions section of the application, can I upload my resume and answer "see resume"?
No, you will need to answer the questions in order for your application to be reviewed. If you answer the questions with "see resume" or "see attached," we will consider this to be an incomplete answer.

How will you contact me?
We will contact you at the email address that you have provided on your application. Please be sure and check your email often following the priority application deadline.

Do you only contact applicants for interviews and job offers?
 We will always notify you of your status, even if you do not qualify for the position. Be sure to check the email account you listed on your application, as that is how we will contact you. You may want to also check your spam folder in case an email from us was inadvertently directed there by your email provider.

I received a notice that mentioned my exam score, but I never took an exam. What does that mean?
For some positions, we will score your application based on the supplemental questions section. This score is then used as your Civil Service exam score.

What is a Civil Service Register?
A Civil Service Register is a list of applicants who have met or exceeded the passing score set by the Urbana Civil Service Commission for that position. Only applicants on the list will be considered for hiring. If you are on the list but are not hired initially, you may still be considered if another position becomes open in the future. Lists are usually valid for one to two years, and we will notify you when we plan to decertify a list so that you can reapply for that position if you wish.

What are residency points?
The Urbana City Council has established a Residency Preference Program for Civil Service positions, which means that you can receive five additional points to your Civil Service exam score once you have met the minimum qualifications and the passing score. You are eligible for this program if you have resided in Urbana for 12 months or more. To take advantage of this program, you will need to submit documentation of your residency to the Human Resources and Finance Department before the position closing date. For more information on this program, please refer to your job application or call the Human Resources and Finance Department at 217-384-2326.

How long does the hiring process usually take?
Once a position closes, we will usually notify applicants of their status within two to three weeks. To make sure you receive a response, you will want to check your email account on a regular basis and be sure to check your spam filter in case a message has been inadvertently directed there. If you have not received a response within a few weeks of the position closing, please call the Human Resources and Finance Department at 217-384-2326.

I have already tested for a position. If I apply for a different position, do I need to test again?: Yes, if you apply for a different position or if you are not chosen for a position and you reapply for the same position, you will need to test again. If you receive an invitation to test, you will need to test. If you have already tested and have received notification that you are on a City of Urbana Civil Service Register, you are on the register for only that position and will still need to retest.