Application Specialist

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America•Chicago, IL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Information Technology (IT) provides technology services, support and solutions to drive the mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and ensure that the data sources of the enterprise systems inform and support the strategic direction and intent of the churchwide organization. Information Technology believes in creating transformative change through spreading God's word, building community, and enabling spiritual growth. Our people create value by accompanying our partners in delivering and advancing purposeful technology solutions that reduce complexity and increase the focus on mission in a secure, people-centered, consistent, impactful, collaborative, and cost-effective manner. Under the direction of Application Analysts and senior IT staff, the Application Specialist provides foundational support for enterprise applications across financial, collaboration, constituent, and digital platforms. This entry-level role focuses on assisting with application maintenance, basic configuration, documentation, and user support. The Application Specialist will help ensure the smooth operation of applications by performing routine tasks, supporting testing efforts, and maintaining documentation. This position is ideal for individuals beginning their careers in IT or application support, with opportunities to grow into more advanced roles. This is a full time, regular, exempt, Chicago-based hybrid position. This position requires being in the office 2 days each week and more as needed. The eligibility of a candidate for remote or hybrid positions may depend on the residency of the candidate, and the budget for the role, including salary or pay, insurance coverage, and/or tax burden. Candidates for this position must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

Requirements

1+ year of experience in IT support, application administration, or related technical role (internships or academic projects acceptable).
Familiarity with Microsoft 365 tools, basic SQL, and general understanding of cloud-based applications.
Strong attention to detail, willingness to learn, and ability to follow instructions.
Strong mathematical and logical skills with accuracy to detail.
Must be able to handle confidential data in a professional manner.
Appreciation for the mission, vision, and, values of the ELCA.
Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism.
Minimum Technical Competency: Computer knowledge that enables you to operate a Windows Computer and follow basic troubleshooting instructions. Software skills to efficiently use computer programs and applications. Ability to leverage computer knowledge and software skills to understand new software, follow process, and identify opportunities for improvement.
Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.) preferred as well as various resources specific to this industry, including project management software.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and work experience or certifications will be considered.
Exposure to enterprise systems such as Workday, Blackbaud, or collaboration platforms is a plus.
Valid driver’s license preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist in monitoring and maintaining assigned applications.
Perform basic troubleshooting and escalate issues as needed.
Support routine updates and configuration changes under supervision.
Participate in testing of application updates and new features.
Assist with installation, configuration, and deployment tasks.
Document test results and support quality assurance efforts.
Help maintain technical and operational documentation.
Provide first-level support to end users and assist in training or onboarding activities.
Update knowledge base and IT portal entries.
Perform other related tasks as assigned by supervisors or project leads.