Policy Manager

Summary of Position: The Policy Manager is accountable for overseeing all work done by the Advocacy Team related to policy and research, including municipal policy, state policy, county policy, and policy research. The Policy Coordinator will take the lead in coordinating policy work with external partners and will represent Joining Forces in external policy discussions. Additionally, the Policy Coordinator will develop policy-related content for Joining Forces’ educational work and for its communications to all stakeholders.

Specific Duties:

Policy Planning:

• Develop a policy map that identifies avenues for advocacy to support the advocacy team’s vision of systems change that will lead to creation of sufficient housing affordability in our region.

• Develop relationships with leaders across the country who are working on key system changes for affordability to create synergies in research, strategy, and campaigns.
• Stay abreast of best practices and new research related to housing affordability and assimilate new information into the agency’s advocacy direction, platforms, goals, education, and messaging.

Relationship Management:

• Establish and deepen relationships with current statewide advocacy partners and policy coalitions at regional and state levels.

• Cultivate purposeful relationships with municipal, county, and state legislators and their staffers through regular communications and strategic interactions.

• Engage Connections’ program staff as advocates, making use of their experiences and knowledge to provide substantive and unique information to legislators.

• Coordinate other staff as needed relationships with legislators and policy organizations and remain aware of and participate in cultivating and stewarding funding relationships.

Policy Campaigns:

• Identify policies for action each year and develop campaigns to address those policies.

• Lead all planning for Connections’ annual Lobby Day(s) in Springfield.

• Create and maintain a database of ongoing policy projects with relevant research and policy materials related to each project.

• Establish and maintain a database of affordable housing plans and policies in the municipalities that we are working in. Create and maintain Planner/Tracker system for Policy related projects and tasks.

• Conduct informal check-ins on all policy-related tasks assigned to other advocacy team members. Track progress of all policy related tasks.

Policy Education & Engagement:

• Create policy education materials and presentations and provide content to other team members as needed.

• Provide advice and guidance on issues related to policy questions.

• Coach Advocacy Team members on communicating policy ideas in a clear, easy to understand way to a variety of different stakeholders.

• Create strategies to engage with CFTH program staff and participants so they have meaningful roles in providing policy ideas and supporting advocacy efforts.

Reports to: Director of Advocacy

January 2025

The following qualifications are requirements for the position:

• Degree in public policy or related

• 3 – 5 years working in a policy-related role involving public education and advocacy

• Experience leading organizing and advocacy efforts at the local or state level

• Excellent communications skills, both written and interpersonal

• Knowledge of municipal and state legislative processes

• Ability to work independently

• Strong presentation skills

• Knowledge about affordable housing strategies and practices

• Valid Illinois driver's license

• Flexible weekday/evening /weekend schedule to accommodate variability of assignments.

• Occasional travel to suburbs, Lake County, and downstate

Other Requirements:

• Must submit to a criminal background check.
• Must submit to or provide evidence of a recent test for tuberculosis.

Agency Overview: At Connections for the Homeless, we serve and catalyze our community to end homelessness, one person at a time. In support of our mission, we operate using the following Core Values to guide our interactions between participants, colleagues, and our community: equity and inclusion, community, resilience, transparency, and generosity of spirit.

Our advocacy program, Joining Forces for Affordable Housing (Joining Forces), has united organizational and individual members in northern Cook County and now in Lake County to bring attention to the affordable housing crisis, educate our community on the impact of systemic racism on housing, and offer a platform for community partnerships.