Director of Public Policy

Summary of Position

The Director of Public Policy leads and expands the organization’s municipal, county, and state level policy efforts by shaping a strategic agenda focused on expanding housing affordability, attainability, and stability to help end homelessness. The position is responsible for advancing the policy agenda of the organization and will represent the organization in coalitions, ensure strategic development of key external and legislative relationships, lead research and analysis on housing policy, and serve as a subject matter expert and spokesperson on housing policy issues, with an emphasis on municipal housing and zoning policies.

The Director of Public Policy will also provide technical assistance, local policy analysis, and strategy guidance to Joining Forces for Affordable Housing, the municipal organizing project of the policy and advocacy department. The Director of Public Policy also provides supervision and guidance to assigned policy and advocacy support staff or interns, as applicable.

Please submit a professional writing sample that relates to your affordable housing policy experience.

• Collaborate with executive leadership to develop the organization’s policy platform to advance affordable housing.
• Develop and present an annual policy agenda for executive approval reflective of stakeholder input and aligned with Illinois housing and homeless service partner organizations’ legislative priorities.
• Track and report out on policy agenda progress and identify and track all other relevant legislative and regulatory issues at all levels of government, keep senior leadership informed, and proactively identify opportunities for strategic response and advocacy in collaboration with other departments.
• Partner with senior leadership to advance policies that support and expand the homeless services sector in Illinois.
• Partner closely with the public funding team to advance public funding advocacy strategies.
• Conduct lobbying on behalf of the organization and track all lobbying activities as required by the organization for reporting purposes.
• Research policy solutions and maintain current data on innovative strategies and models for advancing affordable housing at all levels of government.
• Develop strategy to expand legislative relationships at all levels of government, and across northeastern Illinois, in collaboration with executive leadership.
• Identify key housing coalitions where Connections should have a presence and create communication strategies to keep relevant staff abreast of all key decisions or activities.
• In collaboration with the communications team, develop a process to proactively respond to legislative alerts and advise on policy related marketing collateral.
• In collaboration with others, develop internal efforts to engage volunteers, staff, and program participants in advocacy efforts.
• Advise on the development of educational training content to ensure policy alignment and present workshops as needed.
• Collaborate with advocacy team to plan in-district and Springfield trips that activate stakeholders for grassroots lobbying.
• Represent the organization in media, hearings, and advocacy events.
• Publish policy insights and thought leadership to elevate affordable housing issues.
• Collaborate with the advocacy team to refine our advocacy methodology to support chapters in organizing to advance municipal affordable housing policy.
• Assist in creating or reviewing advocacy tools as needed.
• Attend key planning meetings with municipal advocates to provide guidance and input as needed.
• Attend campaign planning meetings as needed to advise on policy strategy.
• Lead research and data strategies for municipal organizing to provide advocacy staff and local chapters with the data needed to advance affordable housing policy solutions.

• Adhere to the Code of Conduct for Connections for the Homeless.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Extensive knowledge of pro-housing and affordable housing policies at the state, county, and municipal levels with an emphasis on how municipal zoning can advance affordable…