Position Type: Full-time, Exempt
Salary: $70,000.00 - $75,000.00
Benefits: include 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision coverage for employees; generous paid time off; short-term disability; life insurance; flexible and remote work; and more.
Reports to: Co-Executive Director
Application Deadline: April 5, 2024
CAFHA seeks a strategic, committed, and passionate leader to fulfill its full-time Director of Policy & Organizing position. This position is approximately 40 hours per week, a key member of CAFHA’s leadership team, and reports to CAFHA’s Co-Executive Director.
The Director of Policy & Organizing will manage our Organizing Team, currently made up of our Senior Housing Justice Organizer and Housing Justice Organizer. The Director of Policy & Organizing will serve a central role in developing and moving policy campaigns forward, lead the team in building collective power, and ultimately advancing housing justice. An individual in this position must possess a deep commitment to movement building and have experience in community organizing and policy advocacy; must be a keen strategist and know how to lead successful legislative campaigns; must be a skilled communicator who can activate people, organizations, and elected officials to impact meaningful change; and must be a mentor and motivator with experience supporting teams with diverse skill sets.
More information available here.
Primary Functions
Team Lead:
- Direct CAFHA’s Policy Advocacy & Organizing program, by working with our Organizing Team to set an advocacy agenda, develop organizing strategies, and hone CAFHA’s unique niche within the housing organizing space.
- Provide direct supervision and support to two front-line organizers to nurture skill development and effectiveness, performance objectives, and evaluate accomplishments.
- Build a team culture of mutual accountability and appreciation for the unique expertise our staff brings to the table.
Housing Justice Campaigns:
- Apply your organizing and policy advocacy expertise to develop CAFHA’s housing justice campaign strategies with the organizing team and set an annual advocacy agenda.
- Research and provide issue assessments, policy briefs, and reports to guide our policy work.
- Represent CAFHA within housing justice coalitions; and at times lead coalitions that CAFHA facilitates.
- Represent CAFHA at media events, campaign actions, and community events.
- Remain up-to-date on emerging issues and trends related to housing justice in the Chicago Metro region.
- Work with the Communications and Training Manager to build support for housing justice initiatives by developing impactful communication to CAFHA members, partners, and other stakeholders.
- Establish and maintain relationships with elected officials and other policymakers.
- Work with the Organizing Team to design and implement training and workshops on community organizing topics to develop the leadership capacity of community members.
- Ensure that the Policy Advocacy & Organizing program activities are consistent with the program objectives and that objectives can be met with available resources.
- Ensure the program meets targets, budgets, and timelines, with appropriate reporting and evaluation.
- Develop, complete, and finalize all program outcomes and deliverables according to the timeline.
- Assist with program fundraising efforts.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Deep commitment to housing justice, racial equity, and the transformational power of community organizing.
- A minimum of 5 years legislative advocacy and policy development experience, with at least 3 years of direct community organizing experience.
- A minimum of 3 years of experience supervising staff.
- Substantive knowledge of housing justice issues and relevant laws and legislative processes in Illinois.
- Strong track record of successful legislative campaign development and coalition participation/leadership
- Demonstrated background in data analysis, legislative research, and policy-related writing or reporting.
- A preference for candidates with lived experience or direct experience working with individuals who have faced housing instability and/or housing discrimination.
- Ability to build and maintain trusting, equitable relationships with leaders with lived experience and organizational partners.
- Prepared to be creative, adaptable, and responsive to the needs of community members.
- Openness and ability to give and receive constructive feedback to deepen CAFHA’s impact.
- Exceptional communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks, delegate effectively, and meet deadlines.
- Ability to travel throughout the Chicago metro region.
To Apply: Provide a resume and cover letter to: apply@cafha.net with the subject line: “Director of Policy & Organizing.” In your cover letter, please respond to the following questions. Applications without these questions addressed will not be considered.
- How have you worked to build power for justice with directly impacted people and communities?
- What are the qualities of a good organizer? How have you demonstrated those attributes in your work?