Legal Research & Policy Attorney and Policy & Advocacy Professional - Heartland Alliance

Who: Heartland Alliance

What: Grounded in 130 years working to advance human rights, Heartland Alliance informs public policy decisions and advances solutions to improve opportunities and quality of life for people experiencing inequity, living in poverty, and facing danger.

Heartland Alliance’s Research & Policy Division engages in research on social issues and solutions, policy and systems change, and field building nationwide. The division is home to the Social IMPACT Research Center, Heartland Alliance’s Policy & Advocacy team, and Heartland Alliance’s National Initiatives on Economic Opportunity. Our Policy and Advocacy team identifies and advances proven solutions to poverty at the local, state, and federal levels. We lead by developing policy proposals, building strategic alliances, and pursuing legislative and budgetary action. Our Policy and Advocacy team manages several projects based on our policy priorities, including: financial justice, poverty and economic security, and health care. The team also focuses on advancing a sustainable budget, supporting human services, and fighting injustice. Our work is advancing meaningful policy and systems change to strengthen communities, advance equity, and create a more just society.

Legal Research & Policy Attorney
 
Heartland Alliance is seeking a Legal Research & Policy Attorney to lead the analysis of Illinois state statutes, regulations, and case law as it pertains to the collateral consequences of having a criminal record. This person will play a central role in Heartland Alliance's groundbreaking efforts to advance wholesale collateral consequence reform in Illinois.

In partnership with team members across the Research & Policy Division and with expert consultants, the will work to review and analyze Illinois state statutes, regulations, and case law in order to inform our legislative strategy and blueprint for advancing large scale collateral consequence reform in Illinois. This is a one year position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

With expert consultants, conduct legal and policy research and analyze legislation, scholarly literature, and other relevant materials as it relates to the collateral consequences of a criminal record, such as barriers or restrictions to employment, housing, or education.

Draft reports, memoranda and other material to support legislative strategy and campaign goals. Maintain complete, thorough, accurate and current records in an organized fashion in accordance with legal standards, rules and ethics.

Prepare recommendations and support Heartland Alliance policy and campaign staff and partners, in the development of Heartland Alliance’s legislative strategy.

Ensure the accuracy, substance, and timeliness of reports, projects, and other relevant work products.

Remains current on criminal justice law, scholarship, policies, and procedures.

Identifies trends and recurring legal or policy concerns.

Recommends strategies for solutions and other needed advocacy. Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience: Juris Doctor required; and one year of direct experience in social service counseling and/or legal representation. Experience providing direct service to people who have experienced poverty or injustice is a plus. Familiarity with Illinois’s of criminal justice system and/or Illinois’s criminal justice and collateral consequence laws and regulations is a plus. Mission alignment. Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and criminal justice reform. Proven ability to work in a manner that respects differences in race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance.

Equity Commitments. Fosters a commitment to and application of equity, inclusion, and diversity throughout our work. Provides direction for careful equity analysis of potential consequences of local and federal policies and makes strategic recommendations for appropriate substance. Prioritizes engagement of impacted populations throughout our policy and advocacy work from conception to design to action, and is attentive to the diverse perspectives of our stakeholders. Sustains and builds upon our position as a leading policy change agent by maintaining momentum on critical issues and by laying the groundwork for emerging policy issues.

Language/Communication Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret case law, general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write legal memoranda, reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to draft materials including legal information for a variety of audiences. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Computer Skills:Demonstrated proficiency with computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets and Internet usage, including new media. Familiarity with Microsoft Office package. Other Skills: Demonstrated ability to think critically, solve problems creatively, and manage multiple assignments under deadlines. Highly organized. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Policy and Advocacy Professional

Heartland Alliance is seeking a policy and advocacy professional to lead its criminal justice policy work. This person will play a central role in Heartland Alliance's groundbreaking efforts to advance policy solutions and strategies to eliminate poverty and realize equity and human rights.

The Project Manager is responsible for advancing key initiatives and campaigns to promote criminal justice reform – in particular state-based collateral consequence reform - and address racial inequities. The Project Manager develops and implements strategies to advance change, and engages in policy analysis and development, coalition and campaign building, and direct advocacy with decision-makers. Legislative and administrative initiatives will include work related to collateral consequences of incarceration, violence reduction, and advancing equity and opportunity. Our policy team members are also expected to contribute to the communications and outreach work of their project (criminal justice policy) as well as the overall work of the Policy and Advocacy team. Significant travel is required for this position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Lead Heartland Alliance’s strategies to address the multiple and pervasive inequities of the criminal justice system and to provide solutions that respond to the needs of people with lived experience of criminal justice system involvement.

Develop legislative and administrative policy proposals and lead efforts to successfully advance those efforts.

Develop and lead successful advocacy strategies for educating policymakers and other decision makers about the needs of people with criminal backgrounds impacted by poverty and inequity.

Analyze state and national public policies, programs, and legislation for their impact on people experiencing poverty and inequity Provide policy information and analyses, both verbally and in writing, to agency leadership, policymakers,advocates, the general public and other stakeholders.

Execute strategies to advance legislative and administrative change by building relationships with legislators and other key legislators and other decision-makers about policy initiatives, and collaborating with advocacy partners toward policy and administrative change.

Contribute to the development and delivery of appropriate communications including fact sheets, policy action alerts, website and new media content, letters to the editor, and other written materials.

Develop strategic partnerships with allied individuals, coalitions, and organizations to pursue specific program and policy changes affecting people formerly incarcerated or justice system involved.

Develop relationships with policymakers, funders, community leaders, public audiences and other stakeholders to create champions and community support for key Heartland Alliance policy and administrative initiatives.

Represent Heartland Alliance externally at events, speaking engagements, trainings and presentations, with policymakers, community leaders, and other key stakeholders and, when appropriate, contribute to or lead efforts to develop those trainings and Identify and support community members, allies and experts to give testimony at key hearings and act as spokespeople with the press.

Participate in key and local meetings and working groups as they relate to specific legislative and administrative initiatives.

Collaborate with Heartland program staff to identify policy/systems barriers, identify macro-level and contribute to overall advocacy activities in support of Heartland Alliance priorities.

Supervise interns or other temporary employees that support the work of the Policy and Advocacy Integrate values of equity and inclusion throughout our criminal justice policy work. Prioritize engagement of impacted populations throughout our policy and advocacy work from conception to design to action.

Support fundraising efforts including contributing to funder reporting requirements.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience: A graduate degree in public policy, law, public administration, social work, urban planning or related field, plus five years' experience or a Bachelor’s Degree plus seven years' experience. Experience includes policy analysis, policy development, and/or legislative/administrative/budgetary advocacy. Experience providing direct service to people who have experienced poverty or injustice is a plus. Familiarity with Illinois legislature and politics strongly preferred. Mission alignment. Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and criminal justice reform and proven ability to work with emotional intelligence, receive feedback, work through conflict with integrity and operate within principles of solidarity when working in partnership with groups representing constituencies impacted by oppression. Proven ability to work in a manner that respects differences in race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance.

Equity Commitments. Fosters a commitment to and application of equity, inclusion, and diversity throughout our work. Provides direction for careful equity analysis of potential consequences of local and federal policies and makes strategic recommendations for appropriate substance. Prioritizes engagement of impacted populations throughout our policy and advocacy work from conception to design to action, and is attentive to the diverse perspectives of our stakeholders. Sustains and builds upon our position as a leading policy change agent by maintaining momentum on critical issues and by laying the groundwork for emerging policy issues.

Language/Communication Skills: Excellent written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated ability to speak and write persuasively to a range of audiences. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from stakeholders, regulatory agencies, senior-level policymakers, or elected officials; communicate effectively with diverse audiences; write speeches and articles for publication that conform to a prescribed style and format and effectively present information to management , public groups, and/or boards of directors. Computer Skills:Demonstrated proficiency with computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets and Internet usage, including new media. Familiarity with Microsoft Office package. Other Skills: Demonstrated ability to think critically, solve problems creatively and manage multiple assignments under deadlines. Experience and comfort with public speaking. Ability to work irregular hours, including evening and weekend events as necessary. Willingness to travel.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms The employee is regularly required to sit, stand and walk The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 Due to computer usage, the employee will need vision abilities such as close vision and ability to adjust focus. This position involves significant travel.

Program Director - Denver Food Rescue Program

Who: Denver Food Rescue is a nonprofit organization focused on improving health equity outcomes by increasing access to healthy food in lower income areas. Almost 200,000 low- to moderate-income Denver residents live in “food deserts,” areas with barriers to accessing healthy food retail. These barriers lead to diet related health problems, and lower education attainment for youth. Denver Food Rescue (DFR) works with residents of these neighborhoods to distribute fresh produce and other healthy foods from convenient, community-run venues, such as schools and afterschool programs. More than 200 DFR volunteers “rescue” food that would otherwise go to waste from grocery stores and wholesalers, and deliver it – sometimes via bicycle – to one of 17 No Cost Grocery Programs, reaching thousands of families every year. With a focus on community-led change, DFR is a leader in distributing healthy food from venues that do not traditionally distribute food, such as schools, after-school programs, recreation centers, and other facilities that are frequented by low-income residents.

What: The Program Director (PD) will nurture DFR’s community relationships and inspire connections between communities and DFR volunteers. The PD works under the general oversight of the Executive Director. The PD is responsible for directing and managing DFR’s food rescue program, including No Cost Grocery programs. The PD is also responsible for the recruitment and launch of new, and ongoing support of current, No Cost Grocery Programs, including assistance in the implementation of new program elements, evaluation, sustainability, and overall program well-being. The PD is empowered to create, direct, and manage other programming such as transportation barrier alleviation, nutrition education, healthy food retail, SNAP enrollment, and more. The PD supports the Operations Coordinator with food donor relationships, including data tracking and reporting responsibilities.

Policy Analyst - The Ounce of Prevention Fund (Chicago)

Who: The Ounce of Prevention Fund – National Policy Team

What: The Ounce of Prevention Fund’s National Policy Team is seeking a Policy Analyst who is committed to strengthening public policies that impact low-income families with young children. This individual will conduct policy research and analyses, and will help advance public policy advocacy and public education efforts to strengthen early childhood systems, policies, and investments at the state and local levels. The Policy Analyst will be based in the Chicago office, which means they’ll be in a fun work environment surrounded by fabulous colleagues and will have access to great benefits.
Responsibilities include:

Principal Policy Associate: Innovation for Inclusion - The Urban Institute (DC)

Who: At the nonprofit Urban Institute, we believe in the power of evidence to improve lives and strengthen communities. Our employees are empowered to open minds, shape decisions and offer solutions. We encourage intellectual honesty, innovation, diversity, and mutual respect, and our analysis elevates the debate, wherever it takes place.

Urban’s greatest asset is our people. We strive to attract and cultivate a vibrant, creative, and diverse community. Our employees drive Urban’s mission through entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, effective communication, results-orientation, and relationship cultivation. Our success depends on engaging individuals who possess and value these attributes.

Within the Urban Institute, the Research to Action Lab (The Lab) is an innovation hub serving decision makers and creative thinkers eager to effect social change. We draw on the breadth and depth of Urban’s research insights to test new strategies and develop cutting-edge tools, programs, and trainings, as well as to provide strategic and philanthropic advice to public, nonprofit, and private sector leaders. The Lab is currently seeking a dynamic and highly motivated principal policy associate to serve in a leading role in an initiative that fills knowledge gaps on how a range of “smart” technologies affect historically excluded populations. The initiative will also identify and support best practices for incorporating equity into local technology policy and planning.

What: The Principal Policy Associate will serve as the managing director for an initiative to explore ways that the private sector and local leaders can harness technology and innovation to advance mobility, equity, and inclusion in cities. This expert will be responsible for leading research and policy projects that inform such efforts in the public and private sectors, managing relationships with funders and external partners, and conceptualizing and developing new bodies of work pertaining to technology, equity, and inclusion. The principal policy associate will work closely with the Urban Institute’s chief innovation officer and research and policy leaders from across Urban research centers, and our data and technology and communications teams. Responsibilities:

Corporate Responsibility, Public Affairs Midwest Associate - JPMorgan Chase

Who: JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management, and private equity.

The Corporate Responsibility (CR) department is responsible for the development and implementation of the firm’s CR agenda and initiatives by crafting goals, policies and initiatives that align with and support the firm’s business strategies and operational objectives and support the communities where we do business.

Within the CR department, Public Affairs is responsible for development and execution of multi-faceted communications and public affairs campaigns focused on JPMorgan Chase’s commitment to increase economic opportunity around the globe. Through a variety of communication channels, CR reaches key audiences, including opinion leaders, elected officials, philanthropic partners, stakeholders, issue experts and employees.

The Public Affairs regional team is an important part of the firm’s efforts to be a strong partner in each of the communities we serve by working with community leaders at the local level. The regional team supports the firm’s brand by localizing key messages and engaging a diverse group of market-based employees and business, nonprofit and civic leaders to showcase our philanthropic and business impact.

What: Public Affairs is seeking an Associate for the Midwest region. Candidate must have experience with policy and advocacy, communications and campaign execution and event management. The person in this role will promote engagement in the Midwest region, which includes IN, IL, KY, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI, and WV.
Responsibilities:

Policy Fellow - Institute for Justice (U of Chicago)

Who: The Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Law School seeks a bright and dedicated person to join our team as a Policy Fellow. Part of the Institute for Justice, the national law firm for liberty, the IJ Clinic provides free legal assistance for low-income entrepreneurs in Chicago and advocates for legal reforms so that entrepreneurs in Chicago have the freedom to pursue their dreams. For example, the IJ Clinic has successfully advocated to legalize food carts, to simplify the permit process for business signs, and to lighten the regulatory burdens for children’s play centers, computer centers, and home-based businesses.

What: The IJ Clinic seeks to expand its capacity for policy advocacy by adding a fellow to our team who is dedicated exclusively to supporting the IJ Clinic’s policy work. The Policy Fellow will work closely with the IJ Clinic’s two supervising attorneys and community relations coordinator to support and guide the IJ Clinic’s policy endeavors at both the city and state level.

This is an exciting opportunity to help guide the future of the IJ Clinic’s advocacy efforts through policy research and to provide our projects with the ammunition we need to change the laws that create unnecessary barriers for entrepreneurs. The fellow will have the chance to collaborate and learn from accomplished activists, strategic researchers, and legislative advocates throughout the Institute for Justice, while helping to lead policy research and work in Chicago and Illinois. The position demands someone who is hard-working, self-motivated, and entrepreneurial, has strong writing and analytical skills, and can communicate well with community members, attorneys, and policymakers. The ideal candidate will have a deep commitment to the IJ Clinic’s mission and the importance of economic liberty and economic development.
The Policy Fellow will:

Project Manager - Voices for Illinois Children (Chicago)

Who: Voices for Illinois Children, an independent advocacy organization that champions strong public policies and investments for all children in our state, is seeking a KIDS COUNT Project Manager. Voices is a member of the KIDS COUNT Network established by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Our KIDS COUNT work involves collecting, analyzing and communicating data on the health, education, and economic well-being of children in Illinois and nationally to help shape public policy debates to improve the lives of children and their families.

What: The KIDS COUNT Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day and long-term development, planning and production of the Illinois Kids Count data book, as well as other policy reports, and providing Illinois updates to the KIDS COUNT Data Center. This individual must be a highly proficient analyst experienced in the use of data and research, have a background in public policy and social research, and have strong written and verbal communications skills.
Based in Chicago, the manager will report to the Vice-President of Policy and Operations. In addition to the primary responsibilities listed below, the manager will also provide assistance to other Voices staff conducting work on state budget, tax, and policy matters impacting children and their families. Primary responsibilities include:

Chief Finance and Operations Officer - Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law (Chicago)

Who: The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law provides national leadership in advancing laws and policies that secure justice to improve the lives and opportunities of people living in poverty. The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law brings together lawyers, community leaders and allies from across the country as the nation’s leading advocate for people living in poverty.

What: The Shriver Center is seeking a Chief Finance & Operations Officer to serve in an expanded role as we move into our next chapter of excellence. The leader will oversee the operational and financial needs of the Shriver Center, as well as the planning and implementation of strategies and internal processes, including a comprehensive race equity action plan. This is a unique opportunity for an executive with strong strategic, operational, and financial leadership skills to deeply impact a leading anti-poverty advocacy institution that has experienced successful growth. Reporting to the President, this executive will serve as a key member of a strong senior leadership team and have overarching responsibilities as an innovator over our strategy, culture, operations, and financial management. The Chief Finance & Operations Officer will partner closely with the Vice Presidents of Advocacy, Advocate Resources and Training, Communications, and Development to ensure all areas of the Shriver Center are aligned for success. This position includes:

Policy and Advocacy Manager – YWCA (Part Time)

Who: YWCA Evanston/North Shore

What: YWCA seeks a social justice policy and advocacy manager to launch our newly developed advocacy program. With an entrepreneurial spirit, rigorous work ethic, and a commitment to policy solutions that address the intersectional nature of social justice issues, this position provides leadership and management of YWCA/Evanston North Shore’s policy and advocacy initiatives and takes the lead in collaboratively developing and implementing the organization’s mission-driven policy agenda and stakeholder engagement strategy at the local, state, and federal level. Responsibilities include:

Campaign Organizer - Active Transportation Alliance

Who: Based in Chicago, the Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit advocacy organization that works to improve conditions for bicycling, walking and transit and engage people in healthy and active ways to get around.

What: The Campaign Organizer will lead outreach for the 2018 statewide election and the 2019 municipal election cycles. The organizer will gather input on issue platforms and built support among a diverse group of civic and community-based organizations. The individual will connect with elected officials, candidates, and voters to educate leaders about sustainable transportation issues and raise the profile of our issues in local races. Essential duties include:

Policy Analyst – Natural Resources Defense Council (Chicago or DC)

Who: Natural Resources Defense Council, Healthy People and Thriving Communities Program

What: Policy Analyst for Water & Climate Team. The Water & Climate Team is an important voice for much-needed policy changes in the way our nation prepares for and responds to natural disasters and the impacts of climate change. The Water & Climate Team’s efforts focus on addressing the impacts of climate change, particularly sea level rise, inland and urban flooding, and ensuring the nation’s water infrastructure is more resilient to future conditions. The Team is currently comprised of one Senior Policy Analyst, one Attorney, and one Program Assistant.
The Policy Analyst will play a key role in acquiring and analyzing data on natural disaster risks, damages, and costs; developing policy proposals; working with partner organizations around the country; and conducting advocacy. The Water & Climate Team’s work places a priority on solutions that benefit low-income individuals and communities, who often lack the financial resources to invest in the long-term solutions they will eventually need in order to adapt to climate change.

Policy Advocate, Higher Education – Public Advocates Inc. (Sacramento)

Who: Public Advocates Inc., a bold and highly regarded civil rights law firm and policy advocacy non-profit.

What: Energetic and collaborative Policy Advocate or Senior Policy Advocate with relevant issue experience. The successful candidate will join Public Advocates’ Education Equity Team with a specific focus on advancing the effort to advocate for equity for low-income communities and young people of color in California’s higher education system.