Staff Counsel, Criminal Legal System Program, Impact for Equity - Chicago, IL

 

Position Overview

Impact for Equity seeks a dynamic and experienced attorney with a demonstrated commitment to racial and social justice to join our Criminal Legal System team as Staff Counsel. The successful candidate will be flexible, creative, and comfortable working independently and within a team on multiple projects of varying complexity. This is an exciting opportunity to provide vision, leadership, and support on some of the most vital social justice issues of our time.

Responsibilities

This Impact for Equity Staff Counsel will develop laws, policies, and programs; create and implement advocacy strategies; and, as appropriate, engage in litigation, to promote the goals of the Criminal Legal System program. In cooperation with the Program Director and other Impact for Equity colleagues, this Staff Counsel works independently and within a team on multiple projects of varying complexity.

The responsibilities of Staff Counsel include:

• Conduct legal and policy research and analysis to develop and implement laws, policies, and programs, and, as appropriate, engage in impact litigation, to promote program goals;
• Explore, develop, and implement advocacy strategies and projects to address inequities within the criminal legal system, informed by legal and policy research, data analysis, and the expertise of directly impacted people and communities;
• Participate in, support and/or build coalitions, partnerships, and task forces, working to strategize, engage collaboratively;
• Prepare written materials including policy reports, issue briefs, op-eds, fact sheets, legal and policy memoranda, and legal briefs;
• Work with communications staff and colleagues to help develop and implement communication strategies and messaging to elevate Impact for Equity advocacy efforts and serve as spokesperson upon request;
• Build and maintain a deep working knowledge and professional expertise on priority legal and policy issues and the criminal legal system policy landscape;
• Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including impacted individuals, community members and leaders, community-based and ally organizations, policymakers, professional subject matter experts, and funders;
• Engage in cross-team collaboration and support and supervise fellows and interns on discrete projects:
• Develop short- and long-range strategies and monitor progress in achieving identified project goals;
• Cooperate with development staff to assist in securing external funding to support the work;
• Consistently integrate equity concepts into projects and interactions;
• Exemplify Impact for Equity’s core values and advance Impact for Equity’s mission and vision in all aspects of the work; and
• Travel in Chicagoland and to national conferences and meetings as needed.

To Apply

Please submit your application packet to hiring@impactforequity.org with “Staff Counsel CLS” in the subject line. Your packet should include a resume, a writing sample, and a cover letter explaining your interest and qualifications for this position. If your candidacy advances, you will be asked to provide a list of three professional references. Impact for Equity will accept applications until the position is filled.

Learn more here!

Staff Council, Housing Program, Impact for Equity - Chicago, IL

 

Position Overview

Impact for Equity seeks a dynamic and experienced attorney with a demonstrated commitment to racial and social justice to join our Housing team as Staff Counsel. The successful candidate will be flexible, creative, and comfortable working independently and within a team on multiple projects of varying complexity. This is an exciting opportunity to provide vision, leadership, and support on some of the most vital social justice issues of our time.

Responsibilities

This Impact for Equity Staff Counsel will develop laws, policies, and programs; create and implement advocacy strategies; and, as appropriate, engage in litigation, to promote program goals. In cooperation with the Program Director and other Impact for Equity colleagues, this Staff Counsel works independently and within a team on multiple projects of varying complexity.

The responsibilities of Staff Counsel include:

• Conduct legal and policy research and analysis to develop and implement laws, policies, and programs, and, as appropriate, engage in impact litigation, to promote program goals;
• Explore, develop, and implement advocacy strategies and projects to address inequities within the housing system, informed by legal and policy research, data analysis, and the expertise of directly impacted people and communities;
• Participate in, support and/or build coalitions, partnerships, and task forces, working to strategize, engage collaboratively;
• Prepare written materials including policy reports, issue briefs, op-eds, fact sheets, legal and policy memoranda, and legal briefs;
• Work with communications staff and colleagues to help develop and implement communication strategies and messaging to elevate Impact for Equity advocacy efforts and serve as spokesperson upon request;
• Build and maintain a deep working knowledge and professional expertise on priority legal and policy issues and the housing landscape;
• Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including impacted individuals, community members and leaders, community-based and ally organizations, policymakers, professional subject matter experts, and funders;
• Engage in cross-team collaboration and support and supervise fellows and interns on discrete projects:
• Develop short- and long-range strategies and monitor progress in achieving identified project goals;
• Cooperate with development staff to assist in securing external funding to support the work;
• Consistently integrate equity concepts into projects and interactions;
• Exemplify Impact for Equity’s core values and advance Impact for Equity’s mission and vision in all aspects of the work; and
• Travel in Chicagoland and to national conferences and meetings as needed.

To Apply

Please submit your application packet to hiring@impactforequity.org with “Staff Counsel Housing” in the subject line. Your packet should include a resume, a writing sample, and a cover letter explaining your interest and qualifications for this position. If your candidacy advances, you will be asked to provide a list of three professional references. Impact for Equity will accept applications until the position is filled.

Learn more about qualifications and salary here!

Senior Communications Manager, Impact for Equity - Chicago, IL

 

Senior communications manager

Location: Chicago, IL

Impact for Equity, a highly regarded and impactful public interest law and policy center, seeks a dynamic and experienced Senior Communications Manager to lead organizational efforts to message the mission and work of Impact for Equity to external audiences including stakeholders, advocacy partners, funders, and the media.

Position Overview

The Senior Communications Manager leads organizational efforts to message the mission and work of Impact for Equity to external audiences including stakeholders, advocacy partners, funders, and the media. Under the direction of the Managing Director of Development and External Relations, the position is responsible for driving strategy and implementation of all communications, marketing, and public relations activities at Impact for Equity to advance programmatic goals and support fundraising initiatives.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of Senior Communications Manager include:

Strategic Planning and Implementation

• Design and implement a comprehensive communications plan, including content, workflows, and systems that align with organizational objectives.
• Develop key messaging and brand guidelines for consistent communication across all platforms.
• Elevate Impact for Equity’s thought leadership in social justice areas by implementing a broad strategy to increase the visibility of its impact across key audiences.

Content Creation

• Lead and create content for Impact for Equity’s digital platforms including website, e-newsletters, and social media channels.
• Manage production of Impact for Equity’s programmatic reports and other publications, including copy editing and basic graphic design.
• Monitor and manage the organization’s social media presence across all platforms. Create and execute creative and compelling social media campaigns to promote brand awareness and engagement.
• Track and report on social media metrics to measure the effectiveness of social media campaigns.

Media Relations

• Structure and execute a robust public relations and media outreach strategy including the development and dissemination of press releases, media advisories, and other timely and strategic communications.
• Cultivate and maintain media relationships with key members of media outlets and influential stakeholders to secure coverage, place articles, and facilitate interview opportunities.

Analysis

• Conduct analysis of key communication metrics to evaluate the overall effectiveness of communication strategies.
• Utilize advanced data analysis techniques to uncover emerging trends and insights that drive strategic decision-making

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, or public affairs preferred, or related field. Graduate degree a plus
• Five to seven years of relevant experience in marketing, communications, or public relations, including proven track record of leading organization-wide initiatives
• Exceptional writing, editing, verbal communication, and project management skills
• Proven ability to develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies across multiple platforms and tailored to diverse audiences
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate challenges and develop innovative solutions to complex communication problems.
• Proven track record of successfully managing high-stakes projects, prioritizing tasks, and delivering results under tight deadlines
• Collaborative approach with the ability to work independently in a dynamic environment
• A working knowledge of relevant stakeholders, media outlets and institutions in the Chicago region
• Expertise in both Microsoft and Mac environments and in the use of Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress, Canva, Constant Contact or similar marketing software programs
• Solid commitment to the mission and vision of Impact for Equity with the ability to serve as a compelling ambassador for the organization, recognizing policy change happens slowly
• Experience with a law, policy, or social justice organization desirable
• Multilingual skills are a plus but not required.

Compensation

The salary for this position is commensurate with experience and ranges from $70,000 – $75,000.

To Apply

Please submit your application packet to hiring@impactforequity.org with “Sr Communications Manager” in the subject line. Your packet should include a resume, writing sample, and a cover letter explaining your interest and qualifications for this position. If your candidacy advances, you will be asked to provide a list of three professional references and to engage in a short writing exercise. Impact for Equity will accept applications until the position is filled.

LEARN MORE/Apply here!