Description

The Policy Director leads the creation, development, and implementation of CAASE’s strategic policy and advocacy agenda to most effectively and equitably serve survivors of sexual harm and exploitation, in keeping with CAASE’s Strategic Plan. This position is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders in public, private, and governmental contexts, as well as engaging regularly with various coalitions, both as a member and a leader. 

Requirements

Legislative Advocacy

• Maintain a deep understanding of the evolving policy and political landscape of Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois. Monitor and identify emerging issues relevant to CAASE’s mission, vision, values, and goals through ongoing tracking of legislation in the Chicago City Council, Cook County Commission, and Illinois General Assembly.
• Play a leading role in coalition work that promotes policy and practice improvements related to sexual harm, at the city, county, and statewide levels. Lead all CAASE’s engagement with elected officials and manage all CAASE’s lobbying activities. Travel to Springfield as necessary during legislative sessions. 

Relationship Cultivation

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with elected officials, policymakers, law enforcement leaders, community groups, partner organizations, and other groups focusing on work that aligns with CAASE’s goals. Develop mutually beneficial partnerships with organizations working on policy campaigns; collect information, track policy efforts, and share advocacy and education strategies.
• Build and nurture effective multi-organizational coalitions and alliances by forging partnerships, actively participating, building consensus, steering coalition members toward meeting campaign goals, and keeping all parties engaged.
• Research In collaboration with CAASE program leaders, develop research objectives and plan research projects and reports that advance CAASE policy and advocacy goals.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative research, including data collection and analysis, interviewing survivors of sexual violence, and other research methods as needed.
• Collaborate with various internal and external stakeholders, gathering relevant information and experiences, and keeping them informed throughout the research process.  
• Produce accurate research results in various formats, including fact sheets, memos, and comprehensive reports.

External Communications

• Disseminate research reports through presentations to stakeholder groups like law enforcement, attorneys, elected officials, and civil servants at meetings and conferences. In collaboration with the Communications Department, work to ensure high-quality, strategic external communication that informs and engages various communities about CAASE Policy work, including specific research, reports, legislation, and policy positions and concepts.
• Communicate directly with the media regarding CAASE policy issues, in collaboration with the Executive Director and Communications staff. Provide presentations to community groups about CAASE policy priorities and campaigns.  
• Represent CAASE at local, state, and national convenings, meetings, and events.  

Department Administration 

• Lead the creation, implementation, and evaluation of the Department's annual plans, which serve CAASE’s Strategic Plan and have measurable objectives and outcomes.  
• Collaborate with all CAASE Directors to ensure that Policy goals and projects are well aligned with the work and goals of the Prevention, Legal, and Community Engagement Departments.
• Collaborate with all program Directors to ensure that CAASE expertise is most effectively being utilized to inform CAASE policy and legislative work, including in ways that conform with all grant requirements.
• Provide oversight and support to all Department heads to ensure that the various coalitions in which CAASE actively participates are most effectively and strategically utilizing staff time and resources, including participation from staff across all departments.
• Collaborate with the Development Department to maintain and increase the capacity of the Department, participating in fundraising activities and events, managing relationships with funders, preparing grant applications, crafting department goals for specific funder-required internal policies, and ensuring timely completion of grant reporting requirements. 
• Maintain documentation of lobbying/programmatic activities for funding reports and organizational records. Keep CAASE staff and board updated on Department priorities, specifically highlighting work that may require their attention, support, or engagement.  
• Work closely with the Executive Director to draft the Department budget and monitor expenses throughout the year, ensuring adherence to the budget. Lead the process of recruiting and managing Policy staff.  
• Supervise the department to ensure programmatic success. Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement by taking part in, and promoting for others, professional development and engagement activities.  

Education and Experience

• Substantial experience in Chicago or Illinois doing work that involves legislative and policy advocacy is required.
• Bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field will be considered but is not required. 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough understanding of governmental and legislative processes. Substantive expertise related to sexual harm, and willingness to adopt and promote the specific positions advocated by CAASE related to the commercial sex trade, the criminal legal system, and survivor rights and interests.
• Nuanced understanding of all forms and manifestations of inequality and oppression and a commitment to promoting equity through an intersectional lens. Commitment to supporting and promoting leadership by survivors of sexual assault and commercial sexual exploitation.
• Ability to work collaboratively with, teach, and be taught by others. 
•  Excellent interpersonal skills: including but not limited to advanced active listening skills and a strong ability to communicate and engage with individuals of varying levels of experience, familiarity, and expertise.
• Ability to understand and navigate complex issues and competing priorities. Creative and innovative problem-solving skills. Exemplary research, writing, and public speaking skills. Ability to work independently and self-direct.
• Demonstrated commitment to working against sexual harm. 

Application Instructions: Please submit a resume and cover letter to hr@caase.org. No phone calls, please. If you need any assistance or accommodation during the application process, please contact hr@caase.org.