Chief of Staff

A SAFE HAVEN LLC • Chicago, IL

1d • $130,000 - $140,000

About The Position

The WJI Director of Chief of Staff is a senior leadership role responsible for working closely with the Executive Director to help shape and implement strategic priorities and initiatives; to support management of the staff, contractors and the team through direct supervision and the development of management and supervision strategies; to ensure that the work of the WJI team is prioritized and aligned according to strategic goals and objectives of the organization; and to help develop and foster of strategic relationships and partnerships. Core responsibilities include, but are not limited to: o Team Management & Alignment: Coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure projects are aligned and prioritized based on strategic priorities and messaging; · Strategy: Working closely with the WJI leadership team to assess, refine and implement the organization's strategic goals, setting objectives, priorities, and performance metrics. · Initiative Development: Identifying and assessing new projects, partnerships, and opportunities that align with the organization's strategic goals; and supporting efforts to identify and develop fundraising and development opportunities needed to support and sustain them. · Project & Messaging Oversight: Collaborating with the WJI leadership team to lead and manage cross-functional teams to ensure strategic initiatives are completed on time, are communicated on message, and achieve their intended outcomes; and ensuring that other staff projects, community engagements and presentations are aligned with strategic priorities and messaging. · Stakeholder Partnership Development & Management: Collaborating with senior leadership, staff and contractors on the team, to identify, build and foster strategic partnerships with public officials and policymakers, as well as national, state and local organizations and other community leaders; and ensure partnership strategies are aligned with strategic priorities. · Policy & Advocacy Strategy: Playing a lead role on the policy team to support the conceptualization and implementation of major policy, research and programmatic initiatives, as well as development of related content and materials; · Public Awareness: Representing the organization at various speaking engagements, conferences, meetings with policymakers and government officials, on task forces and committees, and at key national, state and local meetings and events. · Risk Management: Anticipating potential challenges and developing mitigation plans to address risks associated with strategic initiatives and the organization’s branding and reputation. · Performance Monitoring: Helping to design, recommend and implement systems that tracking progress, reporting on results, and using data analysis to inform decision-making and make necessary adjustments.

Requirements

• Management Experience: At least ten years of experience working in public policy, government, the criminal legal system, social services or a related field, which must include at least five years prior experience in an executive (strongly preferred) or management level position at a nonprofit or social service organization in a role that involved staff management and supervision, and demonstrated success leading and developing major initiatives, as well as strategic planning and implementation.
• Strengths-based Management Experience: Exceptional and demonstrated ability to motivate staff and contractors and to provide direction through application of a collaborative and strengths-based approach
• Demonstrated Leadership: Demonstrated leadership in the field of social justice and/or reform of the criminal legal system in general, specifically women’s justice (strongly preferred), and ability to effectively engage senior-level public officials, agency leaders and key stakeholders on the organization's agenda and key initiatives.
• Extensive Public Policy Experience: Substantive understanding of key public policy and legal issues impacting at-risk and system-involved women and gender expansive individuals across the justice continuum (before, during and after incarceration), including the child welfare system, and demonstrated experience with policy writing and development, the legislative process, advocacy and effective negotiation of legislative initiatives.
• Program Design & Development: Experience with development and design of effective and gender responsive, trauma-informed, family-centered and culturally responsive programs and interventions (strongly preferred);
• Knowledge of Stakeholder Landscape: Strategic understanding of the national, state and local landscape of individuals, organizations, and key systems stakeholders working in the women's justice space, particularly those led by/for currently and formerly incarcerated women and gender expansive individuals.
• Aligned Values: Shares the WJI's mission to work toward ending women's mass incarceration, while balancing that work with reducing harm and improving health, well-being and outcomes among at-risk and system-impacted women, their children, families and communities; values investing in development of leadership among women with lived experience; and believes in restorative and healing-centered conflict resolution.
• Flexibility: Ability and temperament to work in a dynamic environment with evolving projects, and to respond to time sensitive requests from policymakers, clients and funders.
• Excellent Written and Communication Skills: Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills to convey complex ideas to diverse audiences.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to think critically, develop a long-term vision, and translate it into actionable plans.
• Project Management: Proven experience in planning, executing, and delivering complex projects that often require cross-sector partners and coalition building and management.
• Analytical Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in research and data analysis to guide decision-making.
• Collaboration: Strong ability and desire to work effectively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Social Work, Criminal Justice, Public Health, or related field.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated leadership in the field of social justice and/or reform of the criminal legal system in general, specifically women’s justice (strongly preferred)
• Program Design & Development: Experience with development and design of effective and gender responsive, trauma-informed, family-centered and culturally responsive programs and interventions (strongly preferred)
• Preferred: Master’s degree or Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited law school.

Responsibilities

• Team Management & Alignment: Coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure projects are aligned and prioritized based on strategic priorities and messaging
• Strategy: Working closely with the WJI leadership team to assess, refine and implement the organization's strategic goals, setting objectives, priorities, and performance metrics.
• Initiative Development: Identifying and assessing new projects, partnerships, and opportunities that align with the organization's strategic goals; and supporting efforts to identify and develop fundraising and development opportunities needed to support and sustain them.
• Project & Messaging Oversight: Collaborating with the WJI leadership team to lead and manage cross-functional teams to ensure strategic initiatives are completed on time, are communicated on message, and achieve their intended outcomes; and ensuring that other staff projects, community engagements and presentations are aligned with strategic priorities and messaging.
• Stakeholder Partnership Development & Management: Collaborating with senior leadership, staff and contractors on the team, to identify, build and foster strategic partnerships with public officials and policymakers, as well as national, state and local organizations and other community leaders; and ensure partnership strategies are aligned with strategic priorities.
• Policy & Advocacy Strategy: Playing a lead role on the policy team to support the conceptualization and implementation of major policy, research and programmatic initiatives, as well as development of related content and materials
• Public Awareness: Representing the organization at various speaking engagements, conferences, meetings with policymakers and government officials, on task forces and committees, and at key national, state and local meetings and events.
• Risk Management: Anticipating potential challenges and developing mitigation plans to address risks associated with strategic initiatives and the organization’s branding and reputation.
• Performance Monitoring: Helping to design, recommend and implement systems that tracking progress, reporting on results, and using data analysis to inform decision-making and make necessary adjustments.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive