Supervisor of Strategic Advocacy

Cabrini Green Legal Aid•Chicago, IL

2h•$72,500 - $77,500•Hybrid

About The Position

The Supervisor of Strategic Advocacy will manage the Strategic Advocacy team, working to implement broader systems change through community and base building, policy change, and community outreach and partnerships. The Supervisor will help identify and implement strategic initiatives to greatly increase visibility and knowledge of CGLA’s work to advance our active campaigns and policy agendas. The Supervisor will create and lead opportunities for clients and Leadership Council members to share their experiences, elevate their voices, and shape public understanding of the harms of the criminal legal system and the need for transformative change. The Supervisor in collaboration with the Director will oversee CGLA’s community engagement and advocacy work by supporting staff and managers in advancing the vision and mission of the Leadership Council, strengthening partnership strategies for coalition and base-building, engaging with a variety of system stakeholders both locally and statewide, advocating for legislative change in Springfield, collaborating with staff and leaders on the development of CGLA’s policy initiative, and developing the systems and infrastructure needed to sustain this work. This position will supervise and work closely with the Policy Manager, Community Outreach Coordinator, and Community Navigator—as well as future Strategic Advocacy staff—to provide guidance, support, and structure in advancing an integrated advocacy model. The Supervisor will regularly collaborate with supervisors across departments to ensure effective cross-team coordination, referrals, and support.

Requirements

Minimum of a master's degree in public administration, public policy, community organizing, law, or related field.
6 years or more of professional experience in a nonprofit organization with a demonstrated success in a leadership role.
Minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in policy development, community organizing, or similar with significant expertise in criminal legal system and community engagement activities.
Expertise or familiarity with a broad range of criminal legal system issues, including racial justice, the impact of incarceration, permanent punishments, overlapping civil legal issues; and with litigation, the courts, the American legal system, and/or the legislative and political process at the local, state, and/or federal level.
Comfortable speaking to small and large groups.
Proven experience managing multiple full-time direct report and working collaboratively with a leadership team.
Possess knowledge of government policy making, legislative processes, and base-building efforts.
Project Leadership: Experience in planning and managing development projects, including coordinating with peers to achieve desired outcomes, and tracking and reporting on progress.
Strong organizational skills.
Influencing: Gets others to accept ideas by using convincing arguments, creates a win-win situation and responds appropriately to key stakeholders both internally and externally; Possess ability to influence and engage direct and indirect reports.
Collaboration: Effective at working with others to reach common goals and objectives.
Relationship Building: Skilled at establishing and cultivating strong relationships with peers, across different levels of the organization and externally; Excellent people skills, with experience collaborating in a multi-disciplinary, diverse and dynamic team environment
Strong computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel & PowerPoint
Communicate clearly.
Understand the speech of another person.
Must be able to handle high levels of mental stress.
The employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers to type, handle, or feel and reach.
The employee is regularly required to stand and walk.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Nice To Haves

J.D. preferred, and/or deep knowledge of statute construction and interpretation.

Responsibilities

Build and support effective working relationships with directly affected communities, community and advocacy organizations, key public officials and system stakeholders to address criminal system change.
Serve as an external face of CGLA’s policy agenda, working with a wide array of stakeholders.
Supervise the coordination of the Criminal Justice Advocates coalition that brings together advocacy organizations around issues of criminal legal system change.
Support CGLA’s Community Navigator, Leadership Council, and organizing efforts to engage impacted communities and provide educational forums throughout the State of Illinois.
Work with CGLA staff and Leadership Council members to ensure CGLA is represented at relevant policy tables and coalition meetings.
Help to draft annual policy agenda in collaboration with the Director of Client and Community Experience, CGLA Strategic Advocacy team, Leadership Council, program staff and supervisors, and Executive Director.
Collaborate with the Communications Manager and staff to provide communications support where needed, including drafting communications and other written material for specific projects, campaigns, and events.
Manage the Strategic Advocacy team’s use of EveryAction, an online database and base building tool that helps streamline online engagement and advocacy efforts.
Provide training for staff, leaders, and coalition members on effective advocacy practices, leading teams in campaign efforts in Springfield; deliver testimony as needed.
Develop talking points and provide media training for CGLA staff and Leadership Council members who engage in public speaking and public facing activities.
Design and facilitate strategic and impactful convenings (e.g., meetings, conferences, etc.) to effect change, strengthen systems, and assess policy on a local, state-wide, and national scale.
Ensure all Know Your Rights and Community Education materials and trainings are accurate, accessible, and up to date with current laws and standards.
Provide leadership, coaching, and accountability for all direct reports; build a positive and collaborative departmental culture.
Collaborate with the Director to develop and execute a department workplan for the fiscal year.
Ensure that timely, consistent, and detailed performance feedback is provided to each direct report.
Responsible for ensuring direct reports are performing at a satisfactory level.
Provide resources and support to address staff’s needs, identify and secure professional development opportunities for staff, provides coaching and supervision, and manage and resolve conflict.
Monitor and report regularly on the progress of the program.
Collaborate with the Director to create and manage the annual department budget, including monitoring department spending and alignment with grant vouchering.
Ensure compliance with funders’ reporting requirements.
Responsible for approving all team expenses and reimbursements according to financial department procedures.
Perform other duties as assigned.