Senior Director of Policy

Description

Type: Full-Time 

Reports to: COO 

Office Location:  224 W Hill St Suite 410, Chicago, IL; required in-office minimum of 3 days per week (hybrid work policy subject to change)    

Background:

Guided by the experiences of those living with mental health conditions and rooted in equity, NAMI Chicago educates to fight stigma and discrimination, fiercely advocates for our community, and shares hope, connection and expertise with people on their mental health journey.

Who We Are Looking For:   

The Senior Director of Policy supports NAMI Chicago’s mission by developing and implementing policy advocacy campaigns. The Senior Director of Policy is the primary person responsible for NAMI Chicago's policy advocacy strategy, working internally to strengthen our policy advocacy activities and externally with stakeholders and partners to promote mental health policy at the city, county and state level. This position plays an active role in NAMI Chicago’s leadership team and reports to the COO.  The ideal candidate is strategic, a coalition builder, has experience navigating government systems, and exhibits strong leadership skills.

Responsibilities: 

• Execution and management of NAMI Chicago’s policy and advocacy agenda, including developing policy priorities based on needs and current environment, setting direction and executing strategies.
• Serve as primary policy liaison with government partners and stakeholders, in coordination with the CEO, COO and other leadership. 
• Lead a small team responsible for research, development of policy positions, and execution of advocacy activities. 
• Engage in administrative and legislative advocacy, developing corresponding policy and legislative agendas. 
• Leadership in stakeholder coalitions, policy and advocacy meetings, furthering NAMI Chicago’s footprint in the mental health policy landscape. 
• Development and ongoing monitoring and management of the policy advocacy budget. 
• Manage the organization’s strategy and structure around continuous input on policy advocacy from staff, partners, and community. 
• Facilitate implementation of NAMI Chicago’s strategic plan. 
• Execute policy education activities, including giving presentations and testimony, and acting as a subject matter expert for government leaders. 
• Keep current on policy advocacy landscape, locally, statewide, and nationally. 
• Attend educational sessions relevant to NAMI Chicago’s work. 
• Attend facilitator trainings through NAMI National as needed. 
• Oversee implementation of NAMI Smarts Training including: marketing, scheduling, facilitating, maintaining program database and reporting to NAMI Chicago and NAMI National. 
• Collaborate with NAMI network regarding our shared policy agendas. 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Demonstrates leadership in serving underrepresented and vulnerable populations, including social and racial/ethnic minorities as well as those living with mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders.
• Willing to work in a diverse environment regarding race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation and gender. 
• Strong knowledge base of the local, statewide, and national policy advocacy landscape.
• Extensive knowledge or demonstrated experience in the intersection of legal and mental health system.
• Demonstrates conflict resolution aptitude and diplomacy. 
• Manages time and stress well.
• Ability to lead, integrate, and collaborate with other NAMI Chicago programs.
• Represents the organization with professionalism and integrity. 
• Ability to travel locally and nationally. 
• Possesses strong organization skills.
• Experience in public speaking.
• Demonstrated interpersonal and public relations skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:  

• 8 years of experience in public policy, public administration, legal, non-profit, policy, or related fields  
• Bachelors in Public Policy, Public Health, or Mental Health, or related fields, required 
• Experience supervising staff  
• Experience working in the mental health, criminal/civil court. and/or social service system  

Welcomed Qualifications:  

• Previous engagement with policymakers  
• Juris Doctor (JD), Master’s Degree in Public Health, Public Policy or 5 years in public health or public policy or related field 

Available Benefits:  

• Compensat