Title: Program Director

Location: Hybrid

Status: Full-time, exempt

Salary: $110,000-$115,000

Reports to: Director

Desired start date: Q2 2025

About the Illinois Justice Project

The Illinois Justice Project (ILJP) engages in criminal legal system reform efforts that promote policies and practices that reduce violence, decrease recidivism and make the criminal legal system more equitable. ILJP works at the local, regional, and state levels in partnership with stakeholders from underserved communities to effect policy change. This work is executed through the development, advocacy, implementation, and monitoring of policies and practices. ILJP, composed of a small staff of eight, continues justice policy work that began in 2000 through an initiative called Chicago Metropolis 2020. From the start, ILJP's work has been rooted in strong collaboration on criminal legal system issues with key stakeholders in government, advocacy groups, communities, and business leaders. Some of its initiatives include working in coalitions leading to the separation of the youth division from the Department of Corrections, creating the Department of Juvenile Justice and reducing the state’s youth prison population; creating Juvenile and Adult Redeploy Illinois programs, the Sentencing Policy Advisory Council, foundational statewide legislation like the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated the use of cash bail and reformed policing, and the R3 (for Restore, Reinvest, and Renew) community investment program, supported by 25% of the tax revenue derived from the legalization of adult recreational cannabis use. Learn more about ILJP at https://iljp.org/about/

The Opportunity: Program Director

The Program Director will lead and oversee policy development, advocacy, and implementation that aligns with the goals of the ILJP toward criminal legal reform. This role serves as a thought partner to the Director in implementing strategy and leveraging the organization’s position as a convener to bring a broad group of stakeholders together to move policy change forward. This position will own the program team’s work on two to three of its special initiatives, specifically – the Justice 20/20 Network and one to two other major initiatives related to adult and youth justice. The Program Director reports directly to the Director of the ILJP. This is a promising career opportunity for someone who is excited by both policy analysis and driving implementation, and would enjoy bringing a diverse group of voices together to lead reform across Illinois. Ideal candidates are those with experience owning relationships and a solid understanding of the full lifecycle of policy and systems change. The Program Director is also someone who is looking to bring their leadership skills to support the vision of a collaborative, thoughtful, and impactful team.

ILJP strongly encourages candidates from all backgrounds and identities to apply, especially those that have been historically excluded from policy advocacy and change work. We know that BIPOC and women or female identifying candidates are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every requirement. Please do not be deterred. Your gifts and lived experiences matter to us more than titles. You may be exactly who we are looking for!

Responsibilities

1. Lead policy development, advocacy and implementation across issues and reform efforts of importance to the ILJP that reduces both violence and the number of youth and adults entering the criminal legal system
2. Project management and planning for major initiatives: oversee and advance tasks and accompanying deadlines across two to three of the team’s initiatives, including the Justice 20/20 Network and one to two others; each with separate working groups that are meeting regularly to develop policy, share learnings, and build relationships
3. Build, steward, and own relationships within the ILJP’s stakeholder groups and partners: communicating across broad audiences from elected officials to working group members, formerly incarcerated leaders, nonprofit and foundation executives, departments of corrections, public safety and juvenile justice advocates, and more
4. Organize and facilitate convenings with peers engaged in similar work, bringing in experts to inform policy development; continuously moving work/projects forward and finding ways to keep people engaged
5. Thought partnership: serve as a sounding board for the Director of the ILJP, offering insights, elevating concerns, and helping prioritize to support overall strategy and vision
6. Thought leadership: engaging with media (tv, radio, press) as a representative of the organization and on specific policy issues; helping frame and set the container for issues of importance to ILJP
7. Stay current on policy advocacy, happenings across the criminal legal system, academic research, and any other initiatives or streams of work affecting the strategy and work of ILJP
8. Attending events, conferences, and joining membership organizations or task forces relevant to the work of the organization; standing in for the Director, on occasion
9. Oversee a shared direct report (Program Specialist on juvenile justice)

Skills + Experiences

1. At least 8-10 years of work experience with five years of experience in policy development, advocacy and/or implementation, specifically; preferably having command/specialized experience in an area of criminal justice policy, specifically (such as re-entry, juvenile justice, etc.)
2. Academic knowledge and professional experience associated with a college degree in public policy, political science, sociology, and/or criminal justice reform; bachelor’s degree preferred, but not required
3. Prior experience managing, supervising, and coaching small teams with at least 1-2 direct reports is preferred
4. Commitment to racial equity, social and economic justice, and criminal legal system reform
5. Sophisticated stakeholder management skills and ability to own relationships across a diverse network of stakeholders
6. Strong project management and planning skills, including the ability to prioritize, work both independently and collaboratively, and create a blueprint of the key elements that projects require for successful completion
7. Time management: an ability to offer visibility into on-going work, help the team anticipate challenges to prioritize and execute work efficiently, and track deadlines
8. Meeting planning and facilitation experience with an orientation to action
9. Excellent verbal and written communications skills across a broad audience and the ability to create meaningful relationships
10. Adaptability, flexibility, and the ability to move work forward or pivot with limited or incomplete information
11. Critical thinking and problem solving: the ability to question processes, initiatives, and practices for the purposes of improving them and eliminating obstacles for the team’s benefit
12. Discretion: the ability to deal with confidential information and delicate situations
13. Poise: the ability to remain focused and disciplined while working in a high-pressure environment
14. Strong computer and office software (Microsoft Office, Google Office Suite, cloud-based storage), application, and database management skills 

Salary + Benefits

1. The salary range for this position is $110,000-$115,000.
2. ILJP is a sponsored project of the Chicago Community Trust and offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k), and paid time off.

Benefits