Director of Strategic and Policy Communications

About CCH 

Chicago Coalition to end Homelessness (CCH) is a 44-year-old systemic advocacy organization. CCH develops campaigns and initiatives to address the causes of homelessness - lack of affordable housing, lack of access to health care and services and lack of jobs paying a living wage. We place much emphasis on organizing and developing leaders who have experienced homelessness to become spokespersons and leaders of our various initiatives. CCH does its work in accordance with its organizational values – centering people with lived experience, accountability & honesty, hope & joy, equity, and shared power. We recognize that homelessness is a problem that stems from systemic racism and that biases and prejudices are embedded in the fabric of society, and thus, also permeate organizations like ours. CCH is committed to advancing racial equity in the workplace, through the work of our racial equity committee, and through the campaigns and initiatives we choose.   

The Role 

CCH seeks a person with deep experience with using communications to advance systemic change while advancing racial equity. The ideal candidate will be someone with a nuanced understanding of the political environment, a firm grasp on how and when to proactively use different communications tools and tactics to advance our advocacy and organizational goals; be a strong writer that understands strategic narrative change; be a natural collaborator and teacher that understands community organizing and the central role people with lived experience can and should play in systemic change; and be a strong manager and problem solver who can manage in all directions, provide timely feedback, and is excited to learn and grow. This position will supervise and work in partnership with the Associate Director of Digital Communications and Marketing. 

Responsibilities 

• Build and execute comprehensive narrative change strategies to shift public and political will on solutions to homelessness.   
• Partner with key policy, organizing, and legal staff to develop and execute strategic policy communications plans that advance advocacy goals. (25%)  
• Understand complex policy and political issues and develop clear, concise, and persuasive messages related to them. 
• Draft and update strategic communications and/or provide messaging guidance and editing support for policy initiatives including fact sheets, position papers, and other written material for specific projects, campaigns and events.  
• As needed, lead the execution and dissemination of original research and opinion polling in partnership with relevant departments. Test key messages to determine effectiveness. 
• Provide training and support to staff on effective communications. 
• Serve as organization’s press secretary, fostering and developing press relationships as part of developing and managing a proactive earned media strategy that advances organizational and advocacy goals and lead on coordinating responses to media requests. (25%)  
• Draft press releases. 
• Develop messaging points and ensure that media and messaging training is provided to staff, grassroots leaders and clients who engage in media interviews or public speaking.  
• Monitor press coverage the organization receives. 
• Train and support staff, grassroots leaders, and stakeholders on effective external communications.  
• In partnership with the Associate Director for Communications and Marketing, oversee strategic content creation. (25%)  
• Monitor and analyze digital communications and marketing metrics to increase audience engagement. 
• Story writing/narrative development with relevant departments to advance policy, fundraising, and organizational goals.  
• Oversee the content creation and management of the organization’ social media channels, including objectives and benchmarks.  
• Grow organization’s base on key platforms  
• Overall management of the organization’s brand (10%) 
• Working with the Associate Director, train and support staff and leaders in consistent use of CCH’s brand and voice. 
• Manage and support communications staff (15%) 
• Work in collaboration with all CCH departments – CCH believes strongly in interdepartmental collaboration and expects all staff to work in close partnership with other departments at the organization.   

Qualifications  

Required 

• Significant demonstrated experience developing and executing policy and advocacy communications. 
• Demonstrated strong persuasive writing skills that are consistent with the organizational voice and mission. 
• Experience working with community organizers and grassroots leaders to inform and shape advocacy campaign communications. 
• Strong project management skills. 
• Experience working in close collaboration with people from diverse backgrounds and an understanding of the need to center people with lived experience in the work. 
• Demonstrated ability to give, receive and act on feedback.  
• Demonstrated press relationships and success in executing proactive press strategies 
• Demonstrated experience operating in a political environment and using that understanding to shape political messaging, community narrative, narrative change, and communications strategies. 
• Demonstrated understanding of brand management and stewardship. 
• Demonstrated understanding of social media and web tools and their role in advancing organizational, fundraising, and advocacy goals.  
• Supervisory experience 

Preferred 

• Proficiency in Spanish 

Salary Range  

$120,000 -$123,000, (salary above the base salary is available if the candidate meets one or more of the following criteria – demonstrated second language proficiency ($1,000), lived experience of homelessness ($1,000), certification in racial equity work ($1,000). In addition, CCH provides excellent benefits; including health and dental, life insurance, disability insurance, 401K, four weeks paid vacation, student loan reimbursement, and a sabbatical program.     

Application Instructions 

Please send your resume, cover letter, and a sample of each of the following: writing, graphic design, and a social media post to hiring@chicagohomeless.org (PDF versions if attached) with the SUBJECT LINE: 2024 Director of Strategic and Policy Communications. Portfolio and URLs are accepted. DEADLINE TO APPLY: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2024, by 5 P.M. CENTRAL.  

All employees should be up to date on vaccination series as indicted by the CDC. The currently approved vaccines under this policy are Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax. No vaccine shall be designated unless and until it is fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or approved by the FDA for emergency use authorization. Fully vaccinated means at least two weeks after the final shot in the required timing and dosage (one shot for Johnson & Johnson, two shots for Moderna with 28 days between shots, and two shots for Pfizer with 21 days between shots). Prospective employees will be expected to comply with this policy within two months of accepting their offer of employment.  

Chicago Coalition to end Homelessness believes that personnel diversity is an organizational strength and recognizes and values the intersectional identities that staff members bring to our organization. We are enriched by the diverse experiences, beliefs, and ways of thinking that employees of different backgrounds bring.  

People of color and people who have experienced homelessness or poverty are strongly encouraged to apply. Fair consideration is given to all qualified applicants regardless of criminal record. CCH is committed to providing equal employment consideration without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion, national origin, ancestry, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or any other legally protected status.