Senior Director of Government Affairs

Summary

Join Arts Alliance Illinois as the Senior Director of Government Affairs, a key member of the senior leadership team. This role involves leading advocacy strategies for the Illinois creative sector, supervising staff, building legislative relationships, and developing policy. You will be a leading voice for the creative community, working to ensure a thriving and equitable sector. The position is approximately 75% remote, with travel to Springfield during the legislative session and occasional in-person meetings in Chicago required. Full-time residency in Illinois is a requirement. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with leadership experience, a strong political background, and a commitment to social justice.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in electoral, civic engagement, or political campaigns, with some relevant connection to community, labor, or issue-based advocacy
• Demonstrable knowledge of public policy and legislative and political processes at the local, state, and federal level
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to communicate clearly and persuasively (both written and verbal)
• Experience supervising multiple teams and individual contributors
• A strong network and relationships with leaders within the arts, culture, and arts education in Illinois
• Experience leading or managing a coalition of diverse organizations and partners
• Ability to self-reflect and pivot based on feedback
• Strong project management skills, high level of self-organization, deep care and attention to detail, and ability to manage competing deadlines
• Strong understanding of the importance of cultural competence when working with diverse communities, Arts Alliance represents and works with individuals and organizations across the entire state of Illinois
• Strong project management skills and ability to handle multiple deadlines simultaneously
• Growth mindset and an openness to giving and receiving feedback for continuous learning and improvement
• Self-motivated, innovative, and creative—can balance bold ideas and vision with the ability to operationalize and execute
• Willing to develop new skills and take on new challenges
• Capable of remaining calm under pressure and tight deadlines while comfortable pivoting quickly between projects and goals
• Deeply committed to social and racial justice issues and willing to learn even more
• Willing to travel as needed

Responsibilities

• Design and execute effective advocacy strategies around issues of importance to the Illinois creative sector, with a focus on promoting equity and access for BIPOC and rural arts practitioners and organizations
• Build and maintain legislative relationships at local, state, and federal levels, especially with elected officials, civil servants, and their respective staff
• Manage Arts Alliance legislation from drafting phase, filing, and adding sponsors to passage
• Ensure legislative and policy proposals relevant to the Alliance’s agenda and the creative sector are tracked and analyzed. Including, but not limited to, tracking legislation harmful to the sector and reaching out to sponsors on behalf of the Alliance
• Testifying on behalf of the Alliance on legislation that may be harmful or helpful to the sector
• Partner with the Executive Director in communicating with and evaluating contract lobbyists
• Represent the Alliance at public forums, meetings, with press and media, and at national and regional conferences and events as needed
• In collaboration with the Director of Community Organizing, lead the development of Arts Alliance’s community-driven policy agenda and ensure that policy agenda is updated in line with the most critical concerns of the statewide creative sector
• Develop high-quality policy content and analysis including action alerts, talking points, issue briefs, letters, press statements, opinion editorials, and website updates, and work with the Director of Communications to ensure the development of effective messaging
• Collaborate with the Director of Community Organizing and other relevant staff to meaningfully engage Alliance members and deepen the organizational bench of arts advocates across the state
• Develop and maintain key partnerships with external collaborators of Arts Alliance Illinois, especially around policy and advocacy advancement, in concert with the Director of Community Organizing and Executive Director
• Direct the growth of the Advocacy, Organizing, and Policy department
• Manage Advocacy staff towards program success and professional growth, including holding staff accountable to goals, and providing consistent feedback and coaching
• Develop a deep understanding of staff perspectives of our member's needs and priorities, as well as direct engagement with members around those same topics
• Provide timely and accurate updates and reports to staff, Board, partners, and funders, as needed
• Work with the Executive Director and other Senior Directors in the creation of a multi-year strategic plan. Track program, policy, and organizing performance against long-term strategic goals
• Provide high-level strategic advice to the Executive Director on organizational development, including long-term and rapid response policy and advocacy opportunities; overall political and community organizing strategy; potential partnerships; and overall organizational positioning
• Contribute to organizational revenue by exploring previously untapped support from foundations and major donors, as well as developing opportunities for earned revenue
• Collaborate with Executive Director and Senior Directors to develop and manage goals, budgets, and plans that meet strategic objectives

Preferred Qualifications

• A belief that arts and culture are vital to strong local communities and that it is necessary to invest in them
• Thrives working remotely and independently, while simultaneously being a key member of a dynamic, collaborative team
• Ability to demonstrate grace and respect for themselves and others at all times, especially when under pressure
• Ability to self-direct and move projects forward by recognizing when to involve other staff and leadership

Benefits

• Unlimited paid time off with a minimum of 15 days required plus federal holidays and an end-of-year break
• 403(b) match after the first year
• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• Phone and internet stipend
• Paid family leave