Government Affairs & Policy Associate

Metropolitan Family Services empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 205,000 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness and empowerment.

We are now hiring for a full-time Government Affairs & Policy Associate to join our HQ Team!

The Government Affairs & Policy Associate supports the agency’s engagement with federal, state, and local government entities and advances the agency’s public policy and advocacy initiatives. This role contributes to governance-related projects, policy analysis, legislative monitoring, and advocacy communications that support the agency’s strategic priorities and service populations. The role helps coordinate policy and advocacy initiatives across the agency, builds relationships with elected officials and public sector stakeholders, and supports internal collaboration with agency programs and Community Centers. The role also provides project coordination, research, and communications support to advance the organization’s policy agenda and strengthen its voice on issues affecting the communities it serves.

Under the general supervision of the Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs, the role works closely with and collaborates with diverse staff, community partners, and stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Execute agency initiatives to engage and influence government decision-makers in support of agency objectives to support agency clients and geographies. Provides consultation on advocacy issues to staff and coalitions.
• Assist in development and implementation of project management processes.
• Coordinate and assist with adopted Government Affairs & Policy projects through project lifecycle including draft project proposals, monitor project progress, communicate with project team members and stakeholders, conduct research to support project planning and decision-making, and provide general administrative support to ensure successful delivery of tangible and intangible project outcomes.
• Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, government agencies, coalitions, partners, and other key stakeholders. Schedules and prepare materials for meetings, briefings, and public events with policymakers and stakeholders.
• Serve as liaison between the Government Affairs & Policy Department and agency Community Centers and proactively attends Community Center meetings and events.
• Develop specialized communications related to Government Affairs & Policy, advocacy, governance and strategic initiatives, including annual policy agenda, advocacy materials such as fact sheets, talking points, testimony, resource toolkits, and correspondence with officials as well as planning documents and other documents targeting legislators, policymakers, external stakeholders, staff and clients.
• Write and distribute regular advocacy communication tools for internal and external audiences including monthly Government Affairs & Policy Advocacy Newsletter, advocacy action center intranet pages, and action alerts using advocacy software platform.
• Promote the agency’s state and federal legislative advocacy agenda. Monitor specific legislation, policy initiatives and emerging issues, as assigned, and maintain knowledge of public policy trends. Analyze all relevant areas and recommend action to department leadership. Represent the agency in local, state, and national activities as assigned.
• Maintain records of Government Affairs & Policy activities, including legislative tracking, stakeholder engagement, and meeting notes, to ensure organized and accurate documentation of departmental, legislative, and advocacy efforts.
• Coordinate and execute the agency-wide Advocacy Task Force (ATF) process and serves as lead staff for ATF meetings. Develop, refine and distribute materials and action items for ATF and its policy workgroups, including materials, minutes, meeting tools and other documentation required Government Affairs & Policy department performance standards.
• Coordinate efforts of ATF workgroup leaders and other assigned staff to ensure MFS meets or exceeds all outlines goals.
• Support the Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs in staffing Board committees and other group projects as assigned.
• Collaborate with the department leadership, staff, contractors and stakeholders to plan and implement Government Affairs & Policy initiatives.
• Work effectively with diverse staff and service populations. May supervise interns or staff.
• Carries out other projects and administrative assignments.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS, CREDENTIALS and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, social work, or related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience/training in public policy, government affairs, advocacy, or nonprofit public sector engagement.
• Strong understanding of legislative and regulatory processes at the federal, state, and local levels.

TRAVEL/MOBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to travel between agency sites, the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, and offices of legislators and government officials as needed.

TRAVEL BETWEEN SITES:

• Yes

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, social work, or related field.
• Project management certification.
• Experience in legislative advocacy, coalition-building, or public policy campaigns.

SALARY:

• The average starting salary for this position will fall in the range of $60,000 and $65,000 annually. Where candidates fall in this range will be based on skill and experience level.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

• Experience with legislative, administrative, and budgetary advocacy, including coalition-building and systems change efforts. Understanding of federal, state, and local legislative processes and nonprofit lobbying regulations, including the ability to support advocacy and lobbying activities in compliance with applicable laws and organizational policies.
• Project Management Skills: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, including planning, coordination, implementation, and follow-up across internal teams and external stakeholders. Ability to track project timelines, milestones, and deliverables to ensure initiatives are completed efficiently and aligned with departmental goals. Skilled in prioritizing competing deadlines and adapting to changing priorities in a fast-paced policy and advocacy environment. Strong planning, facilitation, and organizational skills. Ability to work under tight timelines, think conceptually, and take a proactive role in executing and completing projects.
• Relationship Management & Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrated ability to build and sustain productive relationships with diverse stakeholders, including elected officials, government staff, community partners, advocacy coalitions, and internal teams. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively, build trust, and maintain positive working relationships across diverse communities and sectors. Experience and comfort with public speaking and facilitation.
• Language/Communication Skills: Excellent written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated ability to speak and write persuasively to a range of audiences. Ability to respond to common inquiries from stakeholders, policymakers, or elected officials; communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
• Research Skills: Excellent research and analytical skills, with the ability to translate data and policy analysis into actionable advocacy strategies.
• Computer/Technical Skills: Demonstrated proficiency with computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets and internet usage, including new media. Familiarity with Microsoft Office package, and experience with legislative tracking systems/tools, advocacy platforms, and CRM software.
• Professional/Other Skills: Demonstrated ability to think critically, solve problems creatively and manage multiple assignments under deadlines. Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. Ability to work well in groups and within teams as well as individually.
• Experience providing direct service to underserved or underrepresented populations is a plus.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle, and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch. The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal.

This job description is not designed to cover nor contain a comprehensive, exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities, and it is expected that employees understand there may be other duties assigned outside of the written language that appears here. Metropolitan Family Services reserves the right to amend, add, change, and/or remove responsibilities to meet business needs as necessary, at any time, with or without notice to employees.