Policy Director

Raise The Floor Alliance (RTF) is an Illinois based coalition and legal assistance non-profit that supports exploited workers in low-wage industries to know, defend, and improve their rights. RTF was founded by Arise Chicago, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, Chicago Community & Workers Rights, Chicago Workers Collaborative, Latino Union, Warehouse Workers for Justice, and Workers’ Center for Racial Justice. RTF brings strength to our community partners by providing legal, communications, and organizing support for shared campaigns that build worker power and promote safe, dignified, and stable employment.

Overview of Role

RTF seeks a highly motivated Policy Director to lead our legislative & policy advocacy efforts at the local, state, and national level. The Policy Director reports to the Executive Director and will collaborate closely with the Organizing Director, Legal Director, and Communications Director. They will work together to identify membership priority issues, draft legislation, develop strategy, and publicly represent RTF on a broad agenda that improves the lives of working women, people of color, and immigrants.  

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

• Engage RTF members in understanding, influencing, and educating policymakers on key legislative and regulatory priorities
• Collaborate with RTF staff to design and lead strategy for campaigns around policy priorities in the legislative and administrative enforcement arenas, including to support strategic communication frames and messages 
• Represent RTF in coalitions, with advocacy groups, grassroots organizations, and labor unions to strengthen organizational relationships and build solidarity for RTF campaigns
• Develop timely, relevant, and accurate public education materials for RTF members, policymakers, and media including written testimony, public comments, factsheets, issue briefings, and presentations with support from RTF staff
• Lobby elected officials and government leaders
• Maintain and grow organizational working relationships with policymakers, staff, agencies, and policy advocates
• Serve as a key spokesperson for RTF and members with policymakers, staff, agencies, and policy advocates
• Continuously monitor, analyze, and inform RTF staff and worker center members about current and pending policies that may impact our organizations or constituents
• Demonstrate authoritative knowledge of RTF’s policies and positions to proactively identify opportunities to promote RTF’s work and position the organization and worker center members as thought leaders among policymakers and other relevant stakeholders
• Support individual worker center members to engage in policymaker education 
• Support the Executive Director in administrative tasks related to compiling information, time keeping, and preparing reports for grants as needed
• Support in event logistics as needed

Qualifications:

• A demonstrated commitment to social justice and to building a strong, vibrant labor movement including a sophisticated analysis of racial justice as an imperative for a successful economic justice agenda
• Strong analytical skills; demonstrated ability to identify policy issues, determine and articulate policy recommendations effectively to a variety of audiences
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• A minimum of 2 years of advocacy, public policy, or legal experience in social justice campaigns, with 3-4 years of experience strongly preferred
• Knowledge of legislative structures and processes in Chicago and Illinois
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment in both a lead and a support role
• Effective time management skills, including prioritizing and managing multiple tasks, and demonstrated experience in developing personal work plans and goals
• Demonstrated ability to work with a variety of personalities and organizations
• Computer proficiency is required; database/spreadsheet, email, internet, word processing
• Ability to travel on a regular basis
• Ability to work occasional long hours and weekends as needed
• Conversational Spanish strongly preferred