top of page

Job Posts

Economic Security for Illinois
Open position: Program Manager, Cash Portfolio & Narrative Change

 

​

Details

Start date: May 2022

Location: Position is based in Chicago. This is currently a virtual position; when appropriate again according to health and safety protocols, this position will involve occasional travel to meetings or team retreats.

Compensation: The initial salary range for this position is $65,000-$75,000 depending on experience. ESIL offers a comprehensive benefits package including 100% paid medical, dental and vision insurance, employee-matched 401k retirement plan as well as sick and vacation PTO. This position is full-time and considered exempt from FLSA overtime rules. 

Reports to: Executive Director

Manages: No direct reports

​

Economic Security for Illinois (ESIL) is hiring a full-time Project Manager to oversee our cash portfolio and narrative change work. 

 

​

About Economic Security for Illinois

 

Economic Security for Illinois builds collective power to advance policy solutions that make Illinois’ economy the most equitable and inclusive in the country.

 

The policy solutions we promote include:

  • A guaranteed income and cash transfer policies that give cash to people who need it, use it, and could benefit from it;   

  • Equitable taxation structures, including an expansion of the existing Earned Income Credit and the implementation of a state Child Tax Credit;

  • A Future of Work that addresses the current and future needs of Illinois workers and employers by offering higher pay, safer working conditions, and a modernized social safety net.

 

About the Role

 

Economic Security of Illinois (ESIL) is seeking a Program Manager to run two critical programs within our cash policy portfolio: the Guaranteed Income Community of Practice (IL GICP) and the (soon to be launched) Power of Cash Narrative Change Fellowship. The Program Manager will work in close collaboration with the ESIL team, which includes the Director, Coalition Manager, and Communications Manager. ESIL is a small team of three full time staff members and 5-10 consultant partners.

​

The goals of the IL GICP are to strengthen connections among and provide policy advocacy support to the guaranteed income ecosystem in Illinois and more broadly with the national and California Guaranteed Income communities of practice.The Program Manager supports these goals by coordinating stakeholder engagement, drafting best practices and guidance materials, and supporting strategy development.

​

The goal of the yearlong Power of Cash Narrative Change Fellowship is to inspire narrative, and ultimately policy, change via socially engaged art projects. The Program Manager supports this goal by managing a successful outreach, application, and selection process and guiding and supporting the Fellows to increase public awareness about guaranteed income in the Chicagoland area.

​

The Program Manager will build strong relationships with Chicagoland guaranteed income demonstrations, in service of both the IL GICP and Power of Cash Narrative Change Fellowship. This person will spend much of their time as a convener, facilitator, and project manager. 

​
​
​
Job Responsibilities

 

Community of Practice Program & Stakeholder Management (40%)

  • Develop the scope and sequence for the Illinois Guaranteed Income Community of Practice (IL GICP) meetings, coordinating with other communities of practice;

  • Create meeting agendas, identify, schedule, and prepare speakers, provide talking points and/or driving questions for meetings, prepare and send pre-reading materials, and facilitate meetings;

  • Research existing politics and programs, develop best practices and guidance on guaranteed income for statewide stakeholders, including coordination with existing pilots and advocates in Illinois and across the country;

  • Draft public facing documents, including fact sheets, social media content, and issue and policy briefs to both support and expand thinking around guaranteed income;

  • Engage in and support strategic thinking of the direction of the cash portfolio;

  • Communicate regularly with IL GICP members through surveys, updates, and individual conversations; compile requests and recommendations to ensure IL GICP is responsive to community needs;

  • Speak to press/media about IL GICP; and,

  • Perform statewide landscape analyses, monitor and report to the Director on new entrants in the guaranteed income space and identify potential partners to broaden and diversify the coalition of groups and champions engaged with guaranteed income in Illinois.

​

Artist Fellowship Program & Stakeholder Management (40%)

  • Develop fellowship project plan, timeline, and milestones, and ensure Fellowship remains aligned with its strategic vision and implementation timeline and goals;

  • Lead outreach and promotion for the Fellowship application; 

  • Guide the Fellowship application and selection process with advisory board and ESIL team;

  • Lead the Fellowship program and cohort throughout its duration, including convening the Fellows and advisory group throughout the program;

  • Create meeting agenda, facilitate meetings, identify, schedule, and prepare speakers;

  • Plan and run informational sessions, check-ins, and virtual and in-person social events for Fellow cohort;

  • Support individual Fellows and their project development by serving as their main point-of-contact to ESIL and to Chicagoland guaranteed income demonstrations; 

  • Support Communications & Digital Manager to develop and implement Fellowship press plan;

  • Speak to press/media about Fellowship;

  • Prepare and write a final Fellowship report, including assessing Fellowship impact metrics and outcomes. 

​

Event Planning & Management (15%)

  • Oversee the development, planning, promotion, and execution of the Fellowship final exhibition;

  • Coordinate with Fellows to ensure event best facilitates and showcases their artwork.

​

Media Engagement (5%)

  • Support Communications & Digital Manager to seek press opportunities for cash portfolio programs;

  • Speak to press/media on behalf of IL GICP and Fellowship;

  • Craft social media copy and graphics in partnership with Communications Manager to promote Fellows and their work;

  • Oversee and assist in the maintenance of a web/digital presence of Fellowship.

​

​

​

​

The Skills and Attributes You’ll Need

 

We are passionate about developing a diverse and inclusive team. If you are passionate about guaranteed income and narrative change but do not meet 100% of the qualifications listed below, we encourage you to apply.

  • A genuine belief in ESIL’s mission and a strong understanding of racial, gender and economic justice 

  • 3+ years of Experience in community organizing, community engagement, issue-based or electoral campaigns, or movement building and growing power for diverse communities

  • Experience working with artists, knowledge of the Chicago arts community is a plus

  • Strong project management skills and an excellent ability to manage up and laterally

  • Experience developing and implementing strategic and tactical plans to set and achieve outcomes

  • Ability to build relationships and engage diverse stakeholders

  • Excellent interpersonal and written/oral communication skills

  • Experience with meeting facilitation

  • Ability to work independently on a deadline, adapt to changing situations and priorities, handle confidential information, and manage multiple projects simultaneously

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as their Google counterparts (Docs, Sheets, Slides), familiarity with Zoom and social media platforms.

​

​

 

How to Apply

Please email your resume and the answers to the following questions (either as a text document, PDF, or in the body of an email) to cash@economicsecurityil.org with the position in the subject line.

 

  1. Why are you interested in working with Economic Security for Illinois? (150 words)

  2. You’re recruiting for both the Illinois Guaranteed Income Community of Practice and for the Power of Cash Narrative Change Fellowship. What are some key organizations that you’d reach out to? And what is your pitch? (250 words; excluding list of organizations)

  3. Tell us about a time when you had to manage multiple stakeholders with competing priorities. How did you make the decisions on what to prioritize? (200 words)

 

Applications without responses to the questions will not be considered. A cover letter is not necessary.

 

Our hiring process typically consists of a phone interview (30-45 minutes) with a member of our hiring committee and a final interview (currently conducted by video; 60 minutes) with presentation materials prepared in advance by the candidate. We will ask for references at the time of the final interview.

 

Reviews of applications will begin on a rolling basis. Application will remain open until the position is filled. We expect to make a hiring decision by early May 2022 for an early- to mid-May 2022 start date.

 

Because Economic Security for Illinois (ESIL) values a diverse and representative workplace, people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and people of all gender identities are strongly encouraged to apply. ESIL is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and enables each of us to realize our potential. Our work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

​

Because Economic Security for Illinois (ESIL) values a diverse and representative workplace, people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and people of all gender identities are strongly encouraged to apply. ESIL is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and enables each of us to realize our potential. Our work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

 

If you have questions about this opportunity, please reach out to cash@economicsecurityil.org

​

bottom of page