Advocacy and Policy Manager

Center for Disability & Elder Law

Advocacy and Policy Manager

The Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL) provides free legal services to low-income older adults and persons with disabilities. CDELs clients, individuals often marginalized by age, disability and poverty, may have difficulty accessing the legal system. CDEL strives to provide access to the legal system to assist our clients in asserting their legal rights and live better lives.

CDEL seeks a highly relational and skilled manager, responsible for forming and sustaining trustworthy and meaningful partnerships to lead CDELs advocacy and policy efforts. The Advocacy and Policy Manager will support CDELs policy initiatives and legislative agenda while also building coalitions and providing education.

The Advocacy and Policy Manager is expected to participate in a hybrid experience, with a combination of remote work and in-person work. Intermittent travel to off-site locations will be required.

Responsibilities

• Represent CDEL in local and statewide coalitions to promote CDELs mission. Coordinate with partner organizations to develop strategies and implement tactics.
• Draft content for educational materials for key stakeholders. Contribute to educational presentations, fact sheets, social media assets, and other assigned deliverables.
• Communicate CDEL priorities through public speaking and other outreach.
• Organize and conduct events with decision-makers and key stakeholders.
• Write, analyze, and track legislation and ordinances.
• Develop policy expertise in issue areas as assigned, including an understanding of current legislation and a comparison to laws in other locations.
• Build relationships with relevant stakeholders.
• Contribute to fundraising efforts, including grant applications and foundation reporting.
• Maintains databases and tracking systems for policy issues, legislative contacts, and advocacy activities.
• Assists in organizing and scheduling meetings with legislators, coalition partners, and other stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree required. Masters degree or JD preferred.
• At least 3 years in a senior role in one of the following fields: aging or disabilities, social services, housing, community organizing, or policy advocacy.
• Strong knowledge, community connections, and experience in working with communities that CDEL serves. Demonstrated commitment to CDELs target population and social justice.
• Advocacy, policy creation, community organizing, coalition building, legislative monitoring, or related experience.
• Significant demonstrated professional experience in writing, speaking publicly, and delivering high impact presentations.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule.

Required Skills

• Effective management and team building skills; able to build rapport, align staff to shared goals, and create accountability.
• Excellent written and verbal skills and interpersonal skills. Able to interact effectively with a broad range of people (e.g., grassroots to institutional leadership).
• Strong organizational skills and project management skills, with the ability to manage matters with deadlines and communicate with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent people skills, communication skills, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to adapt and be flexible.
• Detail-oriented.
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  Creative and innovative approach to solving problems.
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  Comfortable with CDELs client base, including working with older adults and persons with disabilities.
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  Enjoys engaging with clients, community partners and other staff.
  

Salary and Benefits

Salary range:$55,000 - $70,000, depending on experience. Full-time position. CDEL offers a comprehensive benefits package including health/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, short term and long term disability insurance. CDEL also has a generous personal time off policy.

About the Organization

The Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL) is a dynamic 501(c)(3) legal aid organization dedicated to empowering lower-income older adults and persons with disabilities in Chicago and Cook County through pro bono legal assistance. Founded by the Chicago Bar Association in 1982, CDEL serves more than 3,000 clients annually, delivering access to justice and improving lives.

With a talented in-house team and a network of hundreds of volunteer attorneys, students, and paralegals, CDEL focuses on resolving legal challenges in four key practice areas: end-of-life planning, adult guardianship, housing, and consumer issues. Through innovative programs and passionate advocacy, CDEL ensures that legal solutions are within reach for thousands of individuals every year, enabling them to lead their lives with dignity and security.

CDEL is an equal opportunity employer. We are a welcoming community that engages, encourages, and empowers those who are members of underrepresented communities. We are a dedicated advocate for our clients who hold many diverse identities and experiences, across race, color, sex, age, religion, class, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge, source of income, housing status, and gender identity. We believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do. Hence, we encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized and underrepresented communities to apply for this position. We also encourage you to read our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement available on our website.

Position is open immediately and will be closed when filled. Applications received by September 26, 2025 will be given preference.