Executive Director - Illinois Partners for Human Service

Maneva Group; Illinois; Hybride; USD 130 000 - 160 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Hybrid work environment

Competitive benefits package

Résumé du poste

Illinois Partners for Human Service, a statewide coalition, seeks an Executive Director to lead policy advocacy, fundraising, and coalition-building across Illinois. The ED will work with the Board, staff, and partners to advance the organization’s mission and strengthen the human services sector.

The role focuses on strategy, stakeholder engagement, and public policy, with a commitment to equity and collaborative leadership. Hybrid work in Illinois with travel to be expected.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or coordinating coalitions or diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong policy advocacy and public policy understanding.
• Fundraising and donor relations experience preferred.

Responsabilités

• Serve as chief executive and public face, shaping strategy and advocacy impact.
• Mobilize statewide coalition of ~850 partner organizations; enable member engagement.
• Lead policy and advocacy efforts in Illinois and with legislators and agencies.
• Develop and execute fundraising strategies with the Board and funders.
• Define strategic priorities and ensure resources and teams align to them.
• Elevate the organization's visibility through research, communications, and convenings.

Description du poste

Illinois Partners for Human Service (Illinois Partners) is a statewide coalition of health and human service organizations working to create a stronger, more stable, and more equitable human services sector across Illinois. The coalition brings together organizations serving communities throughout the state and works to ensure that Illinoisans have access to the resources and services they need to thrive.

Illinois Partners serves as a collective voice for the human services sector, bringing together community-based organizations, advocates, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders to advance systemic change. Its work focuses on policy and advocacy, research, training, and communications that strengthen the sector and build broader public understanding of the value of human services. Illinois Partners distinguishes itself by operating without seeking or accepting federal and state grants, allowing the organization to advocate independently for improvements to government funding, contracting, and public policy.

The coalition includes approximately 850 health and human service organizations representing every legislative district in Illinois. Partners span a broad range of fields, including behavioral health, early childhood, housing, workforce development, immigration, health care, developmental disabilities, domestic violence prevention, youth services, and services for older adults.

Illinois Partners is particularly focused on building collective power across a sector that is often fragmented by geography, issue area, and organizational mission. The organization works to bring diverse voices together around shared priorities, engage policymakers and community leaders, and advocate for public policies and investments that support a sustainable and equitable human services system.

Position Summary: Executive Director

The Executive Director joins Illinois Partners for Human Service at an important moment of momentum and opportunity. With a statewide network of approximately 850 coalition partners, a growing presence in policy and advocacy, and a clear opportunity to strengthen the human services sector’s collective voice, Illinois Partners is positioned to expand its influence and impact across the state.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will serve as the organization’s chief executive, public representative, coalition builder, and senior advocate. The ED will work closely with the Board, staff, coalition partners, policymakers, funders, and community leaders to advance Illinois Partners’ mission and strengthen the organization’s role as a leading voice for health and human services in Illinois.

This is a highly external and relationship-driven leadership role. The Executive Director will build and mobilize relationships across the state, engage directly with legislators and government leaders, represent the sector in policy conversations, and help partners understand the power of working collectively. The successful candidate will bring a deep understanding of policy and advocacy, an organizing mindset, and the ability to translate complex issues into a compelling case for action.

The Executive Director will serve as a vital strategic partner to the Board of Directors, working intentionally and collaboratively to establish organizational priorities, allocation of resources, and navigate the complexity and nuance of the shifting state legislative and regulatory environment. Financially, the Executive Director will inherit an organization operating a budget of $700,000, and a staff of 5, including 3 full-time team members, and 2 part-time employees. Illinois Partners is primarily funded through voluntary coalition partner contributions and foundational support through granting opportunities, with a small percentage of revenue generated by individual donations. Illinois Partners does not seek or accept funding from government entities. As a result, the next leader will have experience forging and stewarding relationships with partner organizations and institutional funders to expand and diversify revenue.

The next Executive Director will lead Illinois Partners through its next phase of organizational development. This leader will continue to shape and advance policy work like the Living Wages, Thriving Communities campaign, and will be integral in bringing partners together around shared priorities that help move this work forward on behalf of the entire state.

The organization has a strong foundation and an engaged coalition, but there is an opportunity to identify a focused set of initiatives where Illinois Partners can lead, strengthen partner engagement, expand its team and infrastructure, and build the financial resources needed to sustain and grow its work. This leader will bring clarity, courage, and conviction while maintaining the collaborative spirit that defines Illinois Partners.

Key responsibilities include:

• Serve as the chief executive and public face of Illinois Partners, providing clear strategic direction and representing the organization and its coalition of partners with policymakers, funders, civic leaders, community organizations, and other stakeholders, while setting a thoughtful, data-driven agenda to maximize the organization’s advocacy impact .
• Engage and mobilize a powerful statewide coalition, strengthening relationships among Illinois Partners’ approximately 850 partner organizations and creating meaningful opportunities for partners to shape priorities, participate in advocacy, and act collectively.
• Lead policy and advocacy efforts in Springfield and throughout Illinois, serving as a registered lobbyist and developing relationships with legislators, state agencies, elected officials, and other decision-makers to advance policies that strengthen the human services sector.
• Fundraise to strengthen the organization’s financial sustainability, working with the Board, staff, and funders to increase foundation support, deepen partner contributions, develop multi-year commitments, and build toward a sustainable annual operating model.
• Identify a focused set of strategic initiatives where Illinois Partners can lead and make a meaningful difference, balancing the breadth of the coalition with clear priorities and disciplined execution.
• Develop and communicate a compelling vision for the future of Illinois’ human services sector, helping policymakers, funders, partners, and the broader public understand the value of human services and the importance of sustained investment.
• Serve as a trusted advocate and thought partner to coalition members, helping organizations navigate policy challenges, connect with decision-makers, and use their collective voice more effectively.
• Strengthen Illinois Partners’ capacity as a statewide organizing and advocacy organization, building systems and strategies that allow the coalition to mobilize partners quickly around emerging opportunities and threats.
• Lead organizational strategy and implementation, including the next phase of strategic planning, ensuring that the organization’s goals, resources, staffing, partnerships, and activities are aligned around a clear set of priorities.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team, providing clarity around roles and expectations while expanding organizational capacity in policy, advocacy, communications, partner engagement, and operations as resources allow.
• Elevate Illinois Partners’ visibility and voice, using research, communications, public speaking, media, convenings, and strategic partnerships to increase recognition of the organization and the broader human services sector.

The Executive Director will be an accomplished coalition builder who knows how to bring diverse organizations and perspectives together around shared priorities. They will understand that Illinois Partners’ influence comes from the breadth and engagement of its network and will bring an organizing mindset to mobilizing partners, empowering member organizations, and building collective power across the state.

Policy, Advocacy & Government Relations

The successful candidate will bring meaningful experience in public policy and advocacy, with the credibility and relationships necessary to operate effectively. The Executive Director must have a strong understanding of the unique challenges of the political and legislative landscape in Springfield and across the state of Illinois. They will understand how policy is developed, how coalitions influence decision-makers, and how to translate the priorities of a diverse sector into a clear and compelling advocacy agenda. Experience as a lobbyist or registered lobbyist is not required but is strongly valued.

Fundraising and Strategic Growth

Illinois Partners is seeking a leader who can see beyond the organization’s current structure and identify where it can have greater impact. The Executive Director will bring vision and ambition while remaining grounded in the realities of leading a small organization and a complex coalition. This leader will partner with the Board and staff to identify opportunities for new revenue generation and fund development, while maintaining strong relationships with current funders to grow and diversify the existing portfolio of foundation support, partner contributions, and individual giving. The next leader should have a proven track record of stewarding these relationships, using data-informed insights to expand fundraising infrastructure and support consistent donor cultivation.

Relationship Building & Communication

The Executive Director will be an engaging and authentic communicator who builds trust quickly and can connect with people across sectors, geographies, and organizational roles. They will be comfortable speaking with legislators, nonprofit leaders, funders, community members, and frontline workers and will be able to communicate complex policy issues in clear, accessible language.

Leadership Rooted in Equity

Illinois Partners serves as a collective voice for the human services sector, collaborating with non-profit organizations that work directly in equity-sensitive spaces on issues including, but not limited to immigration, domestic violence, and disability services. The next ED will lead with an equity-centered approach to operations, communication, and collaboration. They will have familiarity and respect for the nuanced work of coalition partners and highlight the experiences and real-world policy impacts affecting historically marginalized communities.

Location, Compensation and Benefits

This position is based in Illinois, with an office space available in Chicago. Illinois Partners offers a hybrid work environment with flexibility to work from different parts of the state; however, the Executive Director is expected to be in the office as required to conduct meetings, team activities, and administrative duties, with additional in-person engagement required for partner events, advocacy activities, and other organizational commitments.

The role requires significant travel to Springfield, particularly during the Illinois legislative session from January through May. The Executive Director can expect to be in Springfield approximately two to four times per month during session, generally Tuesday through Thursday, in addition to travel throughout Illinois for coalition and partner engagement.

The salary range for this position is $130,000 to $160,000, commensurate with experience, and includes a competitive benefits package.

All inquiries and discussions will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. This position is available immediately, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the role is filled.