Senior Director, Intergovernmental Affairs

Housing Authority of Cook County; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

Housing Authority of Cook County seeks a Senior Director of Intergovernmental Affairs to lead government relations, legislative strategy, housing policy, and external engagement. You will advise executives, monitor policy developments, and coordinate cross-departmental initiatives to advance affordable housing and community development.

The role represents the Authority with officials and agencies, building coalitions and directing major projects while ensuring compliance with ethics and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field required.
• Eight+ years progressive government relations or public policy experience.
• Experience advising executive leadership and leading cross-functional initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute federal, state, county, and municipal legislative strategies.
• Monitor legislation, regulations, and funding actions affecting the Authority.
• Advise leadership on major governmental developments and strategic implications.
• Prepare legislative positions, advocacy materials, briefings, and testimony.
• Build relationships with elected officials, government agencies, and community organizations.
• Lead enterprise initiatives requiring cross-departmental or intergovernmental coordination.

Skills

Government relations

Public policy

Stakeholder management

Executive communication

Negotiation

Cross-functional leadership

Policy analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration, political science, public policy, urban planning, communications, business administration, or related field

Master’s degree in public administration, public policy, urban planning, business administration, law, or related field

Job description

enior Director, Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary

The Senior Director of Intergovernmental Affairs leads the Authority’s government relations, legislative strategy, housing policy efforts, and external engagement. As a senior advisor to executive leadership, the role develops strategies that advance the Authority’s mission, programs, funding priorities, and governmental partnerships. The position represents the Authority with elected officials, public agencies, and community organizations while monitoring external developments, identifying risks and opportunities, and directing major initiatives requiring cross‑departmental and intergovernmental coordination.

Key Responsibilities

Government Relations and Legislative Strategy

• Develop and execute federal, state, county, and municipal legislative strategies aligned with the Authority’s mission.
• Monitor and analyze legislation, regulations, and funding actions affecting the Authority.
• Advise executive leadership on major governmental developments and strategic implications.
• Prepare legislative positions, advocacy materials, briefings, and testimony.
• Build strong relationships with elected officials, legislative staff, government agencies, and public‑sector partners.
• Advance major Authority priorities and strengthen organizational visibility with policymakers.

Executive Advising and Housing Policy

• Serve as a key advisor to the Executive Director and leadership on governmental, legislative, housing policy, and external matters.
• Provide executive‑level analysis on complex or politically sensitive issues.
• Evaluate affordable housing and community development proposals and recommend policy and advocacy positions.
• Assess operational, financial, political, and community impacts of proposed changes.
• Integrate governmental and stakeholder considerations into organizational planning.
• Prepare executive briefings, presentations, and policy analyses.

External Representation and Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent the Authority before governmental bodies, agencies, municipalities, industry groups, and community organizations.
• Participate in hearings, briefings, forums, conferences, and public meetings.
• Communicate Authority priorities, programs, and community impact to diverse audiences.
• Build coalitions and partnerships that support affordable housing and community development.
• Lead resolution of complex external issues involving multiple internal departments or external partners.

Strategic Initiatives and Organizational Leadership

• Lead enterprise initiatives that require coordination across departments or governmental entities.
• Define project goals, timelines, responsibilities, performance measures, and accountability structures.
• Coordinate responses to governmental requests and ensure internal alignment.
• Identify organizational barriers, competing priorities, and project risks and facilitate solutions.
• Track commitments, deliverables, and outcomes and keep executive leadership informed.
• Identify governmental partnerships, funding opportunities, grants, and appropriations.
• Provide direction to staff and consultants.
• Ensure compliance with ethics, lobbying, regulatory, and organizational requirements.
• Promote a cohesive strategy for governmental relations and external engagement.

Education and Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, political science, public policy, urban planning, communications, business administration, or related field.
• Minimum of eight years of progressive experience in government relations, legislative affairs, public policy, public administration, housing, community development, or external affairs.
• Experience advising executive leadership, developing legislative strategies, managing senior‑level stakeholder relationships, and leading cross‑functional initiatives.
• Experience working with elected officials, legislative offices, government executives, agencies, and community leaders.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in public administration, public policy, urban planning, business administration, law, or related field.
• Extensive experience in affordable housing, public housing, community development, local government, or a regulated public‑sector environment.
• Experience representing an organization before legislative bodies or industry groups.
• Supervisory or senior leadership experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of governmental structures, legislative processes, public policy, and advocacy.
• Deep knowledge of affordable housing policy and the governmental impacts on housing operations.
• Ability to translate complex legislative and regulatory issues into clear organizational strategies.
• High political acumen, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Exceptional executive communication, negotiation, and relationship‑management skills.
• Ability to identify external risks and opportunities and navigate complex stakeholder environments.
• Ability to build consensus among groups with competing interests.
• Ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives and influence outcomes without relying solely on formal authority.
• Ability to represent the Authority effectively in sensitive or politically complex environments.

BENEFITS

• Health insurance
• FREE Dental insurance
• FREE Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Healthcare flexible spending account
• Dependent Care flexible spending account
• Commuter flexible spending account
• Employee assistance program
• 401(k) – Employer contribution of 6%
• Paid time off

This job description is subject to change and in no manner states or implies that these are the only duties and responsibilities to be performed. The qualifications listed above are guidelines, other combinations of education and experience that could provide the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job will be considered.