Managing Director, Programs & Chief Legal Officer (Chicago)

Managing Director, Programs & Chief Legal Officer

Impact for Equity
Chicago, IL

DHR is pleased to partner with Impact for Equity (IFE), formerly known as Business and Professional People for the Public Interest (BPI), in the search for a strategic and mission-driven Managing Director, Programs & Chief Legal Officer . For more than five decades, Impact for Equity has been a nationally recognized champion of racial and economic justice, advancing systemic change through litigation, policy advocacy, and community-centered partnerships focused on criminal legal system reform and affordable housing.

Reporting directly to Executive Director, and serving as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Managing Director, Programs & Chief Legal Officer will play a critical role in shaping the organization’s future direction and impact. This executive will provide strategic leadership across Impact for Equity’s programmatic portfolio while serving as the organization’s chief legal advisor. The role encompasses oversight of program teams, development of legal and policy strategies, guidance on organizational risk, compliance, and governance matters, and partnership with senior leadership to strengthen the organization’s influence, effectiveness, and long‑term vision.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the Executive Director and senior leadership team to set organizational priorities and execute strategic initiatives.
• Lead and oversee program teams, internship and fellowship programs, and cross‑functional organizational projects.
• Guide and integrate litigation, policy advocacy, coalition‑building, and community‑centered strategies to advance systemic change.
• Serve as the organization’s chief legal advisor, providing counsel to leadership and the Board on legal, governance, employment, compliance, and risk management matters.
• Advise on lobbying, legislative advocacy, and nonprofit regulatory compliance.
• Represent Impact for Equity with government officials, community partners, funders, and other key stakeholders.
• Partner with development colleagues to support fundraising, donor engagement, and grant proposal development.
• Mentor, develop, and support program leaders and staff while fostering a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive culture.

Ideal Candidate

• Have a J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to the Illinois Bar (or ability to obtain admission within two years).
• Ten or more years of experience in public interest law, nonprofit law, policy advocacy, or a related field.
• Seven or more years of leadership experience managing teams and complex organizational initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience advising executive leadership on legal, governance, and compliance matters.
• Strong knowledge of lobbying laws and regulations applicable to nonprofit organizations.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, communication, and relationship‑building skills.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, and developing diverse teams.
• Commitment to racial, economic, and social justice, with a collaborative leadership style grounded in humility, inclusivity, and emotional intelligence.

About the Organization

Founded in 1969, Impact for Equity has been at the forefront of advancing racial and economic justice throughout the Chicago region for more than five decades. Through groundbreaking legal advocacy, policy reform efforts, and community partnerships, the organization has helped shape Illinois law and public policy on issues ranging from affordable housing and school reform to criminal legal system transformation. Today, Impact for Equity focuses its work on affordable housing and criminal legal system reform, combining impact litigation, legislative advocacy, and coalition building to address systemic inequities and create lasting change. Under the leadership of Executive Director Carter Stewart, the organization is entering an exciting new chapter focused on expanding its impact, strengthening its leadership capacity, and advancing a bold vision for justice across Illinois.