Description

OVERVIEW

Cook County is seeking a seasoned, visionary leader to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff - Policy, the most senior policy strategist within the Office of the President. This role will shape and drive forward the President's strategic policy agenda across the agency and across all issue areas.

As the top policy advisor to the President and Chief of Staff, the Deputy Chief plays a dual role: translating vision into implementation across a broad and dynamic policy portfolio and guiding a team of generalists and subject matter experts to do the same. This leader is charged with surfacing and solving complex challenges; ensuring alignment on reforms within multi-stakeholder environments; and stewarding a high-functioning, data-informed, and impact-oriented policy strategy.

Cook County offers great benefits and the chance to participate in a strong tradition of public service. Cook County is home to more than five million residents, roughly 45% of Illinois' population. Cook County Government provides a range of vital services and programs that enhance the quality of life for residents across the region. These services range from health care to urban planning. Cook County is committed to empowering its employees to bring our constituents the best that public service has to offer.

WHY PURSUE A CAREER WITH COOK COUNTY?

In addition to providing employees with a challenging, rewarding environment for career and personal growth, we are proud to also offer some of the best benefits in the public sphere, including:

• Top Tier Medical Benefits: Medical Plans, Prescription Drug Benefit, Dental Plans, Vision Plan and 9 Additional voluntary benefit plans
• Flexible Teleworking Options
• Generous, Flexible Paid Time Off (13 paid designated holidays; Minimum of 15 vacation days annually; and Paid sick leave)
• Pension Plan
• Financial Support Programs and Resources: Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts - Dependent Day Care, Commuter Benefits, Discounted Parking, PSLF Eligibility, Deferred Compensation and Education Tuition Stipend
• Health/Wellness Perks: Flexible Spending Accounts-Health Care, Employee Assistance Program and MyHealth Connections wellness program.

SALARY RANGE : $151,920 -$185,680/YEARLY

SNAPSHOT OF COOK COUNTY

• Serves 5.28 million residents of Chicago and its inner suburbs
  • 2nd largest county in America
  • Larger than 27 states
• Cook County employs over 22,000 employees who work in a variety of skilled jobs and trades.
  • Nearly 80% unionized workforce
  • 15 unions represented
  • 63 separate collective bargaining agreements
• Highway - Cook County maintains almost 600 miles of roads and highways.
• Land - Cook County assesses the value of more than 1.5 million parcels of taxable land and collects and distributes tax funds as a service for local government taxing bodies.
• Safety - Cook County provides vital services to local government, from conducting elections in suburban areas to offering 911 services in unincorporated areas and municipalities.

LOCATION

Located in the Loop District of downtown Chicago, one of the most formidable business districts in the world, the area has an astounding number of cultural foundations, stunning parks such as Millennial Park and Maggie Daley Park, steps away from the Chicago Riverwalk, award-winning restaurants, and plenty of shopping! In addition, Chicago is serviced by multiple bus and train lines for public transportation from the suburbs to the city, taxis are plentiful, public parking garages for motorists, and bicycle share rentals and local bike lanes for bicyclists.

ROLE SUMMARY

Leads the development and revision of County policies. Drafts strategic initiatives that address public policy challenges for approval and distributes approved communications to the appropriate internal sources. Partners with internal or external stakeholders regarding the advancement of policy initiatives of the County. Manages and collaborates with the policy teams across the County.

This position is in the Office of the Cook County Board President. As such, this position involves policymaking or implementation related to the administration's political and policy views, and/or requires a high-level of confidentiality such that political affiliation is an appropriate consideration for the effective performance of the job.

KEY AREAS OR RESPONSIBILITY

• Strategic Policy Leadership: Lead the President's top policy priorities including (but not limited to) property tax reform, health equity, and justice transformation, by building alignment across departments, bureaus, and external stakeholders.
• Team & Vision Management: Oversee, support, and develop a high-performing policy team, balancing generalist capacity with deep specialization (e.g., digital equity, taxation). Ensure the team is coordinated and operates with strategic clarity.
• Intergovernmental Coordination: Serve as a key liaison to City, State, and County-level counterparts; drive collaboration with elected offices such as the Assessor, Clerk, and Board of Review to move reform forward.
• Performance & Accountability: Partner closely with the Research, Operations & Innovation (ROI) team to track progress on the County's five-year policy roadmap. Use data, metrics, and clear outcomes to inform decisions and course-correct as needed.
• Stakeholder & Board Engagement: Represent the President's office in convenings with community partners and ongoing engagement with the Cook County Board of Commissioners, civic partners, and other stakeholders.
• Trusted Advisor: Act as a senior counsel to the Chief of Staff and President. Step in as a leader and decision-maker when needed and model sound judgment, discretion, and a high political IQ/EQ.

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

The ideal candidate is a deeply strategic, politically astute leader who brings:

• Direct experience in senior roles spanning government, nonprofit, public policy, or advocacy spaces.
• Demonstrated policy expertise, with the ability to both set vision and drive implementation across complex, cross-jurisdictional issues.
• Track record of building or managing high-performing teams and coordinating across multiple departments or stakeholders.
• Experience working within or alongside government, with an understanding of political processes and the ability to navigate elected and appointed structures.
• Strong strategic instincts, including the ability to identify issues early, connect dots across systems, and move work forward without direct authority.
• Consensus-building and problem-solving skills, especially in politically sensitive or multi-stakeholder contexts.
• A commitment to equity, public service, and organizational excellence.
• Ability to use data and performance metrics to guide strategy, evaluate progress, and adjust in real time.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with comfort operating as a representative of the President's Office in high-level meetings and public forums.

Preferred qualifications include a JD or a master's degree. Residence in Cook County is required.

Required for all jobs:

Performs other duties as assigned.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation for this role is commensurate with experience, skills, and qualifications. The base salary range is $151, 920-$185,680, accompanied by a strong government benefits package inclusive of pension and health benefits.

Minimum Qualifications
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree or higher and
• Five (5) years of policy oversight or directly related experience or
• An equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Preferred Qualifications
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Masters Degree or Juris Doctorate (JD).
• Eight (8) years of policy oversight experience.
• Six (6) years of previous management experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Ability to develop, coordinate and implement programmatic changes, and make policy recommendations
• Ability to prepare departmental budget and allocations of funds, and maintain the department operation under budgetary constraints.
• Thorough knowledge of internal control concepts and procedures, with the ability to comprehend an agency's internal control structure including the control environment, accounting system and control procedures.
• Ability to ascertain compliance with laws, ordinances and regulations, identify between errors, irregularities and illegal acts, and take appropriate action.
• Good interpersonal relation skills, able to demonstrate tact and diplomacy dealing with employee issues in a wide range of diverse situations.
• Possession of excellent organizational, communication, and writing skills, showing the ability to clearly articulate through written document.
• Ability to evaluate and prioritize multiple assignments in an efficient and timely manner, and institute problem solving techniques in diverse and sometimes emotional situations.
• Ability to work in a highly confidential environment, receiving clients and dealing with public inquiries.

Physical Requirements

Sedentary Work

Sedentary Work involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.

The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee's normal line of work.

EMPLOYMENT TERMS

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: Pursuant to the Shakman Consent Decree, Supplemental Relief Order and the Cook County Personnel Rules, this position is exempt from the County's career service rules, is at-will and political reasons or factors may be considered when taking any employment action. As an employee in a Shakman Exempt Position, if you do not currently live in Cook County, you will have six (6) months from date of hire to establish actual residency within Cook County.

Please contact shakmanexemptapplications@cookcountyil.gov for inquiries about this position.