Director of Community Engagement

Job Title: Director of Community Engagement

Reports to: Chief of Policy

Salary: $115,989 to $127,984. Salary is provided by law; however, individual compensation is based on various factors unique to each candidate, including skill set, years and quality of experience. Any salary offered is determined by the Chief of Staff and is non-negotiable.

Grade: 23

Location: The Director of Community Engagement will be expected to travel regularly to the various Community Justice Centers:

• 5333 N Western Avenue, Chicago
• 2650 S California, Chicago
• 715 W Maxwell Street, Chicago
• 16501 S Kedzie Avenue, Markham

Bureau: Administrative Services

Application deadline: November 13, 2025

Primary Function:

The Director of Community Engagement leads the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office community outreach efforts, which are focused on increasing public trust by building relationships with community stakeholders and constituents, attending important community events, answering community questions about office activities and policy, connecting community members with relevant sectors of the office, and more. Specifically, the Director of Community Engagement will advise the executive team on community engagement activity as well as manage 10 or more community engagement staff and four community justice centers for the State’s Attorney’s Office.

The ideal candidate will have proven community-based work experience within one or more of the communities in Cook County, will have experience in managing a team, strategic planning, and community relationship development to ensure the work of the Office is properly communicated throughout Cook County.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Direct and oversee day to day operations of the unit staff and community justice centers
• Build and maintain partnerships with community organizations, other law enforcement agencies, churches, schools, elected officials, and other community leaders
• Schedule speaking engagements/presentations for unit employees and other staff members
• Serve as liaison between the SAO and the various community stakeholders
• Plan and coordinate all county-wide prevention programs for the SAO
• Represent the SAO at key community events
• Attend occasional evening/weekend events to represent the SAO
• Facilitate Advisory Council meetings and maintain consistent scheduling
• Coordinate various SAO special events such as the anti-drug poster contest and heritage month celebrations
• Maintain accurate records of outreach activities and partnership data
• Research/Secure sponsorship and venue for various events
• Engage internally with various units within the SAO
• Maintain employee time records within CCTime
• Conduct weekly meetings with exempt and non-exempt staff
• Coordinate with communications team on messaging
• Maintain confidentiality of information and systems
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Criminal Justice, Political Science, or a related field is desirable, or a combination of equivalent experience and education.

The candidate must have 3 or more years of community outreach experience and 1 or more years of experience managing a team. In addition to proven leadership capabilities, an ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with excellent communication and organizational skills and the ability to multi-task.

Equal Employment Opportunity

EEO Message: The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) is an equal opportunity employer, which seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. The CCSAO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Upon request, the CCSAO will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals due to a disability or pregnancy. The EEOP report can be found on our website at www.cookcountystatesattorney.org.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants that are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran may contact the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office coordinators via email at hr.sao@cookcountysao.org and arrange for an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability.

Benefits

At Cook County, we believe in investing in you, our valued employee. We understand that your well-being directly impacts the quality of service we provide to our community. That's why we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your health, financial stability, and work-life balance. Here's a snapshot of what we offer:

Choose from a variety of medical, dental, and vision plans to best suit your lifestyle and needs. We provide a robust Paid Time Off (PTO) program, including vacation, personal, and sick leave, as well as 13 paid holidays. As a public service employer, our employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Our Employee Assistance Program offers confidential counseling and referral services to help you navigate life's challenges. And of course, a pension plan through Cook County.

Follow this link to the Cook County Benefits and this link to Cook County Pension Fund if you want to learn more about our amazing benefit coverage. The CCSAO does not provide relocation assistance.