Managing Director, Programs & Chief Legal Officer

Managing Director, Programs & Chief Legal Officer

Location:
Chicago, IL

Impact for Equity, formerly known as Business and Professional People for the Public Interest (BPI), has been at the front lines of the fight for social justice in the Chicago region for over fifty years. Founded in 1969, the organization built its reputation through landmark legal and policy work — including decades of advocacy on affordable housing, school reform, and environmental justice — that has shaped Illinois law and policy in lasting ways.

Today, Impact for Equity’s work is concentrated in two areas: criminal legal system reform and affordable housing. Its criminal legal work challenges systemic inequities in policing, prosecution, and incarceration, with a focus on policy change and community impact. Its housing work advances equitable development and tenant protections across the Chicago region. In both areas, the organization combines impact litigation, policy advocacy, and direct coalition-building to drive systemic change.

Known for its innovative and effective advocacy for racial and economic equity, Impact for Equity is deeply engaged in advancing systemic change in the criminal legal system and affordable housing realms. With collaboration as a core value, Impact for Equity partners with people directly impacted by racial and economic injustice and the community-based organizations that serve them.

Impact for Equity (IFE) is under new leadership. Carter Stewart joined as Executive Director in early 2026, bringing a background as a former United States Attorney and senior leader in philanthropy. His arrival marks a new chapter for the organization, one focused on deepening its legal and policy impact, expanding its external presence, and building the senior leadership to sustain long-term growth.

To advance the organization’s growth in 2026 and beyond, the organization seeks a Managing Director, Programs & Chief Legal Officer.

The Managing Director, Programs & Chief Legal Officer (MD) is a core member of Impact for Equity’s Senior Leadership Team and a strategic partner to the Executive Director in shaping the organization’s advocacy agenda and long-term direction. The MD leads Impact for Equity’s program teams and serves as its chief legal voice, guiding the litigation, policy, and advocacy work through which the organization advances criminal legal system reform and affordable housing.

This role combines organizational leadership, including oversight of IFE program teams, with legal counsel responsibilities.

Organizational Leadership & Program Management
:

• Serve as a strategic thought-partner to the Executive Director in partnership with the Managing Directors; maintain continuous lines of communication and keep the ED informed of critical issues.
• In partnership with the ED, set strategic priorities and build plans to operationalize them.
• Provide leadership and oversight of Impact for Equity’s program teams and internship/fellowship programs.
• Represent Impact for Equity in meetings with government officials, partner organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Participate in messaging and communications strategy to advance Impact for Equity’s mission and public profile.
• Partner with development staff on fundraising and donor engagement — participating in donor conversations, supporting grant proposals, and translating programmatic impact for funders.
• Work collaboratively with Program Directors to develop and execute a comprehensive strategy that integrates policy, advocacy, and community-centered organizing with legal strategy to pursue transformational change and racial, economic, and social justice in Chicago and Illinois.
• Partner with program teams to develop and strengthen measurement frameworks and tools that assess whether Impact for Equity’s work is achieving the intended impact goals and values.
• Ensures program staff have the tools and resources they need to advocate effectively for systems change.
• Mentor and support program staff and supervisors, with an eye toward their professional development.
• Foster a trusting, rigorous, collaborative, and accountable…