SENIOR POLICY ANALYST (JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL) - SHAKMAN EXEMPT

Job Description - SENIOR POLICY ANALYST (JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL) - SHAKMAN EXEMPT (00139047)

Job Description

SENIOR POLICY ANALYST (JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL) - SHAKMAN EXEMPT

Requisition ID

: 00139047

Job Posting

: Jun 8, 2026, 8:37:33 PM

Closing Date

: Jul 9, 2026, 10:29:00 AM Full-time

Posting Salary: $94,712-$104,544/YEARLY

Organization

: Offices Under the President

OVERVIEW

The Cook County Justice Advisory Council is seeking an experienced Senior Policy Analyst who will assist in leading the Justice Advisory Council Policy Team by supporting research, analysis, and the development of policy and legislative reform recommendations for management and elected officials. Responsibilities include developing and presenting policy recommendations on programs and initiatives, coordinating with the Research and Data Team on data collection and analysis priorities, and managing related policy presentation efforts. The role collaborates with elected officials and stakeholders to ensure alignment with departmental goals and regulations, provides guidance to junior team members, and responds to inquiries from policy staff, community agencies, and the public. Additional duties include making decisions on moderately complex project components and ensuring effective communication and adherence to best practices throughout the policy development process.

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.

Attention Applicants: Please note that as part of ongoing job architecture initiatives, the County is reviewing job titles and corresponding grades, which may be subject to change.

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: $94,712 - $104,544 / 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.

Job Summary

Assist in leading the Justice Advisory Council Policy Team with researching, analyzing, and developing policy and legislative reform recommendations, which advises management and elected officials on policy reform. Develop and present policy recommendations on various programs and initiatives to improve communities. Coordinate with the Research and Data Team to manage data collection and analysis priorities and manage related policy presentation efforts. Provide guidance to junior team members. Collaborate with elected officials and stakeholders to ensure alignment with bureau/department goals and regulations. Respond to inquiries from policy personnel, community agencies, and the public, providing strategic recommendations to management. Make decisions on moderately complex project components and ensure effective communication and adherence to best practices throughout the policy development process.

Typical Job Duties

• Lead the development and implementation of policy projects related to strategic planning programs and initiatives.
• Research, develop, recommend, and implement policies and programs to support bureau/department priorities.
• Compile data and input from organization operations, research and best practices to develop recommendations for policy research, including presenting those recommendations to a variety of audiences.
• Work in close proximity with elected officials and key stakeholders to research, develop, and implement policies that align with bureau/department goals and legal regulations, ensuring clear communication and adherence to best practices throughout the policy development process.
• Provide guidance and help motivate policy staff.
• Collaborate with bureau/department staff, management, and senior leaders as needed to complete work and achieve goals.
• Manage special projects that support county-wide priorities.

Required for all jobs

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor''s Degree or higher and
• Four (4) years of experience working in policy making, analysis or policy data collection, or directly related experience or
• An equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Six (6) years of experience in policy making, analysis or policy data collection.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to develop, coordinate, and implement programmatic changes while making informed policy recommendations.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate with team members, mid-level leadership, and potentially senior leaders to drive accuracy and precision in analysis.
• Ability to present policy options and research to large or high-level audiences while breaking down abstract issues or policy problems into actionable deliverables to advance broader goals.
• Ability to work independently and provide guidance to staff addressing analytical and technical challenges.
• Excellent critical thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to act independently to resolve problems and recommend effective solutions.
• Skill in executing advanced data collection, synthesis, analysis, reporting, and development of recommendations to support functional areas, where analysis requires use of ingenuity or creativity.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including skills in Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of diverse analytical practices to independently perform moderate to complex studies and continually adapt new methods.

Physical Requirements:

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.