Citizen Action/Illinois: Program Associate

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Job Description: Program Associate

Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid)

About Citizen Action/Illinois

Citizen Action/Illinois (CA/IL) is a progressive policy advocacy and political coalition dedicated to advancing social, economic, and racial justice in Illinois. We lead campaigns for policies that benefit working families, including a progressive income tax, expanding access to high-quality, affordable healthcare, and protecting voting rights.

Position Overview

The Program Associate will lead CA/IL’s volunteer engagement and outreach programs, including phone banking, rally and town hall coordination, and volunteer recruitment. This is a hands-on, leadership-focused role that requires strong organizational skills, experience managing staff and volunteers, and the ability to inspire and mobilize people to take action. The Program Associate will oversee a team of Fellows to execute high-impact programs that advance CA/IL’s advocacy goals.

Key Responsibilities

Volunteer Engagement & Program Management

• Lead, train, and supervise volunteers across phone banks, rallies, town halls, and other grassroots actions

• Oversee the management of Fellows who are responsible for volunteer recruitment and engagement

• Plan, coordinate, and execute phone banking programs, including volunteer scheduling, script development, and tracking metrics

• Organize turnout for rallies, town halls, and other events, ensuring volunteers are prepared and engaged

• Maintain high organizational standards for program execution, logistics, and follow-up

Staff & Fellow Leadership

• Supervise Fellows and collaborate with other staff involved in volunteer programs

• Provide coaching, mentorship, and performance feedback to staff and Fellows

• Delegate tasks effectively and ensure alignment with program goals

Program Evaluation & Reporting

• Track volunteer participation, engagement, and program outcomes

• Use data to inform program improvements and report progress to the Executive Director

• Recommend strategies to increase volunteer retention, recruitment, and impact

Collaboration

• Work closely with other staff to align messaging and volunteer engagement with organizational campaigns

• Support other organizational initiatives as needed

Who You Are

• Experienced in volunteer management, grassroots organizing, or political campaigns (2 years required)

• Passionate about progressive policy and social justice

• Excellent communicator, able to motivate and coordinate volunteers, Fellows, and staff

• Highly organized and able to manage multiple programs, events, and deadlines simultaneously

• Data-informed and results-oriented, with experience tracking program metrics and improving outcomes

• Collaborative, flexible, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, high-expectation environment

Additional Information

• Hybrid position based in Chicago, IL; requires flexibility for up to 25% travel

• Access to a car is a plus.

This role may be hired at either the Program Associate or Program Manager level, depending on experience. Program Associates focus on executing volunteer engagement programs and supporting Fellow coordination under the guidance of senior staff. Program Managers take on greater ownership of program strategy, directly supervise Fellows and, where applicable, full-time staff, and are responsible for program evaluation and reporting.

Compensation & Benefits: Competitive salary commensurate with experience, with a salary range of $55,000–$65,000 for Program Associates. Candidates with 4+ years of experience may be hired as a Program Manager, with a starting salary of $65,000 or higher, depending on experience. Employer-paid health care and dental coverage provided, along with a flexible work schedule, paid holidays, and vacation time.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Citizen Action, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Citizen Action/IL is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer which does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status in any of its activities or operations.