The Legal Aid Society of Orange County (LASOC) seeks an Executive Director to lead a thriving non-profit organization that provides high-quality, cost-effective legal services assistance to low-income residents of Orange County and southeast Los Angeles County. LASOC was founded in 1958 and has a staff of 87 and numerous volunteers. It has two offices in Orange County and two offices in Southeast Los Angeles County, where it is known as Community Legal Services.
About the Position
The next Executive Director will lead a strong client-centered organization with a dedicated staff and Board of Directors committed to the innovative use of technology and collaborative relationships with the Courts and other legal and human services providers to provide the highest quality legal services to its clients. The Executive Director will bring passion, vision, litigation and administrative experience and leadership to a seasoned team dedicated to advocating for the indigent and the seniors community. In addition, LASOC is currently engaging in vigorous litigation to address the needs of the homeless population and the lack of affordable housing. LASOC enjoys a strong financial position with excellent internal controls. LASOC’s challenges include addressing the widespread legal needs of its client community and growing and diversifying its funding in order to meet these challenges.
Salary commensurate with experience.
Responsibilities
● Serves as the public face of LASOC; provides leadership in local, state and national civil legal aid forums; participates in administrative and private forums; engages with the local courts, community leaders, and with the private bar.
● Increases and diversifies financial support through private fundraising initiatives; maintains and strengthens governmental funding and provides strong financial stewardship.
● Develops and cultivates relationships with individual and corporate donors, as well as grant makers.
● Leads LASOC advocacy and promotes teamwork among all LASOC programs, staff, and services.
● Thinks creatively about gaps in civil legal services and works to close those gaps, in partnership with other local, regional and state leaders.
● Leads and promotes collaboration with other civil legal services providers and human services organizations in the region and throughout the state.
● Assists Board members in developing the knowledge and skills needed for effective stewardship of LASOC, and keeps the Board apprised of all aspects of the organization’s work.
● Keeps the Board fully apprised of LASOC’s on-going financial status and highlights fiscal issues that need Board action.
● Mentors and builds other leaders within the organization; actively promotes supervisorial training, improved communication, and the development of skills to address personnel and resource allocation issues.
● Envisions and implements technological innovations that enable staff to work effectively and enable the public to access legal services.
● Hires and retains top quality staff.
Requirements and Desirable Qualifications
● California State Bar License to practice law required, or ability to obtain California State Bar License within one year.
● Significant civil law practice experience.
● Demonstrated management experience at a policy-making level including non-profit program planning, evaluation, staff supervision, legal systems development, financial oversight, reporting and budget development.
● Experience in compliance with grant, contract and legal-aid principles and requirements.
Other Desirable Skills & Characteristics
● Excellent leadership and communication skills; a positive leadership style; a collaborative approach to problem-solving and a big-picture visionary.
● Experience developing relationships for resource development and fundraising.
● Commitment to the use of technology to improve and extend services.
● Experience and skill in engaging with the legal-aid client community and with an active Board of Directors.
● Good judgment, sense of humor, strong interpersonal skills.
To Apply
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To receive full consideration, please submit application materials to the Secretary to the Board of Directors, Karen Harris at [email protected] by August 30, 2016. Please include a cover letter expressing in detail your interest in the position, your qualifications, and what you hope to contribute to the organization’s future, a current resume, and the names and contact information for three professional references.