Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) is seeking an Executive Director. This position is based in the Portland Central Administrative Office and has an optional partially remote work schedule.
Background
LASO is a non-profit organization that represents low-income clients in civil cases. LASO’s eight regional offices serve the general low-income population throughout the state and two specialized statewide programs provide services to farmworkers and representation on Native American issues. LASO is an effective, high-quality legal services program committed to advocacy strategies that will have a demonstrable effect on community problems.
LASO is actively working to build an inclusive organizational culture that centers on racial equity. LASO is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a welcoming and culturally responsive environment for our staff and clients.
Summary of Responsibilities
The Executive Director is responsible to the Legal Aid Service of Oregon (LASO) Board of Directors (Board) for the day-to-day direction and operation of Legal Aid Services of Oregon. The Executive Director assures adequate funding, staffing, accounting, Oregon State Bar, political, and other necessary support, and program coordination, so other employees can dedicate themselves to the provision of the highest quality legal services to eligible clients. The Executive Director is also responsible for program development in unserved and underserved areas of the state.
Essential Functions
Program Responsibilities (Internal)
Provision of High Quality, Effective Legal Services:
Determine long-range program direction and plan to achieve LASO’s mission
Maintain work environment for high quality, effective legal services
Coordinate LASO components with Directors of Farmworker and Native American Programs
Oversee internal monitoring and evaluation
Develop priority-setting process and assure compliance with program-wide priorities
Assure effective private attorney involvement (PAI) program
Plan program-wide meetings
Work with local and central office managers to coordinate and make necessary decisions about program-wide issues
Board of Directors:
Present draft annual budget and potential adjustments to Board in a timely manner
Assist in determination of Board membership
Keep Board informed of major program developments
Prepare agenda (with LASO Executive Committee) and materials for Board meetings
Implement Board policies
Perform or delegate staff work for Board committees
Personnel:
Hire, promote, supervise, and dismiss Regional Directors and Central Office staff
Oversee employee quality, professionalism, effectiveness, and morale
Handle employee grievances;
Oversee arbitration of grievances;
Participate in Labor-Management Committee
Handle (with support, as necessary) collective bargaining and union relationships
Travel to various LASO offices throughout the state and to OSB, CEJ, local bar association, and Oregon affinity bar association events, as necessary
Finances:
Oversee program finances (with Director of Finance)
Ensure cost-effective management
Draft program budget
Engage in fiscal forecasting
Support adequate Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funding
Develop and maintain other statewide and local funding
Legal Work Management:
With the assistance of the State Support Unit, and in conjunction with Regional Directors and Supervising Attorneys, oversee the legal work of the program and implement policies and rules related to legal work
Program Responsibilities (External)
Relations with LSC:
Represent program positions
Negotiate contracts
Attend national meetings
Prepare for and oversee LSC reviews and evaluation
Assure compliance with LSC regulations
Keep up to date on LSC developments and publications and maintain relationships with key personnel
Relations with the Oregon State Bar (OSB):
Attend as ex-officio member of OSB Legal Services Program Committee
Represent LASO’s position at annual OSB House of Delegates
Support and coordinate OSB access to justice initiatives
Maintain relationship and advocate legal services needs with OSB, local bar associations, and Oregon affinity bar associations
Promote PAI delivery of services to low-income clients
Relations with other funders:
Develop and maintain relationships with, and support the activities of, other LASO funders such as the Campaign for Equal Justice, the Oregon Law Foundation, and other public and private funders
Relations with other Legal Services Programs and Related Programs:
Coordinate services, fundraising, and resource allocation with the Oregon Law Center
Maintain liaison with legal services programs in Medford and Eugene
Maintain liaison and assist other independent programs in Oregon
Maintain contact with legal services programs regionally and nationally
Relations with Public Bodies and Officials (consistent with LSC regulations):
Represent LASO at the Oregon Legislature and before other public bodies and elected and other officials
Maintain relations with Oregon’s legislative leadership and congressional delegation
Relations with National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) and Other National Legal Services Support Organizations:
Represent program positions
Keep up to date on positions and materials
Relations with News Media:
Coordinate all contact with global, national, state, and local news media related to LASO
Program Development Responsibilities
Unserved and Underserved Areas of Oregon:
Plan for statewide development of legal services
Advocate need with LSC and other funding sources
Work with areas outside of reach of office network to develop viable programs
Farmworker, Native American and Other Special Legal Services Needs:
Plan for development of programs
Advocate with LSC and other funding sources to protect and increase funding
Work with migrant, Hispanic/Latina/os, Native Americans, and other client groups and individuals in development of other programs
Salary/Benefits
Salary depends on experience. Salary range for this position is: $105,000-$140,000. Full benefits package including individual and family health, vision and dental insurance coverage; 6% employer retirement contribution; generous paid holidays, vacation and sick leave; and paid moving expenses.
Closing Date
Review of resumes to begin August 18, 2023.
Qualifications
REQUIREMENTS
Demonstrated ability to lead teams that use legal services to cause significant change to improve the lives of low-income clients;
Strong interpersonal communication and public speaking skills, positive attitude, sense of humor, healthy self-awareness, and cultural competence;
Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and mentoring for legal and administrative teams;
Excellent legal research, writing, negotiation, and analytical skills;
Experience in financial oversight, development of budgets, and compliance with grant and contract requirements;
Enthusiasm, initiative, creativity, commitment, and record of successful work on poverty issues;
Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse group of community partners, stakeholder, and funders;
Passionate advocate for the legal rights of low-income clients;
Ability to inspire co-workers and project calm competence in challenging circumstances;
Ability to work effectively in a collaborative process;
Ability to think creatively when addressing our clients’ issues;
Strong work ethic coupled with an optimist’s enthusiasm and a pragmatist’s desire for action; and
Admission to the Oregon State Bar or willing and able to attain admittance through comity or bar examination within nine months of hire.
PREFERENCES
Not less than ten years of relevant experience, preferably including experience working as a legal aid manager or LSC-funded program for more than five years or in a management position managing budgets and a significant number of employees;
Experience with multiple categories of litigation, including complex litigation, impact litigation, and other litigation on behalf of low-income clients;
Organization-savvy, creative approach to problem solving;
Experience providing supervisions and leadership in a legal aid office; and
Personal experience with poverty, disability, or any other historically underrepresented or marginalized group.
Send cover letter and resume to:
Iván Resendiz Gutierrez, Board Chair
Legal Aid Services of Oregon
520 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 1130
Portland, OR 97204
[email protected]
If you require reasonable accommodation for a disability during the application/hiring process, please contact Meghan Collins, Director of Administration, at [email protected].
As part of your cover letter, please address the following: LASO is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace centered on equity and providing an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally responsive environment for all members of our staff and clients. Please address how your personal background and experiences, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to contribute to our commitment to cultural responsiveness and diversity.