Executive Director

The Executive Director will:
l Engage and inspire staff members, board members, clients, and other stakeholders in realizing VLA’s mission, and refining and adapting that mission to meet new challenges and opportunities;
l Promote diversity and inclusion in all aspects of program activities, including bringing a racial justice lens to delivery of legal services, hiring, retention, and leadership development;
l Hire, supervise, evaluate, and meet regularly with the management team to provide direction, advice, and oversight as appropriate;
l Ensure the organization’s financial health and stability by developing and maintaining sound financial planning and management systems, including preparation of budgets and oversight of financial systems and controls;
l Develop VLA’s culture, emphasizing inclusiveness, openness, transparency, compassion and supportiveness;
l Articulate and achieve the desired balance between effective systemic reform work and high-quality individual client assistance;
l Maintain VLA’s leadership role among city, state, and national poverty advocacy organizations and coordinate its work with those groups;
l Ensure the long-term sustainability of VLA through on-going careful cultivation of long-term legislative support for VLA funding, pursuit of new state and federal grants, and development of additional financial resources needed to sustain and grow VLA;
l Serve as an effective ambassador for VLA, by nurturing collaborative relationships with funders, legislators, private bar and judicial leaders, private donors, and business and civic organizations throughout the state;
l Maintain and grow an effective communications program designed to continually enhance VLA’s profile in the legal community, with client communities, and with the public at large; and
l Coordinate organizational goals, visions and activities with its partner organization, Legal Services Vermont, to ensure the maintenance of a unified legal services delivery system.

The successful Executive Director candidate will:
l Be a licensed attorney in good standing, with significant legal experience, eligible for admission to the Vermont Bar in a reasonable period of time;
l Demonstrate a passion for social and racial justice;
l Possess exceptional leadership skills and have substantial management experience, such as in a successful legal services program, social services agency, or other organization;
l Have grant writing and/or fundraising experience;
l Understand financial matters, including development of budgets, compliance with grant and contract requirements, and financial oversight;
l Be skilled at managing scarce resources and allocating resources appropriately;
l Support the role of technology in client services and organizational efficiency;
l Exhibit excellent communication skills and the ability to inspire the trust and confidence of the staff, board members, client communities, and other stakeholders and allies, including the will and ability to engage in difficult conversations as circumstances may dictate;
l Champion diversity, equity and inclusion, and be culturally responsive;
l Have experience in building a team environment, encouraging professional development of staff, and supporting staff in the program’s work; and
l Convey vision, integrity, courage, intelligence, creativity, energy, and humor equal to the challenges of this demanding position.