Executive Director

Position Summary

The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County seeks an Executive Director with a deep commitment to equal access to justice and the provision of civil legal aid. S/he will communicate the vision and direction of LAFSBC and lead staff and volunteers to ensure that low-income people and other vulnerable people have access to civil legal aid. The executive director will serve as an advocate for LAFSBC with our clients, the State Bar, the AOC, the local courts, and local bar associations as well as with the larger legal and local communities.

The Executive Director’s responsibilities can be organized into two functional areas:

1. Leadership and Management

• The ED will ensure that LAFSBC has a long range strategy and work plan that achieves its mission and towards which it makes consistent and timely progress.

• The ED will work with senior management to encourage staff and volunteers to grow professionally and to develop professional growth opportunities for staff and volunteers.

• The ED will maintain a positive and strong organization culture that helps attract and retain creative, competent, and committed staff. • The ED will provide leadership in developing program, business, and financial plans with the Board of Directors and staff and will be responsible for the implementation of those plans.

• The ED will maintain official records and documents and ensure compliance with federal, state and local rules and regulations.

• The ED will actively work with and engage LAFSBC’s Board of Directors.

• The ED will promote the interests of LAFSBC in meetings with stakeholders, public officials, funders and advocacy partners.

• The ED will be responsible for ensuring effective systems to evaluate programs and staff.

• The ED will communicate the LAFSBC vision – what the agency strives for, where it is going and motivate board members, staff, donors, volunteers and the legal community at large to implement this vision.

• The ED will ensure that the Board of LAFSBC is kept fully informed on the direction and financial status of LAFSBC

• The ED will represent the programs and positions of LAFSBC before agencies, other organizations, to the press and public.

2. Fundraising and Budget

• Oversee the creation of the annual agency budget with input from the fiscal management team, staff and board.

• Maintain relationships with existing funders and ensure that all grant requirements and deliverables are met.

• Identify and develop strategic partnerships for programs and funding.

• Develop new relationships with new funders.

• Maintain working knowledge of significant developments and trends in funding streams/sources and its relevance to LAFSBC.

• Develop new sources of program funding.

• Maintain sound financial practices

• Manage revenues and expenses to meet budget targets

• Work with the fiscal management team to produce monthly and annual financial reports. Desired Qualifications and Experience While no single individual will possess all the desired experiences and qualifications, the successful candidate must be a compassionate lawyer with an unwavering commitment to equal access to justice and should possess many of the following qualifications.

• Significant experience managing and leading a non profit organization, a private or corporate business, or a government agency;

• The ability and desire to lead a team of professionals and work collaboratively with talented mission-driven staff;

• Excellent communication skills in all aspects of programmatic work with media, policy makers, funders, staff, board and the general public;

• A record of successful public interest advocacy;

• A demonstrated record of successful fund-raising from foundations, major individual donors, business corporations, and the public at large;

• A track-record of working with vulnerable and low income populations, engaging in collaboratives and partnerships and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion;

• Experience providing and advocating for civil legal aid services;

• Demonstrated ability to lead an organization through change and growth; and,

• High energy level, good humor and contagious optimism that inspires others with a sense of possibility, progress and hope. Salary and Benefits Salary is commensurate with experience. Generous personal leave and benefits package, including paid vacation, sick leave, and health insurance.