Chief Executive Officer
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida Seeks a CEO
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida (CLSMF) seeks a CEO to lead its work to provide civil legal aid to low-income people to protect their livelihoods, their health, and their families in Central Florida. CLSMF is a full-service nonprofit law firm addressing issues related to consumer protection, family law, children and education, domestic violence, elder abuse and neglect, health and income-related benefits, housing, and veterans’ benefits. The CLSMF mission is “To provide access to justice through high quality legal assistance to low-income persons.”
CLSMF has approximately 100 staff including lawyers, advocates, and support staff who work in 11 offices serving 12 counties in Central Florida, stretching from coast to coast, including Brevard, Citrus, Flagler, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia. The administrative office is located in Orlando.
High Priority Roles and Responsibilities for the Next CEO:
• Articulate a clear strategic vision and lead the Board and staff to meet community needs with the implementation of its 2019 - 2023 strategic plan.
• Ensure the effective and efficient delivery of high quality legal assistance to low-income individuals throughout its service area with visionary leadership, communication, and strategic thinking.
• Serve as CLSMF's chief spokesperson to the community, media, policy makers, funders, the private bar, and other stakeholders.
• Develop, communicate effectively with and support a strong and active Board of Directors.
• Maintain and expand public and private financial resources, with the participation of the Board of Directors, to support program operations and ensure the fiscal strength of CLSMF.
• Secure the organization's financial health and stability through sound financial planning and management, operating within the approved budget, and ensuring maximum resource utilization.
• Oversee the development of pro bono and volunteer resources to support the delivery of client services and program operations.
• Foster and prioritize a healthy internal culture, strong sense of team and positive staff morale to ensure thoughtful and coordinated execution of program, financial and fundraising strategies, and effective communication across the organization.
• Lead CLSMF’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
About Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida:
CLSMF lawyers, paralegals and advocates provide free legal aid helping more than 20,000 people in Central Florida each year on issues including consumer protection, family law, children and education, domestic violence, elder abuse and neglect, health and income-related benefits, housing, and veterans’ benefits.
CLSMF was founded in 1966 as Volusia County Legal Services. With mergers in 2004, CLSMF has become one of the largest nonprofit law firms in Florida, providing civil legal assistance to residents of Brevard, Citrus, Flagler, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties. With this expansion has come an enhanced vision for CLSMF as a cohesive regional law firm with the capacity to engage in high-impact litigation for the benefit of low-income persons, minorities, veterans, and the elderly in Central Florida.
The primary sources of funding for CLSMF are the Legal Services Corporation, The Florida Bar Foundation, United Way of Marion County, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), individual donors, law firms, businesses and state and local governments.
In 2018, CLSMF increased its workforce by more than 10%, expanded its outreach, opened an office and doubled the staff and resources of its HELPLine. CLSMF conducted on average a community outreach event every four days, handled over 8000 client matters, fielded over 26,000 requests for assistance, closed 800 pro bono cases, and provided resources to the community via the internet over 1000 times.
For more information on Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, visit https://clsmf.org/.
About the Orlando area:
The Orlando area boasts more than two dozen public and private colleges and universities, including the University of Central Florida, Rollins College, Florida A&M University College of Law and Valencia College. The metro area's exceptional public school systems equip students with 21st-century skills and prepare them to compete in the global marketplace. The school system is comprised of students from more than 200 different countries and reflects Orlando's cultural diversity. Hispanics and African-Americans make up more than 40 percent of the population. Orlando consistently ranks as one of the top LGTB-friendly communities in the country. Fast-growing Central Florida has a sunny and mild climate allowing for year-round outdoor recreation activities from golf and tennis to water sports and biking. Florida has no income tax.
Qualifications of the CEO:
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission, vision and values of CLSMF.
• Experience practicing civil poverty law, and deep understanding of and experience serving the low-income community and clients such as those served by CLSMF.
• Minimum ten years' experience as a senior leader in a legal services or other nonprofit legal practice; experience as an executive director or direct report to an executive director preferred.
• Strong budget management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision making and reporting.
• Demonstrated success working with a Board of Directors to develop and implement the organization's strategic plan to advance the CLSMF mission and goals.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups including staff, volunteers, donors, the bar, judiciary, legislators, government, community members and clients.
• Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the demonstrated ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures.
• Knowledge of fundraising strategies and donor relations unique to the nonprofit sector, and a commitment to diversifying CLSMF revenue.
• A passionate and persuasive communicator with excellent interpersonal, public speaking, networking and writing skills.
• Excellent organizational manager with the ability to coach and inspire staff, lead and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and simultaneously lead multiple projects.
• Successful compliance with the requirements of funders, and knowledge of the Legal Services Corporation's regulatory requirements a plus.
• A commitment to the use of technology to extend services throughout the state.
• Experience working collegially with a unionized workforce.
• Personal characteristics including a high level of professionalism, integrity, honesty, self-confidence, strong work ethic, humility and the ability to inspire these characteristics in others.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the CLSMF service area.
Applications:
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. In order to receive full consideration, candidates are urged to submit their materials by January 17, 2020. Please include a 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.
Materials should be submitted electronically to ppap@mielegalaid.org in Microsoft Word or pdf format. CLSMF is assisted in the search by Patricia Pap, Executive Director, Management Information Exchange, 105 Chauncy St., Fl 6, Ste 3, Boston, MA 02111, 508-737-4010, ppap@mielegalaid.org. Candidates with questions about the position or process are encouraged to contact her.
Salary depends on experience based on a competitive public interest salary scale. An excellent benefits package includes a selection of medical, dental, prescription, life insurance, and long-term disability benefits; tax-deferred annuity (403b) plan, with CLSMF-funded contributions to the plan; and generous vacation, holiday, and other paid time off.
CLSMF is an Equal Opportunity Employer which values a diverse workforce and the promotion of an inclusive culture at all levels. CLSMF does not discriminate against any employee or qualified applicant for employment from all qualified individuals on the basis of age, race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sex, disability, socio-economic position, religion, political belief, protected genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal or State law.