Executive Director
Iowa Legal Aid seeks an Executive Director to lead this private, not-for-profit corporation that provides low-income and other vulnerable residents of Iowa with high quality free legal services.
High priority roles for Iowa Legal Aid’s next Executive Director include:
- Be the public face of Iowa Legal Aid;
- Lead a staff of lawyers and support personnel of over 100 people, including union-represented employees;
- Work with and support the Iowa Legal Aid organizational Board of Directors and the Iowa Legal Aid Foundation Board of Directors;
- Lead fundraising efforts initiated by the Iowa Legal Aid Foundation with corporate and philanthropic donors;
- Work with public funders and other key supporters including United Way agencies throughout the state, Area Agencies on Aging and health and law project partners;
- Nurture relationships between Iowa Legal Aid and its clients, bar leaders, community organizations, business and civic groups, and local, state and federal government entities;
- Manage the program’s budget and financial resources in a fiscally accountable manner;
- Strategically advance the interests of Iowa Legal Aid and the clients served.
Salary depends on experience based on a competitive public interest salary scale. Benefits are excellent.
About Iowa Legal Aid:
The mission of Iowa Legal Aid is to make hope, dignity and justice available to low-income Iowans through legal assistance and education that protects fundamental rights, basic necessities and access to the judicial system; challenge policies and practices that harm low-income persons; and empower clients to advocate effectively for themselves and their communities.
Iowa Legal Aid is the only statewide provider of free, civil legal assistance to low-income Iowans. It helps people with critical legal needs that affect safety, shelter, sustenance and health:
- Protects victims of domestic violence;
- Protects families from unsafe housing and illegal evictions;
- Protects elderly Iowans from consumer fraud, elder abuse and financial exploitation; and
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Secures health care, SSI and basic public benefits for low-income Iowans.
Services are provided in all 99 Iowa counties through 10 regional offices. Over 499,000 Iowans are income eligible for Iowa Legal Aid’s services.
Iowa Legal Aid closed approximately 16,350 cases in 2016, serving nearly 38,000 Iowans.
Iowa Legal Aid is unique in that a separate not-for-profit organization, the Iowa Legal Aid Foundation, has been created to serve as the philanthropic fundraising arm of Iowa Legal Aid, enhancing the organization’s ability to raise funds to both increase and sustain its service to low-income Iowans.
Iowa Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer and persons seeking employment will be considered without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, religion, pregnancy, genetic information, military service, engagement in legally protected activity, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Desired qualifications of Iowa Legal Aid’s next Executive Director include:
- A passion for the mission of Iowa Legal Aid and a demonstrated commitment to serving low-income individuals and communities;
- Juris Doctorate degree and membership in good standing with the Iowa Bar, or ability to obtain membership upon employment;
- A minimum of ten years’ experience in the practice of law or equivalent management experience or a combination;
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills and demonstrated leadership abilities.
- Significant management and supervision experience including an understanding of the complexities of a program with nearly a $10 million budget;
- Experience in financial oversight, development of budgets, and compliance with grant and contract requirements;
- Ability to think strategically;
- Successful experience in resource development for public and private organizations, including securing government funding;
- Values diversity, cultural competency, urban/rural differences;
- Prior experience with Iowa Legal Aid or another legal aid organization will be taken into consideration, but is not a prerequisite.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. In order to receive full consideration, however, candidates are urged to apply by July 17, 2017. Applications must include a letter expressing your interest in the position, qualifications and what you hope to contribute to the organization’s future; a current resume; and a writing sample. Materials should be submitted electronically to akness@iowalaw.org in Microsoft Word or pdf format. Applications will be kept confidential until finalists are chosen.
Candidates with questions about the position or process should be directed to Chris Luzzie at cluzzie@iowalaw.org.