Executive Director

About This Role

Leading this impactful organization, the Executive Director provides strategic vision, organizational leadership, and resource development to advance ERLS’s mission of expanding access to justice for low-income individuals and families. This individual will articulate the program’s mission and values to garner broad community support, increase the visibility of ERLS, expand services to underserved communities, cultivate funding opportunities, and support a high-functioning and professional team.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and management of the organization, ensuring operational excellence, financial sustainability, and mission-driven service delivery
• Supervise grant compliance, ensuring that all reporting requirements, federal or state regulations, and individual grant requirements are met
• Partner with the Board of Directors to establish strategic priorities, support effective governance, and provide regular updates regarding organizational operations, finances, and program outcomes
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with legal aid organizations, courts, community partners, and human services providers to improve access to justice and address gaps in civil legal services throughout the state and region
• Cultivate private donors, engage corporate sponsors, and pursue new grants
• Work directly with individual donors, Board members, corporate entities, law firms, institutional funders, and foundations
• Serve as the primary ambassador for ERLS, promoting its mission and strengthening relationships with stakeholders, funders, community leaders, and the legal profession
• Lead the development of innovative and client-centered legal service strategies, including expanded intake systems, community outreach, holistic advocacy, technology-enabled access to services, and interdisciplinary approaches to client support
• Champion access-to-justice initiatives and identify emerging legal needs and service opportunities throughout the ERLS service area
• Oversee the creation and amendment of budgets as needed, with consideration of cost containment where appropriate
• Envision success for the program, developing policies and protocols to support delivery of legal services that advance the program’s mission
• Hire, train, invest in, coach, and lead a highly professional, effective, closely coordinated, self-accountable staff

Requirements

• A demonstrated commitment to and understanding of the critical legal needs of low-income individuals and underserved communities
• A J.D. and admission to the South Dakota Bar, or the ability to obtain admission within one year of hire
• Five (5) years of experience in the practice of law or five (5) years of experience managing people, with demonstrated leadership, supervisory, and team development skills preferred