Executive Director Search: Job Description

Position Title:  Executive Director

Reports To:  CLIA Board of Directors

Status:  Salaried and benefits-eligible

 

About CLIA:

Community Law In Action, Inc. (CLIA) is a Baltimore-based nonprofit organization that engages young people as critical thinkers, active citizens and advocates for positive change.  Since 1998, CLIA has served thousands of young leaders while building the power of the youth voice.  CLIA’s diverse initiatives include school-based legal career pathways, a professional mentoring program, self-advocacy workshops for incarcerated youth and other youth-led advocacy initiatives. For more information, visit www.cliayouth.org.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

 

The Executive Director is the CEO of CLIA and is responsible for the organization’s achievement and application of its mission and objectives.

 

Program Development and Administration

 

• Work with CLIA’s Board of Directors (Board) and staff to develop program, organizational and financial plans, including a long-range strategic plan.
• Carry out plans and policies authorized by the Board.
• Develop volunteer participation opportunities within the organization.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations.
• Stay abreast of trends in the fields of youth development, advocacy, justice and youth-led social change.
• Improve data management and develop new methods for measuring organization’s success.

 

Communications and Fundraising

 

• Keep Board fully informed of the organization’s status.
• Publicize CLIA’s activities, programs, achievements and goals through its internal website and other media outlets.
• Bolster and maintain working relationships and cooperative arrangements with community groups, coalitions and nonprofits that share similar goals.
• Foster relationships with foundations, government agencies, corporations, non-profits and other potential regional and national partners and funders.
• Serve as liaison to the University of Maryland School of Law in conjunction with board members already serving on the faculty or Board of Visitors.
• Develop comprehensive fundraising plan to secure programmatic grants and unrestricted funds in conjunction with Board.
• Supervise the development of a database to track potential funders and donors.

 

Staffing and Management

 

• Review organizational structure on a regular basis and implement changes that strengthen staff’s ability to carry out CLIA’s mission.
• Promote integration of programs under the CLIA umbrella.
• Oversee recruitment, training and termination of personnel, including staff, volunteers and interns. 
• Maintain an organizational culture that attracts and retains a diverse staff of high quality individuals.
• Develop job descriptions, conduct performance evaluations and ensure that sound human resources practices are followed.
• Create formal process and materials for training staff, volunteers and interns.
• Encourage professional development of staff.

 

Budget and Finance

 

• Develop and maintain sound financial practices.
• Oversee all accounting functions, including those necessary for auditing, budgeting, financial analysis and payroll in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, Board policies and all other rules and guidelines (in collaboration with CLIA’s bookkeeper and accountant).
• Work with CLIA staff and Board in preparing a budget and ensuring the organization operates within it.
• Supervise CLIA-designated grants process, including negotiating agreement terms, monitoring progress, and maintaining fulfillment documentation.

 

Education, Experience, Skills Required

 

Candidates should have:

 

• Experience working directly with youth and a strong belief in CLIA’s mission.
• History of community leadership, such as working at a community organization or serving on a non-profit board (Baltimore-based preferred but not required).
• Six to eight years’ experience in running a similar non-profit or for-profit organization, or serving in a position of organizational leadership that included responsibilities similar to those outlined in this job description.
• 4-year undergraduate college degree required (JD preferred).
• Record of success in fundraising, obtaining grants and developing innovative approaches to securing new funding sources.
• Experience in strategic planning and assessment of organizational structures.

 

 

Additional:

 

• Equal Opportunity Employer.
• Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Excellent benefits package.
• On campus parking available.

 

How to Apply:

 

Interested candidates should email EDsearch@cliayouth.org with PDFs of:

1. Cover letter

2. Résumé

3. Samples of strategic and fundraising plans

4. Salary requirements

 

Position Open Until Filled