Advocacy Director: Systemic Impact & Growth

Legal Aid of Western Missouri; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 106,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Legal Aid of Western Missouri seeks a Director of Advocacy to scale impact beyond single cases. You will build systems to identify patterns from daily work and coordinate with the Litigation Director, sitting on the leadership team and reporting to the Executive Director.

This builder/advocate role leads complex work—whether through litigation, admin comments, or agency strategy—while guiding practice teams and creating the internal systems for sustained systemic advocacy.

Qualifications

• J.D. and Missouri bar admission or eligibility.
• Eight years of legal practice.
• Experience with impact or systemic litigation.
• Experience with administrative advocacy.
• Knowledge of housing, public benefits, consumer, immigration, and family safety.

Responsibilities

• Build the infrastructure for identifying systemic issues from daily work and practice teams.
• Develop internal systems to flag impact matters without pulling staff from cases.
• Establish relationships with co-counsel, coalitions, and advocacy organizations.
• Design and support litigation in coordination with the Litigation Director.
• Develop administrative advocacy, including rules and agency engagement.
• Support legislative advocacy within the described limits.
• Mentor attorneys and paralegals, building program capability over time.
• Identify when to expand advocacy staff and help hire for capacity.

Skills

Litigation experience

Administrative advocacy

Legislative advocacy understanding

Capacity-building & mentorship

Mission-driven commitment

Education

J.D. and Missouri bar admission or eligibility

Job description

Legal Aid of Western Missouri seeks a Director of Advocacy to scale impact beyond single cases. You will build systems to identify patterns from daily work and coordinate with the Litigation Director, sitting on the leadership team and reporting to the Executive Director.

This builder/advocate role leads complex work—whether through litigation, admin comments, or agency strategy—while guiding practice teams and creating the internal systems for sustained systemic advocacy.