CEO

Indiana Legal Services; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Moving expenses (up to $2,500)

Job summary

Indiana Legal Services seeks a visionary Chief Executive Officer to lead one of Indiana’s premier civil legal aid organizations. The CEO will guide a statewide team, advance access to justice, and build on a legacy of advocacy and community leadership.

The CEO leads ILS in providing high-quality legal work, maintains leadership in Indiana and the legal aid community, and nurtures new generations of ILS staff. The role requires strong management and fundraising capabilities.

Qualifications

• Experience managing a multi-office organization with grants and contracts.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to lead fundraising and resource development.
• Experience working with a governing board and diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the public face of ILS and lead networks at local, state and national levels.
• Lead ILS to achieve goals in the Board's strategic plan.
• Provide leadership and support to staff for high-impact, client-focused work.
• Oversee fundraising and resource development.
• Oversee complex finances with multiple funding sources and compliance requirements.
• Hire and develop staff; collaborate with Board of Directors.
• Commit to advocacy for equal access to justice for eligible clients.
• Manage staff, finances, reporting, budgets, and grant compliance.
• Collaborate with partners and service providers for clients' benefit.

Skills

Management experience

Financial oversight

Fundraising

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Technology to extend services

Board collaboration

Staff development

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Indiana bar license or eligibility

Job description

Indiana Legal Services Seeks a Chief Executive Officer

Indiana Legal Services is seeking a visionary Chief Executive Officer to lead one of Indiana’s premier civil legal aid organizations. Guide a dedicated statewide team, advance access to justice, and build on a legacy of impactful advocacy and strong community leadership.

About the CEO Position

The CEO leads ILS as this legal aid organization provides high-quality legal work for clients, continues its leadership role in Indiana and throughout the legal aid community, and nurtures new generations of ILS staff.

Primary duties include:

• Serve as the public face of ILS, maintaining a leadership role in local, state and national networks of legal aid, client and social services communities, and the organized bar and government
• Lead ILS to achieve the goals established by the Board of Directors in its strategic plan
• Provide leadership and structural support for staff to strengthen, protect and focus high-quality work of maximum impact for clients
• Oversee and participate in resource development and fundraising
• Provide oversight for ILS’s complex finances, including 80 funding sources with unique budgeting, reporting, compliance and legal requirements
• Preserve institutional expertise and leadership, and hire and develop staff
• Work with the Board of Directors so that its members actively contribute to ILS success
• Demonstrate commitment to advocacy in support of the legal rights of eligible clients and to equal access to justice
• Manage staff, financials, reporting, budget development, and compliance with grant contracts and legal requirements
• Collaborate with partners and service providers on behalf of eligible clients

Desired qualifications and experience:

• Management experience involving staff supervision, financial oversight and reporting, budget development, and compliance with grants, contracts and legal requirements
• Demonstrated experience as a manager in a multi-million-dollar, multi-office organization
• Experience with federal and state civil legal aid organizations
• Demonstrated success in resource development and fundraising
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills
• Skills in relationship building and stakeholder interaction rooted in collaboration
• Commitment to the use of technology to extend services throughout the state
• Experience and skill in communicating with a strong active board of directors
• Ability to establish and maintain close working relationships with an experienced staff
• Possession of a JD and Indiana license or willingness to become licensed in Indiana within a reasonable period of time

Compensation

Salary depends on experience based on a competitive public interest salary scale. The expected range is $150,000 to $190,000, commensurate with experience. ILS offers an excellent fringe benefits package including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, Rx), disability insurance, life insurance, a 401(k) plan, a flex benefit plan and generous vacation and sick leave. ILS will pay up to $2,500 in moving expenses if the successful applicant needs to move from another city to assume this position.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

ILS is committed to being an equal opportunity employer. ILS recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any category protected by law.

How to Apply

Applicants are encouraged to submit application materials by August 3, 2026. Submit a letter expressing your interest in the position, your qualifications for the job with reference to the specific qualities described above, and what you hope to contribute to ILS’ future. Include a resume and the names and contact information for three professional references. Materials should be submitted electronically to [e-mail] in Microsoft Word or PDF format.