Executive Director

City of Plant City; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Orange County Bar Association in Orlando seeks an Executive Director to lead operations, governance, and strategic initiatives. You will work closely with the President and Executive Council to guide programs, events, and member services while ensuring fiscal health.

The role demands strong leadership, nonprofit governance experience, fundraising ability, and excellent communication with judges, bar associations, and volunteers. Travel and occasional after-hours events are expected.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a nonprofit or professional association.
• Ability to manage budgets and reporting to council.
• Strong liaison with boards, committees, and members.

Responsibilities

• Report to President and Executive Council and advise on actions.
• Oversee staff, volunteers, and membership growth.
• Maintain financial oversight and annual budget.
• Develop external relationships with bars and judiciary.
• Plan events and publications like The Briefs.

Job description

About the OCBA

The OCBA is a voluntary membership organization with nearly 3,000 attorneys and judicial members in addition to members from a variety of legal professions. The Executive Director is the key management leader of the OCBA. The organization and its many programs and events provide a challenging management opportunity. The OCBA has a complex budget as the work of the organization includes numerous member and community programs, events, and services. It operates with a dedicated staff of 12 employees. The OCBA is a 501(c)(6) not-forprofit organization and is governed by an Executive Council comprised of 18 voting members.

The OCBA headquarters are in an office building owned by the organization in downtown Orlando that includes meeting rooms, a large conference center room and staff offices. The OCBA has 32+ committees that produce continuing legal education seminars as well as social and civic events. The committees provide members with extensive volunteer opportunities for community service, networking and connection with The Florida Bar, other local voluntary bars and local courts. The OCBA also has its own 501(c)(3) Foundation that has a focus on community education and helping citizens gain a better understanding of the judicial system.

Requirements and Duties

• Reporting directly to the President and the Executive Council
• Making recommendations to the Executive Council regarding preferred or alternative courses of action
• Assuring that the Executive Council is kept fully informed of the activities, operations and financial condition of the OCBA required for the efficient and orderly conduct of business
• Maintaining continuing communication with the OCBA President so that necessary actions can be taken between meetings of the Executive Council Members
• Providing leadership to and overseeing the OCBA staff and volunteers in an effort to recruit new members, retain existing members, and expand membership base Overseeing activities related to maintaining effective member relations
• Motivating members to personally, professionally, and financially support the OCBA’s programs and events
• Overseeing the management of the committee meetings and related functions
• Serving as an effective liaison and maintaining communications with the President, Executive Council, Committee Chairs, and OCBA membership
• Analyzing and interpreting the needs of members and recommending revisions in programs to improve service and assistance to make membership more valuable
• Working diligently to ensure that OCBA programs, services, and products assist members to become increasingly competitive and successful
• Remaining current with the relevant laws and regulations governing 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organizations and consulting the Executive Council as necessary to advise of changes that may impact the OCBA
• Some travel is required
• May be required to attend events outside of normal business hours, including nights and weekends

Staff Management

• Developing policies and guidelines for the supervision, management, and administration of all OCBA staff
• Exercising responsibility for hiring, supervising, reviewing, and terminating OCBA staff
• Delegating activities of the OCBA to staff members and ensuring that the office performs efficiently and that all employees work in compliance with the OCBA’s employment policies

External Relationships

• Ensuring a successful collaborative relationship with the Executive Director and staff of the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA
• Maintaining meaningful relationships, communications, and connections with local and state bar associations and ABA contacts, and utilizing those relationships to enhance the OCBA’s objectives
• Promoting and fostering a positive, collegial and professional atmosphere amongst and between the staff and members of the OCBA
• Serving as an ambassador of the OCBA at voluntary bar, Florida Bar, and other public events
• Developing and maintaining a good working relationship with the judiciary, court administration, local government, and the Clerk of Court’s office

Fiscal Management

• Preparing and presenting the annual budget as adopted by the OCBA Executive Council Budget Committee to ensure that all funds are appropriately safeguarded and managed
• Executing and reviewing contracts on behalf of the OCBA
• Overseeing the management of the OCBA Foundation and OCBA Section accounts including the Young Lawyers Section and Paralegal Section
• Maintaining the OCBA’s investment accounts and recommending, when necessary, reallocation of resources to the Budget Committee and Long-Range Planning Committee of the OCBA Executive Council to ensure the successful implementation of programs and activities
• Ensuring timely filing of all OCBA and OCBA Foundation tax returns, including the 990 and 990T tax returns in coordination with staff Director of Accounting and Administration and the OCBA’s external CPA auditing/review firm
• Ensuring timely distribution of annual membership dues statements and process for collection of payments
• Providing financial oversight by preparing, reviewing, and presenting monthly financial reports and key performance indicator reports to the Executive Council
• Exploring new opportunities for nondues revenue, revenue growth from existing programs and services, and expense management

Infrastructure

• Overseeing the development, enhancement, and maintenance of the OCBA’s technology systems to support management functions and to increase the value provided to members
• Competence with technology and open to embracing emerging technologies
• Overseeing the maintenance of the OCBA building for the implementation of programs and meetings and to preserve the value and efficiency of the building
• Ensuring that the building and its contents are adequately insured

Additional Duties

• Overseeing and ensuring the timely production of nine (9) issues of the OCBA publication, The Briefs
• Attending OCBA events, including, but not limited to: monthly luncheons, gala, 5K race, Bench Bar Conference, networking events and happy hours, awards ceremonies, networking events, and OCBA committee and section functions
• Overseeing the Lawyer Referral and Information Service; staying current with changes in relevant technologies and ensuring that our services stay relevant to our members and the public
• Working closely with and advising the PresidentElect on the prospective appointments of committee members and their leadership
• Assisting in raising funds for the biennial Bench Bar Conference, OCBA Gala, and other OCBA events and programs
• Investigating, negotiating, and recommending employee benefits; and administering the OCBA’s employee benefits program
• Assisting the President and President-Elect with developing the agenda, securing and negotiating the location and coordinating all aspects of the annual Executive Council Retreat
• Working with the President and President-Elect in securing speakers for membership luncheons. Planning and coordinating membership luncheons
• Writing podium notes, presentations, and scripts for the President, and other officers, for membership luncheons, community events and meetings
• Maintaining and distributing official minutes of the Executive Council meetings, maintaining custody and providing security of all official OCBA and OCBA Foundation documents, records and files, legal and historic documents, and membership and mailing lists
• Administering the OCBA's nomination and election process, preparing and disseminating appropriate materials, notices, and ballots for the OCBA elections, as well as the elections for the Young Lawyers Section and the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA, Inc.
• Overseeing and planning, when required, judicial retirement events
• Coordinating with Court Administration staff and the President to handle attendance, announcements, and gifts for all investitures and judicial retirement events
• Overseeing the maintenance of the master calendar of the OCBA
• Supervising, contributing to, and monitoring all social media postings and account management for the OCBA, including section and committee pages and groups
• Ensuring information is up to date on OCBA’s website with assistance from staff
• Working with staff to distribute electronic newsletters to the membership about upcoming events and news
• Serving as a liaison to the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.

Preferred Skills Sets, Knowledge and Abilities

• Leadership (possesses and demonstrates leadership qualities including presence, vision, leading and managing staff and volunteers)
• Membership development (has a track record of membership recruitment, retention, and growth)
• Executive Council management (has experience working collaboratively with a volunteer Executive Council)
• Volunteer organization experience (appreciates the value of voluntary organization structure and operating techniques; proven ability to motivate and utilize staff and volunteers)
• Management experience (has staff oversight and general management experience; strong human resource development skills)
• Planning (has experience in developing and implementing operational, financial, and strategic plans)
• Communication (is an effective communicator with internal and external constituents including members, Executive Council, government entities, staff, the media, and the public; has exceptional writing, speaking, and presentation skills)
• Fiscal management (has demonstrated ability to manage financial affairs of an organization; i.e., develop revenue sources and control expenditures to preserve financial stability)
• Entrepreneurial (has experience with perceiving and capitalizing on available business opportunities)
• Marketing orientation (ability to market and promote the organization)

Desired Personal Characteristics

• Leadership (is able to achieve results for the OCBA by giving priority to and listening to the needs of its members; proactive in leading the Executive Council and members while being deferential to them and the OCBA’s mission and goals; offers a vision and the means to get there; a good steward of resources; can manage, motivate, and challenge the Staff to serve and meet the needs of the membership)
• Collaborative (sees value in working with others to achieve positive results; demonstrates a willingness and ability to work with and through others; and involves members and staff in decisionmaking)
• Conceptual (thinks beyond daytoday realities; the ability to see beyond the OCBA’s current service offerings and focus on long term operating goals)
• Strategic and creative thinker (a visionary thinker; able to plan for the future and also bring "outside the box" ideas; able to see "the big picture" beyond daily operations and lead an organization toward strategic goals)
• Genuine and personable (relates well to people; builds relationships; authentic; transparent; possesses warmth and personal humor)
• Energetic and Dedicated (enthusiastic; strong personal work ethic; selfstarter with a “roll up the sleeves” attitude; displays a passion for “getting the job done")
• Executive Presence (credible; polished in demeanor and appearance; selfconfident; will enjoy respect of the Executive Council, members, and staff)
• Integrity (possesses unimpeachable moral character and high ethics)
• Visibility (highly visible to staff, members, and other key constituents)
• Organizational skills (results oriented; able to juggle multiple projects at one time; meets established goals and objectives)

Challenges and Opportunities

• The projected first year accomplishments for the new Executive Director of the OCBA include:
• Establish presence as Executive Director and become completely familiar with all operating aspects of the organization including staff, finances, programs, and Executive Council members
• Initiate formal and informal introductions and connections with the OCBA membership through various communications, inperson gatherings, and meetings to develop strong relationships with key constituencies
• Evaluate the strategic direction of and future opportunities for the OCBA in concert with the Executive Council and staff through a review of current programs and personnel
• Develop strategic, operational, and budgetary plans
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with other voluntary bars and professional associations to secure the best and most cost-effective services and programs for members
• Evaluate and develop responses to important organizational challenges and operational goals such as:
• Increase the products and services available to the OCBA members
• Increase the percentage of Orange County area lawyers who belong to the OCBA
• Assure sustained financial stability through an increase in duespaying member base, along with dues and nondues income enhancements

For more information about the OCBA, we invite you to visit: https://orangecountybar.org/default.aspx

Salary and Benefits

An attractive compensation package will be offered commensurate with qualifications and experience

Application Deadline

November 9, 2026

The OCBA is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit unlawful discrimination based on age, ancestry, color, gender identity, HIV status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, military status, or any other non-job-related factor or consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to every aspect of employment. The OCBA selects volunteers and provides program services to clients and members according to the same equality standards as those used for employment. The OCBA complies with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities.