Executive Director

Mielegalaid; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan with 4% match

Identity Theft Protection

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Mielegalaid in Sioux Falls, SD seeks an Executive Director who will provide strategic vision and leadership for expanding access to justice for low-income individuals and families. This position requires a commitment to the legal needs of underserved communities and management experience.

The ideal candidate should have a J.D. and at least 5 years of legal and leadership experience. A generous benefits package including health insurance, dental, vision, and retirement plan with a 4% match is offered.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in the practice of law.
• 5+ years of experience managing people with demonstrated leadership skills.
• Experience in nonprofit management or legal services preferred.
• Experience with budgeting and organizational leadership preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and management of the organization.
• Supervise grant compliance and reporting requirements.
• Partner with the Board of Directors to establish strategic priorities.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with legal aid organizations.
• Cultivate private donors and pursue new grants.

Skills

Leadership

Excellent communication

Fundraising

Grant administration

Critical thinking

Education

J.D. and admission to the South Dakota Bar or ability to obtain admission within one year

Job description

East River Legal Services (ERLS) in Sioux Falls, SD seeks an Executive Director who is a visionary leader. This individual will provide strategic vision, organizational leadership, and resource development to advance ERLS’s mission of expanding access to justice for low-income individuals and families. The Executive Director 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.

Who We Are

East River Legal Services (ERLS) is the primary provider of free civil legal aid for low-income individuals and families across eastern South Dakota. Serving 33 counties, ERLS provides legal assistance in matters involving family law, housing, consumer protection, public benefits, and services for vulnerable populations, including veterans, survivors of domestic violence, older adults, and individuals experiencing homelessness.

What You Will Do

• 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.

What You Will Need

• 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.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in the practice of law.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience managing people, with demonstrated leadership, supervisory, and team development skills.
• Experience in nonprofit management, legal services, or other mission-driven organizations is preferred.
• Experience with fundraising, grant administration, budgeting, and organizational leadership is preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, strong critical thinking abilities, and the capacity to build effective relationships with diverse stakeholders.

What We Offer

We offer a generous benefits package including: Health Insurance, Prescription Drug Coverage, Telemedicine Services, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Basic Group Term Life/AD&D Insurance, Disability Insurance, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a Health Savings Account (HSA), Advocate Support Services, Identity Theft Protection, and a 401(k) Retirement Plan with a 4% match. Relocation assistance available.