Position Description--Executive Director of NSCLC
Read a full description of the Executive Director positionTHE SEARCH
The National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC) is a national public interest law firm dedicated to securing justice for America’s low-income older persons. Originally founded as a Legal Services Corporation support center, today NSCLC has a mission that is more critical than ever, in light of historic demographic, economic, political, and legal changes threatening the economic and health security and general well-being of older Americans.
NSCLC approaches these changes with a thirty five-year history of success in helping low-income older people live with dignity, independence and freedom from poverty. Unique among elder policy programs, NSCLC combines legal and policy analysis, cutting-edge national legal and policy advocacy, and training, education, and mobilization of nationwide networks of legal aid advocates, pro bono lawyers, ombudsmen and other groups. NSCLC is currently playing leading roles on critical issues involving: Medicaid; long-term care; Medicare Part D; Social Security; SSI; and preserving court access and the enforceability of federal rights. We are particularly concerned with problems affecting women, people of color, and individuals with disabilities.
This is an opportunity for a leader to guide, challenge, and inspire a remarkable organization whose expert advocacy and unique focus is urgently needed. The ideal candidate must demonstrate a collegial leadership style, a passion for justice, and the ability to effectively garner resources, think creatively and plan strategically. We value a genuine commitment to working for poor and underserved populations with a compelling vision for advocacy. The position requires a person with management and fundraising skills who can take charge of and expand an organization with a current budget of $1.6 million and a talented and dedicated staff in offices located in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Oakland, California.
PROGRAM PRIORITIES
NSCLC employs the following strategies to achieve its mission:
· Legal Analysis: NSCLC is the primary source of analytical support for legal services attorneys and others representing low-income elder law interests. Its work includes drafting and interpreting federal and state statutes and regulations, as well as analyzing the legality of government conduct.
· Litigation: Working in conjunction with local and state-based attorneys throughout the country, NSCLC is an important litigator of major health and income support cases on behalf of older people with limited incomes and people with disabilities.
· Education and Training: NSCLC is a leader in providing substantive and practical education and training to advocates and consumers across a broad spectrum of subjects, including Medicaid, Social Security, SSI, Medicare Part D, long term care and access to courts to vindicate the rights of low-income older people.
· Information: Through its website, numerous publications, and issue analysis, NSCLC is widely known as an authoritative source of information on the array of health and income security issues that affect the low-income older people.
· Policy Advocacy: Independently and in collaboration with others, NSCLC works with Congress, state legislatures and administrative agencies to fashion, influence and implement national and local health and income security policy for older persons and people with disabilities.
· Communications: NSCLC has increasingly worked to bring the compelling importance of our issues and proposals to the attention of the press and the public, through the addition of media strategy components to our advocacy initiatives, through authorship of articles, pamphlets, and books, and through enhancement of our website and the internet as communications tools.
CURRENT ORGANIZATION: GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The National Senior Citizens Law Center is governed by a 10-member Board of Directors who serve three-year renewable terms. They include prominent representatives from the legal community – including the private bar and legal services; elder policy organizations; and academia – and related fields, such as nursing and social work. The Board oversees the work of NSCLC, regularly meets three times a year, and operates through an Executive Committee between Board meetings.
The Executive Director is responsible for the overall guidance and management of the organization, including its finances and the development and execution of its policy initiatives. Each office is headed by directing and managing attorneys, with the Executive Director responsible for administration of the office in which he or she is located (currently the Washington, D.C. office). The Director of Finance and Administration and the Director of Development, located in Washington, D.C., report to the Executive Director.
Currently there are two employees in the Los Angles office, both lawyers; five in the Oakland office, four of whom are lawyers; and eight employees in the Washington DC office, of whom four are lawyers.
THE CHALLENGES FOR THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The new Executive Director will be taking over the organization at a critical time when Congress, governors, state legislatures, presidential candidates and corporate CEO’s are seriously discussing issues of access to health care and income security for older Americans, and when federal courts are playing an increasingly important role in shaping existing and future guarantees of benefits. Health services for older persons and people with disabilities constitute the most costly segment of public social insurance, making them particularly vulnerable to budget cuts. The future financial solvency of Social Security has been called into question. The new Executive Director has a unique opportunity to influence the future of older low-income Americans, by playing an important role in health and income policy debates as well as in disputes over the courts’ role in implementing and enforcing rights under major federal and state statutory programs.
Accordingly, the Board has developed a set of goals for the new Executive Director during his or her first 18 to 24 months on the job. The Board anticipates that the new Executive Director will review these goals and work with the Board to develop a final strategic plan. The Board’s goals are as follows:
· In partnership with the Board of Directors and the staff, oversee the organization’s planning, including an assessment of the program’s strengths and needs.
· Substantially increase and diversify the organization’s sources of revenue. NSCLC has enjoyed productive relationships with numerous foundations. The new Executive Director will be expected to maintain these relationships and expand the revenue base of the organization. In this regard, the organization contemplates the development of a private donor major gifts program as well as litigation consistent with its mission that may generate legal fees.
· Increase NSCLC’s visibility and strengthen both its external and internal communications capacity.
· Strengthen and expand existing relationships with other advocates, attorneys in the field and policy makers.
· Serve as a spokesperson for the organization in its role of influencing public policy related to emerging issues in healthcare and financial security for older Americans.
· Enhance the diversity of the legal and support staff, increase the size of the staff to provide adequate scope and scale for our substantive work, strengthen staff development, and engage lawyers in various offices in collaborating more closely together.
· In association with the Board and its chair, help design and implement a Board recruitment plan with an emphasis on attracting diverse new members with expertise and access to resources.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
This role demands an array of skills in leadership, non-profit management, and advocacy. While no one person will possess all of the qualities and experiences described below, the following personal and professional characteristics are highly desirable:
Personal Qualities
An avid commitment to assuring access to health and income security and justice for older low-income people.
· A firm grasp of the principles and practices involved in effective leadership and management of a non-profit advocacy institution. Specifically, we value a collegial leadership style that is transparent and consultative, engages the support and talents of the staff, leads by example and encourages staff buy-in of desired outcomes.
A demonstrated ability to think strategically and to use resources to their greatest effect.
Strong written and oral communications skills and an ability to articulate a vision of justice for older Americans that is compelling to potential donors, partners in advocacy and government policymakers.
An entrepreneurial temperament that seeks new opportunities and flourishes in a changing environment.
An ability to put the good of the organization first, to encourage and respect criticism, and share credit for achievements generously.
Professional Experience
A track record of leading and developing a dedicated, creative and diverse staff.
· A demonstrated record of successful fundraising, including private donor and foundation fundraising.
Knowledge of and experience in setting organizational strategy and serving as a spokesperson for an organization.
Knowledge of elder and public benefits law and/or policy would be valuable, but is not required.
Successful experience working with a volunteer Board of Directors.
A history of successful working relationships with key figures in a public policy environment.
NSCLC has retained TransitionGuides to assist in identifying and recruiting exceptional leaders as candidates for this position. E-mail résumé, cover letter and salary requirements to:
NSCLCtransitionguides.com (e-mail applications are preferred).
Other inquiries: NSCLC Search c/o TransitionGuides, Attn: Ginna Goodenow, 1751 Elton Rd, Suite 204, Silver Spring, MD 20903, Phone (301) 439-6635, Fax (301) 439-6638.
The National Senior Citizens Law Center is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
NSCLC particularly encourages applications from members of minority groups, women, and others
whose backgrounds may contribute to more effective representation of low-income and underserved communities.