Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky, Inc. (AppalReD) is seeking an Executive Director to lead this private non-profit law firm committed to improving the lives of more than 225,000 people living in poverty in the Appalachian mountains of Eastern and South Central Kentucky. AppalReD’s next Executive Director will be central to the organization’s effort to develop a vision and implement a strategic plan to bring justice to the citizens of Appalachia over the next decade.
About the Position
AppalReD’s next Executive Director will arrive at a time of great opportunity and challenge for the organization and its clients. AppalReD’s strengths include its reputation for effective litigation and diversity of legal practice, and its experienced, compassionate staff and board. Its challenges include providing effective legal representation, brief services and advice, in a service area that is poor, rural and far-flung, and broadening its funding base.
High Priority Roles and Responsibilities for the next Executive Director:
- Inspiring and developing a clear vision for AppalReD for the next ten years
- Modeling the way toward achieving that vision
- Implementing a recently developed strategic plan intended to provide comprehensive service to clients, increase community collaboration, promote a more unified law firm, improve technology systems, and enable staff and board to achieve AppalReD’s vision
- Strengthening the finances and operations of AppalReD by meeting funder requirements, especially those of the Legal Services Corporation, and maintaining a balanced budget
- Developing expanded and new resources, both financial and pro bono, to support AppalReD’s work
- Leading the return of morale of directing attorneys, staff attorneys, paralegals and secretaries following recent layoffs
Qualifications of the next Executive Director:
- Passionate commitment to advancing the legal rights of low income individuals and families in eastern and central Kentucky in a manner that promotes equal access to justice, encourages self-sufficiency and empowers lives
- Successful leadership in a multi-million dollar organization, preferably a legal aid program
- Five years management experience, or equivalent, with supervision of staff, oversight of financial reporting, development of budgets, and compliance with grant and contract requirements
- Successful experience in resource development, including grant writing and private fundraising, and a desire to develop and expand the resources of AppalReD
- Demonstrated experience working successfully with organizations and individuals with diverse perspectives, including staff, Board, community, elected and appointed officials, and clients
- Outstanding oral and written communication skills, including the ability to motivate, inspire and resolve conflict
- Experience working with an engaged Board of Directors in the successful performance of its duties
- Significant experience in the practice of law and litigation
- JD, and a license to practice law in Kentucky currently or within one year of hire
- Personal attributes such as the ability to engender confidence and trust, honesty, integrity, a strong work ethic, good listening skills, decisiveness, and a profound empathy for Appalachian clients and their culture
- Willingness to make a long term commitment to AppalReD
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. In order to receive full consideration, however, candidates are urged to submit their materials before March 7, 2012.
Interested candidates should submit a letter expressing in detail your interest in the position of Executive Director of AppalReD, and what you believe you can contribute to the future of AppalReD and its client community. The letter should be accompanied by a current resume and names and contact information for three references. In addition, candidates should submit a brief video sample which will give you the opportunity to express in a more personal way what your leadership would bring to AppalReD.
AppalReD is being assisted in the search by Patricia Pap, Executive Director, Management Information Exchange (MIE), 99 Chauncy St., Suite 700, Boston, MA 02111, 617-556-0288, ppap@m-i-e.org. Candidates with questions about the position or process are encouraged to contact her. Materials should be emailed to ppap@m-i-e.org, in Microsoft Word and common video format. Electronic submissions are preferred. Mailed submissions will be accepted at MIE’s address above.
AppalReD offers a competitive salary and benefits package. AppalReD is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates with disabilities, women, persons of color and others who represent distinct linguistic or cultural communities to apply.
About AppalReD
AppalReD is committed to providing high quality civil legal services in a manner that promotes equal access to justice, encourages self-sufficiency and empowers the lives of low-income families and individuals who live in Eastern and South Central Kentucky.
Founded in 1970, AppalReD now has nine offices, thirty-five advocates and thirty support staff, with the skills, experience and dedication to serve thirty-seven Eastern Kentucky counties, home to a poverty population of approximately 250,000.
In the early days, AppalReD addressed many devastating environmental and coal mine related issues such as black lung disease, abusive land use practices and disfigured mountain tops caused by strip mining. AppalReD clients still face some of these same challenges, but even more devastating to the region are the socio-economic challenges which promote instability and threaten to keep the region mired in poverty.
AppalReD is committed to addressing these challenges and helping those who lack the financial resources for the basic necessities of life, i.e., income, adequate food and health care; decent, safe, and sanitary housing; and protection of family members from violence and abuse.
AppalReD handles cases in these areas: foreclosures/unfair loans; Social Security/SSI; landlord-tenant, public housing; temporary assistance to families/food stamps; Medicare/Medicaid; disability rights; consumer protection; family law; employment discrimination; unemployment denials; education; senior citizens rights; and bankruptcy.
AppalReD is funded primarily by the Legal Services Corporation, with additional funds from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Kentucky IOLTA Funds, other federal funds and private donations. Its projected revenue for 2012 is $3.8 million. Annually, approximately 2200 clients receive extended services and 3000 receive counsel and advice, in the areas identified above. Income-eligible clients are served free of charge.
AppalReD has offices in Barbourville, Columbia, Harlan Hazard, Jackson, Pikeville, Prestonsburg, Richmond and Somerset. Its administrative offices are in Prestonsburg and the Executive Director’s office will be there.