Chief Executive Officer

A critical part of the Charlotte community, the Center requires a leader willing to face outwardly to its supporters and clients as well as inwardly to the operations of a complex organization. As the leader of the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, the CEO will set the organization’s strategic direction and build, maintain, and lead a high-performing leadership team. The CEO will also ensure financial sustainability of the organization. The role includes overseeing program development, budgeting, and reporting while also leading fundraising efforts and cultivating key community partnerships. Finally, as the public face of the organization, the CEO advocates for justice, fosters community relationships, and drives thought leadership on key issues, all while promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Specific duties include but are not limited to:

Leadership and Management
• Determine the organization’s strategic vision and direction with the Board of Trustees and members of the leadership team.
• Build a culture of excellence throughout the organization, including the recruitment and development of a high-performing leadership team.
• Align organizational resources with strategic priorities, ensuring programmatic and financial sustainability.
• Develop and maintain a balanced budget, ensuring sound practices and internal fiscal controls are maintained.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial and operational reporting for internal and external use.
• Lead the execution of advocacy objectives in collaboration with the program directors and advocacy staff.
• Evaluate internal structure, systems, policies, and processes to continuously improve organizational health and effectiveness.
• Develop and implement new programs and initiatives to meet the needs of a growing organization and its clients, volunteers, and community partners.
• Lead and guide the Advocacy Center’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the organization.

Fund Development and Sustainability
• Lead the development of a broad, comprehensive fundraising strategy, including corporate and individual giving and unrestricted funding.
• Oversee the business development strategy, research strategic opportunities to meet community needs, and diversify the organization’s funding stream.
• Manage an operating budget and reporting requirements that include more than 50 restricted grants.
• Lead the organization’s financial optimization and sustainability in collaboration with the CFO.

External Relations and Thought Leadership
• Serve as the public face of the Advocacy Center, educating the public and policymakers on the Advocacy Center’s work and on the issue of justice broadly.
• Develop, strengthen, and maintain strategic alliances and relationships with key stakeholders and partners.
• Build a culture of strategic and generative thought leadership within the organization.
• Foster and steward relationships with policymakers in Charlotte, Raleigh, and DC.
• Tune the Advocacy Center’s community solutions efforts to align with the needs of clients and partners.