Chief Advocacy Officer

Position Description

Organization Overview: Lakeshore Legal Aid serves people living with low income, older adults, and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in a holistic manner to address clients’ legal issues and improve our communities. Lakeshore provides free, direct legal representation in southeast Michigan and the thumb and client intake, advice, and brief legal services throughout Michigan via our attorney-staffed hotline. Our practice areas include housing, family, consumer, elder, education, and public benefits law.

Position Overview

Lakeshore Legal Aid is seeking a visionary, strategic, and experienced leader to serve as its next Chief Advocacy Officer (CAO). This position is an executive level leadership role and reports to the Chief Executive Officer. Sitting on Lakeshore’s Executive Team, the CAO drives the strategic work of the organization. The CAO’s primary responsibilities include:

Executive Leadership

• Implement the organization’s vision and mission;
• Work with staff, the legal aid community, the private bar, and the courts to advance access to justice for those in poverty;
• Assist in the development of and adhere to an annual budget;
• Support the fundraising plan to ensure maintenance of current funding and to obtain additional funding to further the organization’s mission;
  
  

Strategic Thinking And Program Design

• Develop, supervise, coordinate, and manage strategic program work, including litigation, hotline, pro bono, and systemic advocacy programs;
• Develop and review program systems relating to the delivery of services (e.g. priorities, outreach, intake systems, case and file management policies, systems relating to compliance and restrictions)
• Develop short- and long-range service delivery plans and design innovative systems to enhance delivery; Assist in the development of new project opportunities;
• Change management, implementation and evaluation;
• Develop a staff training protocol, identify training opportunities, and coordinate access to and approval of training activities;
• Ensure compliance with and reporting on grant conditions and obligations;
  
  

Community Engagement

• Establish and maintain professional relationships with governmental and social service funding organizations;
• Assist with media relations, including press releases concerning noteworthy events relating to program activities, client case work, and personnel.