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The executive director is the chief staff executive and is responsible for strategic, operational, and staff leadership and management of the Houston Bar Association (HBA) and the Houston Bar Foundation including development and implementation of strategic direction, oversight of day-to-day programs and operations, and cultivating strong relationships with the Bar’s ancillary organizations and strategic, corporate and community partners. The executive director assists the HBA and Foundation boards in serving their missions. The HBA is organized as 501(c)(6) corporation. It has an annual budget of $3 million and more than 10,000 members. There are more than 30 standing committees, 26 substantive and practice-related sections, and three ancillary organization. The bar currently has 10 full-time staff members.

The executive director reports to the 15-voting member Board of Directors.

The candidate must exemplify the highest levels of integrity, ethics, professionalism, and commitment to the HBA and its members.

Key Responsibilities

• • Provide strategic leadership to the Boards of Directors regarding opportunities and challenges.
  • Build the governing capacity of the Boards of Directors, committees, and sections through policies and best practices.
  • Collaborate with the president and other officers to assist them in fulfilling their roles and
  • Develop staff operational and program goals and objectives congruent with the strategic direction and the budget.
  • Exercise financial oversight of the HBA and Foundation’s investments and assets.
  • Cultivate relationships with and collaborative leadership with the executive directors of the HVL, DRC, and HLRS.
  • Advance programming and services that enhances the legal profession and supports members’ professionaldevelopment and volunteerism.
  • Advance inclusion in organizational leadership and the profession
  • Exercise sound financial and risk management oversight in compliance with best practices and applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
  • Foster a high-functioning, dynamic, inclusive, and collaborative staff, and volunteer
  • Assure adequate resources, training, and support to retain and develop
  • Oversee management and maintenance of facilities.

The deadline for applications is December 31, 2023. Submit letter of interest and resume to the contact listed. Do not contact the Houston Bar Association.

Complete job description is available on the HBA website.

Experience

A minimum of ten years of experience as the chief staff executive or in a senior management position with a non-profit association, foundation, government agency, or law-related organization is preferred.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree is required, and a JD from an ABA accredited law school is preferred.

Required Skills

• Consensus building
• Strategic leadership and problem-solving
• Excellent interpersonal skills for developing and managing relationships
• Financial and risk management, including
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills
• Familiarity with the legal profession, court administration, and emerging practice trends

Candidate Profile

The candidate must exemplify the highest levels of integrity, ethics, professionalism, and commitment to the HBA and its members.

About Houston Bar Association

The Houston Bar Association (HBA) is a 10,000 plus-member voluntary professional membership organization for of lawyers, judges, and law students. Its mission to enhance the legal profession in the greater Houston community through serving our lawyers, promoting professionalism and the rule of law, and providing access to justice, legal education, and high impact volunteerism. It is the fifth largest metropolitan bar association in the country. The HBA is organized as a 501(c)(6) corporation with an annual budget of $3 million, funded through dues and revenue generating activities and programs. Related to the HBA and integral to its mission are its charitable arm, the Houston Bar Foundation (“Foundation”), its pro bono arm, Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program Inc. (“HVL”), the Houston Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Center Inc. (“DRC”), and the Houston Lawyer Referral Service Inc. (“HLRS”). The HVL and DRC are organized as 501(c)(3) corporations and the HLRS is a 501(c)(6). The HBA executive director provides strategic and collaborative leadership to these entities, including by serving as the executive director of the Foundation.

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