Executive Director

About IPTX

Innocence Project of Texas is a nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying, investigating and litigating cases of wrongful conviction in Texas, preventing wrongful convictions and helping freed and exonerated people rebuild their lives. IPTX provides pro bono legal representation to people who have been wrongfully convicted, trains and mentors law students and attorneys, and advocates for evidence-based improvements to the criminal legal system.

Position Summary

The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring the organization's long-term sustainability, maintaining the highest standards of legal and ethical practice, cultivating philanthropic support, supervising staff and serving as the public face of the organization. The ideal candidate combines deep post-conviction or criminal law experience with the vision and management skills to grow a mission-driven organization.

Strategic Leadership

• • Implement the organization's strategic plan in partnership with the Board of Directors.
  • Identify opportunities for organizational growth and increased impact.
  • Provide regular reports to the Board regarding organizational performance, finances, litigation, and strategic initiatives.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability and innovation.

Legal and Programmatic Oversight

• • Direct the organization's case intake, investigation and litigation strategy
  • Supervise staff attorneys, investigators, and clinical or volunteer partners, and ensure high professional and ethical standards
  • Serve as lead or co-counsel on select cases as appropriate
  • Cultivate relationships with district attorneys, conviction integrity units, courts, forensic laboratories, and law enforcement
  • Oversee partnerships with law schools, pro bono firms, and subject matter experts.
  • Monitor organizational capacity to ensure responsible management of active cases and client services.

Organizational Management

• • Promote a positive workplace culture that values integrity, accountability, diversity, professional development and employee well-being.
  • Oversee organizational policies, risk management, technology and administrative systems.
  • Recruit, hire, supervise, and develop a talented and diverse staff

Fundraising and Development

• Lead development efforts, working with the Board and the development staff to implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy focused on consistent financial growth.
• Maintain and further relationships with donors, community leaders, partner organizations, and other stakeholders.

Public Leadership and Advocacy

• • Build relationships with elected officials, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, law enforcement leaders, academic institutions, and community organizations.
  • Represent the organization before the media and at conferences, legislative hearings, and public events.
  • Promote public awareness of wrongful convictions and criminal legal reform.

Financial Management

• • Ensure responsible stewardship of organizational resources.
  • Work with auditors and finance professionals to maintain sound fiscal practices.

Qualifications

• • Ten years of experience in post-conviction litigation, criminal defense, civil rights or innocence work preferred.
  • Admission to the Texas State Bar.
  • Demonstrated commitment to the mission of correcting wrongful convictions and advancing criminal justice reform.
  • Experience in advancing criminal justice policy on a state level.
  • Existing relationships within the legal, philanthropic, or criminal justice communities.
  • Experience supervising law students or running a clinical or pro bono program preferred

Key Competencies

• An understanding of and dedication to indigent defense and IPTX’s mission
• Willingness to give and receive constructive feedback in a respectful manner
• Visionary and strategic thinker
• Ability to manage multiple complex priorities in a mission-driven environment.
• Exceptional integrity and sound judgment
• Collaborative leadership style
• Skilled communicator

Working Conditions

This position requires occasional evening and weekend work, statewide travel, attendance at court proceedings and organizational events and public speaking.

Compensation

Salary commensurate with experience. Health insurance; paid time off and holidays; professional development and CLE support.