Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer

Organization and Position Purpose

The National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) is a nonprofit professional membership and children’s legal advocacy organization. NACC’s mission is to advance children’s and parents’ rights by supporting a diverse, inclusive community of child welfare lawyers to provide zealous legal representation and by advocating for equitable, anti-racist solutions co-designed by people with lived experience. We believe the child welfare system works best when every child, parent, and family is well-supported in their community and has equitable access to justice through culturally responsive, client-centered legal representation.

NACC’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan affirms the organizational commitment to excellence in legal advocacy, equity in practice, and sustainability for long-term impact. NACC’s core values guide this work: Community, Equity and Inclusion, Excellence, Humility and Accountability, and Integrity. NACC will continue to expand training and certification of attorneys, strengthen its professional network, and lead policy reform efforts across the country, including the Counsel for Kids campaign.

The Executive Director (ED)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is NACC’s chief executive and strategic leader, responsible for advancing its mission, growing its impact, and strengthening financial sustainability. The ED/CEO is a passionate, mission-driven, collaborative leader committed to equity and co-designing solutions with lived experience experts. Working closely with the Board of Directors, the ED/CEO oversees all programs, operations, finances, external relations, and leadership of a diverse, remote team.The ED/CEO serves as the organization’s primary spokesperson and ambassador, establishing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders, government, nonprofit, and private sector partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

STRATEGIC VISION AND LEADERSHIP

• Provide visionary leadership that continues to elevate NACC’s role as a national leader in the child welfare legal community and the field of child welfare law and policy.
• Execute and evaluate NACC’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan to ensure budget, workplans, and staffing priorities are aligned with NACC’s mission, vision, and core values.
• Lead the development and implementation of future strategic plans by collaborating with the Board of Directors, staff, community members, and lived experience experts.
• Lead NACC’s staff leadership team and establish decision-making processes that will enable NACC to achieve its short- and long-term goals.

GOVERNANCE AND BOARD ENGAGEMENT

• Cultivate a strong and transparent working relationship with the Board of Directors and ensure open communication about the measurement of financial and programmatic performance
• Work with the Board President and Executive Committee to develop good governance practices, board meeting agendas, serve as ex-officio of each board committee, organize the board packet and provide meeting reports
• Work with the board to grow financial resources and recruit and onboard new members
• Serve on all board committees and engage staff in committees where appropriate

FINANCE AND COMPLIANCE

• Ensure the financial health of the organization including developing long and short-range financial plans and projections, including conducting contingency planning
• Work closely with the Board Treasurer and Finance Committee to develop the annual budget, review financial and investment reports, and manage fiscal risks; oversee and authorize all budget expenditures
• Work closely with fiscal staff and external accountants to ensure internal controls and GAAP

FUNDRAISING AND DEVELOPMENT

• Drive fundraising strategy, ensuring sustainable revenue streams aligned with mission priorities
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with foundations, major donors, and corporate partners
• Secure grant funding for programs, ensuring timely applications, compliance, and reporting
• Design and execute strategies to enhance annual fundraising goals, expand individual giving, and solicit major gifts

ORGANIZATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE

• Ensure robust operational systems, compliance with legal and ethical standards, organizational insurance, and risk management practices
• Collaborate with operations team to ensure functioning operating systems, including technology platforms, and continue NACC’s work to modernize organizational infrastructure
• Support NACC’s remote office systems and internal communications, with Denver staff working in hybrid roles and all other team members remote

COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Serve as the organization’s primary ambassador and spokesperson by participating in public speaking engagements, maintaining a robust social media presence, and participating in member events
• Oversee communications and marketing strategies
• Cultivate and seize opportunities to champion NACC’s policy priorities, consistent with the Board-approved Policy Framework
• Cultivate and maintain good working relationships with stakeholders, partners, lived experience experts, and government agencies

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

• Oversees the successful operation of NACC’s Programs, including Membership, Certification, Conference, Training, Policy, and Youth Engagement
• Works with department leaders to plan program budgets, workplans, metrics of success, and direct activities to generate earned income
• Supervise NACC’s policy programs and authorize statements, comments, and letters on policy matters consistent with the organization’s policy priorities

HUMAN RESOURCES AND SUPERVISION

• Recruit, mentor, and retain a high-performing team rooted in equity, innovation, collaboration and impact; foster a culture of inclusion that values diverse perspectives, including lived experience expertise, and supports professional growth
• Oversee human resources policies and compliance, including working with the Chief Legal Officer to ensure updates to and implementation of NACC’s Employee Handbook
• Directly supervise senior staff, including Chief Legal Officer, Training Director, and Senior Business and Conference Manager, including monthly check-ins and semi-annual reviews

TRAVEL

NACC is a national organization, and the ED/CEO is expected to travel regularly to support the organization’s programs, partnerships, and external engagement. Candidates should be comfortable with regular domestic travel and with balancing in-person engagement with leadership of NACC’s geographically dispersed team. Travel responsibilities include:

• Attending and providing leadership at NACC’s national conferences, Board meetings, and other NACC-sponsored events.
• Traveling to meetings with members, funders, donors, policymakers, government agencies, partner organizations, and others as needed to advance NACC’s mission and priorities.
• Traveling to NACC’s Denver office periodically for in-person meetings with staff, Board members, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Representing NACC at national and regional conferences, convenings, speaking engagements, and other events relevant to NACC’s work.
• Additional travel as necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the CEO position
• An estimated minimum of 20% travel.

Experience & Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree
• Preference for CWLS Certification
• 10+ years of professional experience with at least 5 years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including experience in organizational and fiscal management
• Possess deep working knowledge of child welfare and intersecting systems, and personal commitment to NACC’s mission and vision
• Possess outstanding interpersonal skills to exercise internally and externally
• Strategic thinker with the ability to set clear goals, delegate, and guide investment in people and systems
• Keen analytic, organizational and problem-solving skills, which support and enable sound decision-making
• Strong ability to communicate and work effectively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders; a persuasive negotiator able to achieve consensus amongst differing opinions
• Demonstrated political skills with an understanding of political relationships and power to be effective at the state and federal level and within three branches of government
• Demonstrated cultural humility, a strong commitment to justice and equity, diversity and inclusion
• Experience in staff leadership, personnel development, and building teams

NACC values diverse experiences and perspectives and recognizes that expertise comes from many paths. Candidates who bring lived experience with systems affecting children and families, or who come from communities historically underrepresented in the legal profession, are strongly encouraged to apply. If you are passionate about our mission but do not meet every listed qualification, we encourage you to apply.

Location & Remote Work

NACC is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with staff located in multiple states. The CEO position may be based remotely within the United States and will lead a geographically dispersed team. The CEO must be able to work effectively in a remote environment while maintaining a strong and visible presence with staff, the Board of Directors, NACC members, and external partners.

NACC offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement contribution
• Life insurance
• 20 days of paid time off (PTO), increasing over time
• 17 holidays and office closure days
• Annual bar fees
• Office equipment and supplies for remote staff, as needed
• Coverage of approved business travel expenses