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JOB DESCRIPTION

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PHILADELPHIA BAR ASSOCIATION

SUMMARY

The Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association (the "Association") is the full time administrative and executive officer of a voluntary association of lawyers and judges. As such, the Executive Director is responsible for managing the operations and resources of the Association, and acts in the best interests of the membership. The Executive Director acts in accordance with the policies and directives of the officers and Board of Governors, particularly, the Chancellor and the Cabinet. The Executive Director also ensures that there is continuity of programming in an organization whose active volunteers may change from year-to-year. The Executive Director serves as the locus of information within the Association and is the keeper of its "institutional memory."

The Executive Director acts with thoughtful diplomacy in responding to inquiries, and requests from members as well as the community.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

The Executive Director:

  1. Is responsible for the day to day operations of the Association and participates at all levels of the deliberative process within the Association, including committees, sections, the Board of Governors, and the Cabinet; works closely with and assists the Association, the Chancellor and the officers in all appropriate matters; and, carries out other specific duties as directed by the Chancellor and Board of Governors.

  2. Supervises the scheduling, arranging and notifying of members of all general Association meetings, section meetings and committee meetings; attends as many meetings of Association committees as time permits; attends all meetings of the Cabinet and the Board of Governors, also helps prepare and distribute the agenda for those specific meetings along with any additional relevant materials; and provides coordination and liaison services with and for the committees. The Executive Director supervises and assists all staff members in their jobs, whether involving internal or external matters of the Association. The Executive Director also has overall supervisory responsibilities for the activities of outside consultants to the Association, especially in the area of local and state governmental lobbying and policy implementation. The Executive Director is responsible for the hiring of all Association personnel as well as evaluating all staff members' job performances and setting salary levels.

  3. The Executive Director is expected to adhere to sound management principles; to supervise all accounting and budgeting functions including membership records, collection of dues and fees, and supervises all finances relating to Association activities. She/he provides leadership in seeking additional non-dues resources; is expected to maintain membership rolls for dues billing and communications purposes. Such person is expected to keep informed of advances in office management techniques and of the work of similar voluntary associations; to manage the physical location(s) within which the Association is housed; and provides ethical oversight to the operations of the Association. Further, such individual is expected to supervise the Association's Lawyer Referral and Information Service.

  4. The Executive Director implements the policies and coordinates the programs of the Association as they are defined by its bylaws, Chancellor, Board of Governors, Cabinet and committees.

    1. Is expected to be knowledgeable in all aspects of Association policies; to recommend and implement Board-approved policies; and be involved in long-range planning.
    2. Is expected to be knowledgeable in all aspects of Association programs; supervises scheduling, arranging and notifying members of all open programs; organizes all social functions and educational seminars, including the bench bar conference; and is responsible for all special projects assigned by the Chancellor and Board of Governors; and is directly responsible for the administration of the Association's Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention.

  5. Is authorized to represent the Association in the community with other voluntary organizations or bar associations, consistent with established policies or bylaws and /or through special authorization; is expected to attend evening and weekend functions, both locally and elsewhere, as necessary, in order to both represent the Association as well as to keep informed of current bar association management trends in addition to seeking new programming possibilities.

  6. Supervises the preparation of press releases and devotes a portion of time to public relations with the press, the community, and the members of the Association. The Executive Director shall act as a liaison at appropriate times with the First Judicial District and with the United States District Court of Eastern District of Pennsylvania, other bar associations, including the Pennsylvania Bar Association; is available to give talks or presentations to public-service organizations, high schools and colleges; and encourages the involvement of the Association in the Pennsylvania and American Bar Association activities.

  7. Supervises the technological and computer ( including both hardware and software) initiatives that ensure the Association is current with industry best practices, including the implementation and maintenance of management information systems utilizing desktop publishing software and systems, and exploration of the usefulness of an electronic document management system.

  8. Maintains professional confidences and remains mindful of the types of organizations and community groups with which he or she must interact.

AUTHORITY

The Executive Director derives authority from, and reports directly to, the Board of Governors, the Chancellor and the Cabinet.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The Executive Director will be thoroughly committed to the Association’s mission and core values. All candidates should have proven leadership and relationship experience.

Concrete demonstrable experience and other qualifications include:

  • Bachelors or higher level degree.

  • Experience or familiarity with the law and the legal profession.

  • Superior management and administrative skills, to supervise the budget process, the accounting and management departments, public relations, and the entire Association staff.

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.

  • A persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multi-disciplinary project skills.

  • Literacy and proficiency in computers and other technological innovations to operate in an evolving and dynamic bar association environment.

  • Strong knowledge and good comfort level in participating in and observing government operations at the state and local levels.

  • A commitment to diversity.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

  • Personal integrity - unquestioned reliability; honesty in dealing with others.

  • Sound judgment - established ability to make good judgments about situations, circumstances, and people; the ability to sort out conflicting or competing interests and to make good decisions.

  • Personal modesty - ability to do the job without needing personal gratification through public acclaim, fame, or attributes of "success."

  • Ability to get along well - with various personalities, particularly lawyers, judges, and elected officials.

  • Self discipline - able to set agendas, goals, timetables and then follow through to see that things happen.

  • Sense of humor and social skills - able to get along in social settings with lawyers and judges and elected officials and members at large in many different activities.

  • Motivational - to members of the bar, staff, officers, members of the Board of Governors and section and committee chairs.

  • Diverse perspective - Ability to engage a wide-range of stakeholders and cultures; and effectively collaborate with diverse groups of people.