Executive Director

Executive Director

East River Legal Services (ERLS) in Sioux Falls, SD seeks an Executive Director who is a visionary leader. The role focuses on providing strategic vision, organizational leadership, and resource development to advance ERLS’s mission of expanding access to justice for low‑income individuals and families.

About ERLS

ERLS is the primary provider of free civil legal aid for low‑income individuals and families across eastern South Dakota, serving 33 counties. Services include family law, housing, consumer protection, public benefits, and support for vulnerable populations such as veterans, survivors of domestic violence, older adults, and people experiencing homelessness.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and management of the organization, ensuring operational excellence, financial sustainability, and mission‑driven service delivery.
• Supervise grant compliance and reporting, ensuring all federal or state regulations and individual grant requirements are met.
• Partner with the Board of Directors to establish strategic priorities, support effective governance, and provide regular updates on operations, finances, and program outcomes.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with legal aid organizations, courts, community partners, and human services providers to improve access to justice and address gaps in civil legal services throughout the state and region.
• Cultivate private donors, engage corporate sponsors, and pursue new grants.
• Work directly with individual donors, board members, corporate entities, law firms, institutional funders, and foundations.
• Serve as the primary ambassador for ERLS, promoting its mission and strengthening relationships with stakeholders, funders, community leaders, and the legal profession.
• Lead the development of innovative, client‑centered legal service strategies, including expanded intake systems, community outreach, holistic advocacy, technology‑enabled access to services, and interdisciplinary approaches to client support.
• Champion access‑to‑justice initiatives and identify emerging legal needs and service opportunities across the ERLS service area.
• Oversee the creation and amendment of budgets as needed, considering cost containment where appropriate.
• Envision success for the program and develop policies and protocols to support delivery of legal services that advance the mission.
• Hire, train, invest in, coach, and lead a highly professional, effective, closely coordinated, self‑accountable staff.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of the critical legal needs of low‑income individuals and underserved communities.
• A J.D. and admission to the South Dakota Bar, or ability to obtain admission within one year of hire.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in the practice of law.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience managing people, with demonstrated leadership, supervisory, and team‑development skills.
• Experience in nonprofit management, legal services, or other mission‑driven organizations is preferred.
• Experience with fundraising, grant administration, budgeting, and organizational leadership is preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, strong critical‑thinking abilities, and capacity to build effective relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Benefits

We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance, prescription drug coverage, telemedicine services, dental insurance, vision insurance, basic group term life/AD&D insurance, disability insurance, an employee assistance program (EAP), a health savings account (HSA), advocate support services, identity theft protection, and a 401(k) retirement plan with a 4% match. Relocation assistance is available.

Location

Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a welcoming city in the American Midwest, known for its strong economy, safe environment, and vibrant community. Employers benefit from no state income tax and a cost of living that supports a high quality of life.

Application

If you want to lead this impactful organization, please submit a current resume and cover letter. The cover letter is an opportunity to showcase your passion for civil legal aid and your organizational expertise.