Closing Date: 15th August, 2025
Description:
Legal Services for Maine Elders (LSE) seeks an Executive Director who is passionate about social justice and wants an opportunity to work with others to make a difference in the lives of older Mainers.LSE's mission is to provide free, high quality legal assistance to people who are 60 and older when their basic human needs are at stake and to advocate for people facing challenges accessing Medicare benefits.
This is a unique leadership opportunity because very few states in the country have a legal aid organization like LSE that focuses exclusively on meeting the needs of older people. LSE seeks to ensure that all older people in Maine – of any class, race, sex, background, orientation, or identity – are secure in their basic needs, including housing, health care, nutrition, financial stability, safety, and freedom from exploitation. For fifty years, LSE has helped older Mainers protect their rights to live independently and with dignity.
With an annual budget of $3.4 million, LSE provides free legal help and Medicare advocacy services to more than 5,500 Mainers each year in 4,800 cases. LSE has a staff of 33. This includes 18.75 FTEs in direct legal services; 5.15 FTEs providing Medicare advocacy; 1.10 FTEs in public policy advocacy; and 2.95 FTEs of administrative and financial services staff. The majority of LSE's staff are working remotely from their homes, but LSE does maintain an administrative office in Augusta, Maine.
High priority roles and responsibilities of the Executive Director
- Providing leadership to the Board and Staff in establishing and implementing LSE's long-term policies and goals, including strategic planning, case priorities, public policy, and systemic advocacy
- Supporting Staff in the delivery of high-quality services and the fulfillment of LSE's mission with essential legal training, adequate resources, and an appropriate salary and benefit structure
- Maintaining and expanding existing funding levels and resources, and developing new funding opportunities and donors
- Serving as an effective spokesperson for LSE and advocating for the needs of older Mainers in a wide range of settings, including the state legislature
- Playing an active leadership role in collaborative efforts that are critical to the success of LSE's mission, including the aging and legal services networks and the private bar
- Establishing and leading an effective management team to carry out the operational and financial responsibilities of LSE
- Passion for the mission of providing free, high-quality services to older Mainers
- A Juris Doctor and license to practice law in good standing in Maine, or eligibility for prompt admission to the Maine bar
- Residency in Maine or a plan to live in Maine
- Substantial experience in the practice of law, public interest preferred; and in management and supervision in a successful legal services organization, law firm, corporate law department, government agency or nonprofit
- Ability to inspire staff to achieve LSE's mission
- Strong communication and public speaking skills
- Affinity for engaging with staff, funders, board members, clients and community leaders and establishing long-term relationships
- Experience with financial leadership, financial management, grants management and fundraising, strongly preferred
- Ability and willingness to travel throughout Maine
- Personal attributes of professionalism, integrity, enthusiasm, transparency, adaptability, creativity, empathy, and humor
