Executive Director

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc. (“LSEM”), one of the nation’s most comprehensive and successful civil legal services providers for low-income people and communities, is seeking an Executive Director. Reporting to a 27-member, community-based Board of Directors, the Executive Director will lead, manage, and inspire a staff of approximately 120 deeply committed attorneys, social workers, paralegals, and other professionals, in 5 offices serving 21 counties in eastern Missouri. The Executive Director will engage in strategic planning, program development and oversight, the development and implementation of an annual budget of approximately $18 million, and fundraising. As the external face of the organization, the Executive Director represents LSEM across its service area in Missouri, as well as among legal service providers and equal justice advocates across the US.

LSEM is a strongly rooted, financially stable, highly valued, legal services provider with an extraordinarily talented staff. With the retirement of its long-time Executive Director, this leadership transition is viewed optimistically as an opportunity to make some important changes in focus and operations. LSEM’s mission has expanded and its programs require enhanced alignment and cohesion. Management reform is a top priority, and the next Executive Director will be expected to provide wise and experienced leadership to implement beneficial action in the near term. The future for LSEM is compelling, both in terms of achieving its mission in Eastern Missouri, as well as in providing leadership for the access-to-justice movement nationally.

The next Executive Director of LSEM should be a lawyer with significant, successful management experience, that can be applied to address the challenges facing the organization, which include: improving communications; developing a renewed, relevant strategic plan with clear programmatic priorities; reforming the organizational structure and improving management systems and procedures to best implement the strategic plan; enlarging and diversifying funding streams for LSEM; applying technology to advance the cause of access-to-justice; and expanding and leveraging the engagement with community allies to alleviate poverty, combat social injustice, and resist the reversal of diversity, equity and inclusion policies and practices.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $175,000 - $225,000 annually and will be determined commensurate with relevant experience and strength of qualifications. The position comes with excellent benefits. The main offices of LSEM are located in downtown St. Louis with satellite offices in Union and Hannibal, MO. Application reviews will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. For timely and comprehensive consideration, applicant materials should be received no later than November 20, 2026. Inquiries, nominations/referrals, and applications consisting of resumes and letters of interest should be sent electronically and in confidence below.

Timothy McFeeley is leading this search with Alycia Johnson and Lisa Landis.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.