Executive Director

About the role

East River Legal Services (ERLS) in Sioux Falls, SD seeks a visionary leader to serve as Executive Director. This individual will provide strategic vision, organizational leadership, and resource development to advance ERLS’s mission of expanding access to justice for low-income individuals and families. The Executive Director will articulate the program’s mission and values to garner broad community support, increase the visibility of ERLS, expand services to underserved communities, cultivate funding opportunities, and support a high-functioning and professional team.

About Us

East River Legal Services (ERLS) is the primary provider of free civil legal aid for low-income individuals and families across eastern South Dakota. Serving 33 counties, ERLS provides legal assistance in matters involving family law, housing, consumer protection, public benefits, and services for vulnerable populations, including veterans, survivors of domestic violence, older adults, and individuals experiencing homelessness.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and management of the organization, ensuring operational excellence, financial sustainability, and mission-driven service delivery.
• Supervise grant compliance, ensuring that all reporting requirements, 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 regarding organizational 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 and 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 throughout the ERLS service area.
• Oversee the creation and amendment of budgets as needed, with consideration of cost containment where appropriate.
• Envision success for the program, developing policies and protocols to support delivery of legal services that advance the program’s mission.
• Hire, train, invest in, coach, and lead a highly professional, effective, closely coordinated, self-accountable staff.

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Prescription Drug Coverage
• Telemedicine Services
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Basic Group Term Life/AD&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Advocate Support Services
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with a 4% match
• Relocation assistance available

Pay

Salary ranging from $100,000 - $115,000, based on experience.

Location

Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a welcoming city where the prairie meets a lively urban core, anchored by its namesake waterfalls. Sioux Falls balances an excellent quality of life with a strong economy in a safe, clean environment. The city offers a competitive cost of living, no state income tax, and amenities such as fine dining, shopping, arts, sports, and nightlife, making it a friendly place to call home.