Executive Director

Los Angeles, CA, United States

The Western Center on Law & Poverty (Western

Center) invites applications and nominations for their

next Executive Director . Through the lens of

economic and racial justice, Western Center litigates, educates,

and advocates in courts, cities, counties, the State Capital, and

the public arena to secure just housing, health care, economy, and

legal systems for Californians with low incomes. Throughout all

this work, Western Center works to leverage their partnerships,

passion, and expertise to transform systems, end poverty, and

create a socially just world for today and generations to come.

Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Sacramento and

Oakland, Western Center is California’s largest legal services

support center. Western Center’s talented and dedicated staff of 34

are a truly statewide presence and the “go-to” team amplifying the

marginalized voices of low-income Californians across a range of

issues and contexts. The Center has an annual budget of just over

$7.5 million and is supported by an endowment of approximately $5

million.

Organizational North

Star

Western Center on Law & Poverty seeks to eliminate poverty

and advance racial and economic justice by dismantling and

transforming systems so all communities in California can

thrive.

-WCLP Strategic Plan 2023-2025

The next Executive Director will build on the achievements of

outgoing Executive Director Crystal Crawford, who deepened Western

Center’s commitment to centering racial justice, diversity, equity,

and inclusion in its strategic litigation, administrative advocacy,

and policy advocacy work. From advocating against state budget cuts

that disproportionately impacted California’s most vulnerable

populations, or defending the property rights of the unhoused,

Western Center’s long-standing reputation as a trustworthy,

reliable partner who represents the interests and voices of

low-income Californians has been further enhanced during Crawford’s

tenure. The next Executive Director is well-positioned to build and

refine organizational strategy that increases this impact through

Western Center’s sixth decade and beyond.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

The passionate group of attorneys and scholars from California

law schools that founded Western Center in 1967 sought to create a

unique organization, guided by the belief that all Californians

deserve the finest possible legal representation before every

institution that shapes their lives.

Western Center views issues of racial and economic justice, food

security and public benefits, health and mental health, housing and

homelessness, and income and wealth inequality as inextricably

linked, and recognizes that low-income individuals and families may

be experiencing several challenges and barriers at the same time.

Western Center seeks solutions across these issues, using the law

to deliver critical resources to Californians, streamline disparate

legal systems, and create efficiencies within public programs.

By applying a coordinated concert of tools including legislative

and policy advocacy, high impact litigation, administrative

advocacy, and technical assistance and education for legal services

and community-based organizations in each of our priority areas,

Western Center ensures that low-income Californians receive the

support they are entitled to and fights for them to keep the

precious assets they do have.

WESTERN CENTER COMMUNITY PRIORITIES

Western Center has deep expertise in four areas of legal impact,

grounded in our long history and rich collaborations. Our greatest

opportunities for eliminating poverty and advancing racial and

economic justice come by leveraging our strengths in these areas,

while remaining flexible in our methods and near-term objectives to

meet the changing needs of the community.

Financial Security

For every Californian to have a living income, access to public

services, and opportunities to build wealth to surpass their

subsistence needs and to thrive.

Establish the right to guaranteed income, wealth accumulation,

and elimination of unequitable fees, debt collection and predatory

behavior.

Ensure access to public benefits and services for Californians

most impacted by unjust systems.

Access to Justice

To ensure Californians with low incomes are treated fairly, have

legal representation, and are heard when engaged with courts, in

administrative hearings, and in the Capitol.

Advance equal access to a fair and equitable court system.

Build more equitable processes in the criminal legal system

with an emphasis on eliminating laws and enforcements that make

poverty a crime.

Expand access in administrative hearings and before the

legislature, municipal, and county bodies.

Health Equity

For all Californians to have universal access to equitable

systems that support health, including food access and security, a

healthy environment, as well as health care.

Advance universal affordable health care coverage for all

Californians.

Eliminate medical debt in California.

Promote a robust state enforcement system to eliminate racial,

ethnic, gender, and age-related health disparities.

Decrease health and food deserts in rural and other underserved

areas.

Housing Equity

To establish that all Californians have access to healthy,

sustainable, and affordable housing in neighborhoods of their

choosing.

Advance housing as a human right.

Reduce speculation in the housing market and repeal laws that

further institutionalized racism.

Campaign to center very low-income people in land use

planning.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPACT

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director

leads the Western Center on Law & Poverty and its support

organization, the WCLP Endowment Foundation. At a time of

unprecedented opportunity for impact, and with the support of an

outstanding staff, strong and diversified financial resources, and

excellent statewide relationships and reputation, the new Executive

Director will be poised to implement a vision for growth and

continued leadership on the critical and persistent challenges

driving Western Center’s work. Specifically, they will engage with

the following opportunities and challenges:

Vision & Leadership

Collaboratively formulate and advance a clear organizational

vision for transformative, system-wide public policy solutions to

help millions of low-income Californians.

Building on the existing strategic plan, bring bold, new ideas,

approaches, networks, and strategies to the continued work of

raising Western Center’s profile - both in the field and in the

broader public consciousness - such that its reputation as a

“go-to” partner to represent the interests and voices of low-income

Californians continues to grow and develop.

Development & Fundraising

Partner with the Development Department to design and execute a

robust fundraising strategy that includes grants, major gifts,

special events, and other development tools to enhance financial

sustainability and grow the organization.

Collaborate with the Development Department and the Board to

proactively cultivate relationships with new individual and

institutional funders at the state and national level.

Team Management & Culture

Inspire, lead, and manage a diverse and talented team of

professionals and staff who are connected across roles by a shared

commitment to social justice. Invest in authentic relationships and

dialogue across individuals and teams to build trust, cohesion,

brave space, and opportunities for team members to do their best

work individually and collectively.

Lead in a collaborative, connecting way across the team,

developing strong feedback loops, empowering members of the team to

take on leadership roles and opportunities, and building internal

structures and policies that foster unity and alignment across the

organization.

Manage the performance and professional growth of team members

across multiple locations.

Partnerships & Networks

Build and expand partnerships, relationships, and strategic

alliances with other legal services programs, community-based

organizations, private lawyers, and other stakeholders and

interested parties.

Provide thought leadership to the legal services field and

broader legal and social justice communities on critical approaches

to anti-poverty and racial justice work.

Elevate Western Center’s voice in relevant state and national

public dialogues as a powerful force for economic and racial

justice.

Stewardship of Organizational Resources &

Infrastructure

Lead the dedicated Endowment Board to ensure that Western

Center’s financial base remains secure and wisely managed.

In close collaboration with the Director team, ensure that

organizational structures, processes, and support systems across

finance, technology, HR, and other core functions are adequately

resourced and continuously well-aligned with Western Center’s

values, strategy, and vision.

Board Engagement

Support the engagement, recruitment, and onboarding of board

members as thought and fundraising partners and key advisors,

effectively leveraging their diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and

experiences to inform the strategic direction and growth of Western

Center and its continued financial strength.

Support effective governance practices and mechanisms and seek

opportunities to marshal the board’s collective capacity to

champion and advance Western Center’s mission.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications

listed, strong candidates will possess many of the professional and

personal abilities, attributes, and experiences enumerated below.

The Executive Director must be a courageous leader who models

integrity, conviction, and clarity, with a vision to fight

injustice and seek restorative action on behalf of impacted

communities externally and the ability to hold space for and

effectively address differences and critical conversations

internally. Strong candidates will bring experience with poverty

law and knowledge of both California-based and federal programs

impacting low-income people and prior professional experience with

legal services or community-based organizations. They also will be

experienced in formulating and discussing public policy and be

knowledgeable about state and federal civil rights laws.

Exceptional engagement skills with communities, public entities,

funders, corporations, and individual donors and partners are

essential.

Demonstrated ability to shape and refine an organizational

vision and drive it to execution through highly collaborative

leadership. They must be able to discern opportunities to raise an

organization’s profile, exercise thought leadership, find new

avenues for impact and influence, and build lasting support.

Successful record of engaging new funders and partners to

broaden and diversify a base of support; demonstrated ability to

inspire and engender trusting, long-term relationships.

Lived experiences that motivate and inform their personal and

professional journey; meaningful connection and ability to reflect

the experiences, backgrounds, and cultures of those impacted by

poverty and discrimination; and ability to use their personal

understanding of and connection to the issues to serve impacted

communities.

Exemplary public communication and media engagement skills and

experience participating in national and regional convenings as a

panelist or keynote speaker to effectively represent Western

Center’s mission and expertise.

Demonstrated experience building and leading teams in dynamic

environments, mentoring and helping team members navigate evolving

goals and urgencies with agility, teamwork, shared accountability,

and trust in one another.

Experience stewarding an organization’s key assets through

growth and change, with an eye toward fostering financial

sustainability, talent development, communications and branding,

and support systems.

Ability to connect and communicate with a variety of

stakeholders (e.g., staff, board, partners, funders, community

members); in all interactions, listen well, reflect an

understanding of others’ perspectives and needs, and clearly

articulate shared understandings, decisions, and actions.

Flexibility, adaptability, and resilience; possessing a high

tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity and exhibiting an

entrepreneurial spirit that embraces continuous learning,

adaptation, patience, and innovation in service of social

justice.

A J.D. is strongly preferred.

Multilingual candidates also are preferred.

The target salary range for this position is $220,000 to

$240,000 and comes with a generous benefits package, including

leave policies, vacation, and paid December holiday office

closure.

The Executive Director is expected to reside in (or be willing

to relocate to) the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area.

TO APPLY

Please find more information about the Western Center on

Law & Poverty here: wclp.org .

This search is being conducted by Allison

Kupfer Poteet , Rachel Burgoyne , and

Robert

Diggs of the national search firm NPAG . Candidates may submit their cover

letter outlining their interest, qualifications and skills that

have prepared them to lead an organization committed to racial and

economic justice for all low-income Californians, along with their

resume, via NPAG’s website .

NPAG welcomes expressions of interest, prior to applying for the

position, and/or nominations submitted via this

form .

Western Center is committed

to maintaining a diverse staff and creating an inclusive and

respectful workplace and strongly encourages applications from

persons of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, persons with

disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups whose

background may contribute to effectively representing low-income

people and underserved communities.

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