Deputy Director of Programs

Legal Aid of Western Missouri•Kansas City, MO

1h•$120,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Legal Aid of Western Missouri is seeking a Deputy Director of Programs to join its senior leadership team. This foundational role will work alongside the Executive Director to set strategic direction, enhance program quality, and advance the organization's advocacy priorities. The Deputy Director will ensure Legal Aid's legal programs operate with consistency, quality, and alignment with the organization's mission, overseeing all offices and managing attorneys to drive high-quality civil legal aid delivery and lead advocacy efforts across a 40-county service area.

Requirements

J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and active bar license (or eligibility for admission) in Missouri.
Minimum of 10 years of legal experience, with at least 5 years in a supervisory or management role.
Demonstrated commitment to civil legal aid, public interest law, or access to justice.
Proven track record managing or leading legal programs or practice groups.
Strong supervisory skills with experience managing attorneys and non-attorney staff, including experience leading teams through organizational change.
Ability to analyze complex legal and organizational issues and exercise sound judgment.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including experience in funder and stakeholder communication.
Experience with case management systems and program data tracking.
Demonstrated ability to work across diverse teams and foster an inclusive, equitable workplace culture.

Nice To Haves

Experience in multiple civil legal aid practice areas (e.g., housing, family law, public benefits, consumer, immigration).
Familiarity with Legal Services Corporation (LSC) regulations and compliance requirements.
Experience with trauma-informed practices and working with clients who are experiencing a crisis.
Experience with strategic planning, program design, or organizational development.
Prior experience in leadership at a nonprofit legal organization.
Relationships with local courts, the bar, and community organizations across Legal Aid’s service area.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic oversight and direction for all legal programs, including direct supervision of managing attorneys in Legal Aid’s six offices.
Set and maintain high standards for the quality, efficiency, and impact of legal representation and client services that are responsive to client and community needs; support managing attorneys on complex and innovative legal matters.
Foster a supportive, learning-oriented culture among staff including mentorship, professional development, and attention to staff wellbeing and retention; proactively manage workload distribution across offices to support sustainable practice.
Advance the strategic direction of client services, such as identifying unmet legal needs, expanding access for underserved populations, and ensuring programs evolve to meet the changing needs of the communities Legal Aid serves.
Oversee case management processes and ensure compliance with professional responsibility and funding obligations.
Maintain current knowledge of law across the organization's practice areas; develop and deliver training and educational resources on internal policies, procedures, and substantive legal topics.
Coordinate with the Director of Operations to regularly evaluate and improve operational support for programs and staff, maximizing impact for Legal Aid's clients.
Serve as a senior leadership team member, contributing to organizational planning, policy development, and strategic priorities in partnership with the Executive Director and Board.
Collaborate with the organization’s Development, Finance, Human Resources, and Client Access teams on grant applications, funder reporting, budget planning, compliance, recruiting, complex employee relations, and client access matters.
Represent the organization externally in coalitions, bar association activities, courts, and community partnerships.