Executive Director

Little Rock, Arkansas, Executive Director, Arkansas Bar Association, Inc. Reports To: Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Bar Association Classification: Fulltime, Exempt Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Salary: Commensurate with Experience and Qualifications Position Available: Until Filled Position Summary The Executive Director of the Arkansas Bar Association, (ARKBAR), serves the legal community by providing strategic leadership, organizational management, member services, and statewide collaboration for the Arkansas Bar Association. The Executive Director works with the Board of Trustees and volunteer leadership to advance the Association’s mission, goals, and priorities. The Executive Director leads the Association’s operations, finances, staff, programs, membership, governance, and external relationships while ensuring effective implementation of Board decisions and Association policies. Key Responsibilities • Volunteer Leadership & Governance - Works with the President and President-Elect to support Association priorities, volunteer leadership, and statewide initiatives. Prepares for and supports Board of Trustees and Executive Committee meetings, including agendas, background information, and follow-up on Board decisions. Maintains knowledge of the Association’s governing documents and ensures policies and procedures are developed and followed. • Financial Management - Provides overall leadership for the Association’s financial management, including annual budgeting, financial planning, revenue development, and fiscal accountability. Reviews financial reports and performance against budget, monitors spending and financial controls, and communicates financial information to the Board of Trustees. Identifies opportunities for new revenue and sponsorships while ensuring resources are used responsibly and in accordance with Association policies. • Legal, Contract & Risk Oversight - Reviews, negotiates, and executes Association contracts and agreements while considering financial, operational, and legal implications. Ensures appropriate insurance, risk management, and compliance with applicable policies and requirements. • Membership – Plans and executes annual membership campaign to encourage both renewals of current members and engages new and previous members to join. This involves multi-level marketing, various methods of outreach to individuals and firms as well as data services preparation for user friendly online membership access. • Board of Trustees & Executive Support - Works closely with the Board of Trustees to implement Board decisions and priorities. Provides information, recommendations, and organizational support to assist the Board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities. Ensures effective communication between the Board, committees, volunteers, and staff. • Staff Leadership & Supervision - Provides leadership for a professional, service-oriented staff and promotes teamwork, accountability, and effective communication. Oversees staffing, hiring, training, development, performance management, job descriptions, and compliance with the Personnel Handbook and workplace policies. Ensures staff priorities and workloads support the Association’s goals. • Committee & Volunteer Support - Provides committees with guidance on their history, charge, and role in advancing the Association’s goals. Coordinates committee meetings, including scheduling, notices, agendas, and meeting support. Maintains committee records, documents, meeting summaries, and member data. Provides committees with information, reports, and other resources needed to support their work and prepares for presentations to the Board of Trustees. • Sections Suppor t – Ensures staff support of all Section policies and procedures. Support of each section, their budgets, their CLE event planning, and communications with the Finance Committee, Executive Committee and Board of Trustees. • Continuing Legal Education (CLE) – Ensures online On-Demand CLE meet Supreme Court Rules. Works with staff to make the On-Demand catalog available 24/7 for members and non-members. Plans and executes in-person CLE including venue and speaker coordination. Ensures accreditation of CLE Programs in Arkansas. Coordinates with staff to market all CLE. • Member Benefits - Identifies and evaluates opportunities to provide valuable member benefits and services. Negotiates and manages relationships with benefit providers and vendors and works with staff to establish appropriate marketing, website, and financial processes. • Events & Programs - Provides overall leadership for Association events and programs, including the Annual Meeting, Mid-Year and Mid-Winter Meetings, Hall of Fame, Public Service Academy, Mock Trial, CLE events, and Board meetings. Works with staff, vendors, venues, and volunteers to ensure successful planning and execution. • Government Relations & Elections - Provides leadership and coordination for the Association’s government relations and election activities, including the Legislation Committee, lobbyist coordination, legislative monitoring, Association positions, and the Jurisprudence and Law Reform process. Oversees Association elections, including petitions, notices, candidate information, signature verification, electronic voting, and compliance with applicable deadlines and bylaws. • Operations & Administration - Provides overall leadership for the Association’s day-to-day operations, policies, procedures, purchasing, projects, and administrative functions. Ensures effective coordination among departments ensuring that Association resources, facilities, and online systems support organizational needs. • Database & Technology Support - Provides overall organizational direction for the Association’s database and technology resources. Works with staff to ensure systems support accurate information, efficient operations, effective member services, data integrity, and appropriate technology practices. All technology support should prioritize ease of member access. • Communications & Marketing - Provides overall direction for the Association’s communications, marketing, branding, publications, website, and member communications. Works with the Publications and Marketing team to ensure communications effectively support Association goals, member engagement, and public awareness. • External Relations & Organizational Development - Builds and maintains relationships with law-related organizations, legal education institutions, local and national bar associations, and other partners. Identifies opportunities to strengthen the Association’s programs, services, visibility, financial position, and long-term effectiveness. • Additional Responsibilities - Responds to member and volunteer needs, explains Association policies and information, and works to build consensus among diverse groups. Serves as a liaison between the Board, committees, Sections, volunteers, and staff. Performs other duties as needed to support the mission and operations of the Association. Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree required; Major in Business, Management, Finance preferred. • Juris Doctorate preferred. • Arkansas Attorney License in Good Standing preferred. • Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation or interest in pursuing certification preferred. • Three to five years of management or executive-level experience preferred. • Experience in a bar association, nonprofit, membership organization, or similar environment is preferred. • Strong leadership, communication, organizational, financial, and relationship-building skills required. • Familiarity with the Judicial Branch • Legislative advocacy knowledge Physical Requirements Primarily office-based with the ability to work remotely as appropriate. May require occasional lifting, moving, or transporting event supplies, CLE materials and equipment. Personal Characteristics Dependable, professional, organized, collaborative, and service-oriented, with the ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, lead effectively, communicate with diverse groups, manage competing priorities, and maintain a positive and professional work environment. Technology & Equipment Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Excel, MemberCentral/CRM systems, Adobe Acrobat, standard office equipment, virtual meeting platforms, basic audiovisual technology, and other Association technology and systems. Work and Travel • Statewide travel is involved. • Periodic overnight and out-of-state travel. • Periodic evening and weekend work, meetings, and events. • Work primarily performed in office, conferences, and public meeting venues. • Office location is Victory Building in Little Rock, Arkansas.