How to apply for Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer

About National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC)

The National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) is a unique nonprofit that blends professional membership support for child welfare lawyers with bold legal advocacy for children and parents. What sets NACC apart is its commitment to co-designing solutions with people who have lived experience in the child welfare system and its explicit anti-racist, equity-driven mission. Working here means joining a national movement to transform how the legal system treats families, with a focus on zealous representation and systemic reform.

About the role

As Executive Director/CEO, you will be the chief strategist and visionary for NACC, responsible for executing its 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, expanding attorney training and certification, growing the professional network, and leading policy reform efforts like the Counsel for Kids campaign. This role is impactful because you will directly shape the future of child welfare law, ensuring that every child and parent has access to high-quality, culturally responsive legal representation. You will also be the primary ambassador for NACC's mission, driving financial sustainability and organizational growth.

A typical day

A typical day might involve meeting with the board to discuss strategic priorities, reviewing fundraising proposals, and connecting with members to understand their needs. You could also be on Capitol Hill or in a virtual meeting advocating for policy reform, or working with staff to develop new training materials for child welfare attorneys. No two days are the same, but all are driven by a commitment to advancing children's and parents' rights.

Who National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) is looking for

• Proven executive leadership in a nonprofit or legal advocacy organization, with experience managing budgets, staff, and board relationships.
• Deep commitment to equity, anti-racism, and co-designing solutions with people who have lived experience in the child welfare system.
• Strong track record in fundraising, membership growth, and financial sustainability, ideally within a professional association or legal network.
• Experience in policy reform and advocacy, particularly in child welfare, family law, or children's rights, and the ability to lead national campaigns like Counsel for Kids.

Tips for this application

• Highlight your experience with membership organizations or professional networks—NACC is both a professional association and an advocacy group, so show you understand how to serve and grow a member community.
• Demonstrate your commitment to anti-racism and equity by providing concrete examples of how you've embedded these values into organizational strategy, hiring, or program design.
• Show familiarity with the child welfare legal landscape, including key issues like zealous representation, parent representation, and the Counsel for Kids campaign.
• Emphasize your ability to fundraise and diversify revenue streams, as NACC's sustainability is a key priority in their strategic plan.
• Use language that reflects NACC's core values—Community, Equity and Inclusion, Excellence, Humility and Accountability, and Integrity—throughout your materials.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your vision for advancing NACC's mission and executing its 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, particularly around expanding training and certification and leading policy reform.", 'Specific examples of how you have co-designed solutions with people with lived experience and embedded equity and anti-racism into organizational culture.', 'Your experience in fundraising, financial management, and growing membership or networks, with measurable outcomes.', "Your leadership style and how it aligns with NACC's values, especially humility, accountability, and collaboration."]

Research before applying

• Read NACC's 2025-2030 Strategic Plan in detail to understand their key priorities and how the ED/CEO role fits into achieving them.
• Research the Counsel for Kids campaign, including its goals, partners, and recent legislative or policy victories.
• Learn about NACC's training and certification programs for child welfare attorneys, and identify any gaps or opportunities for expansion.
• Explore the child welfare legal landscape, including key challenges like racial disproportionality, parent representation, and the impact of federal policies.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach leading the Counsel for Kids campaign and other policy reform efforts at the national level?
• Describe a time you co-designed a program or initiative with people who have lived experience. What was the outcome and what did you learn?
• What strategies would you use to grow NACC's membership and ensure financial sustainability while staying true to its mission?
• How do you embed anti-racism and equity into an organization's operations, culture, and external advocacy?
• Can you share an example of a difficult leadership decision you made that aligned with your values, and how you handled the fallout?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on general nonprofit leadership without addressing the unique dual role of serving a professional membership while leading advocacy campaigns.
• Ignoring the importance of lived experience and co-design—NACC explicitly values this, so failing to mention it or provide examples is a major misstep.
• Underestimating the fundraising and financial sustainability aspect; this is a CEO role that requires a proven ability to secure resources and manage budgets.