Western Center on Law & Poverty

Executive Director

Los Angeles, California

** This role is no longer accepting new applications. **

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.

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.

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 candidate portal. 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.


Our Lead

Allison Kupfer Poteet

She/Her/Hers

Managing Partner

Allison leads a national search practice that spans philanthropy at all levels, direct service providers, and a range of nonprofits advancing solutions through policy, advocacy, evaluation and learning, and other innovative approaches to social change.

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