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Job Summary/General Purpose of Job

The Director of the Section of Taxation provides principal executive leadership to the Section which serves over 11,000 members, the tax community, and the public by providing education about taxes and tax systems, promoting pro bono legal assistance and providing leadership to support the development of an equitable, efficient and workable tax system.

The Director is responsible for the success of the Section’s many educational opportunities for its members and tax professionals throughout the world, including live programs with registration of up to 3,000 participants, virtual meetings and webinars, as well as leadership and governance meetings. In addition to programming, the Director oversees a robust publishing program including a scholarly law journal and other periodicals, an online newsletter, and books on cutting edge issues.

Because the Section is the national representative of the legal profession regarding the tax system, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service actively seek comments from the Section on regulatory projects and other guidance.  The Director works with member leaders and senior staff on policy development, including frequent submission of comment letters and white papers. The Director ensures the success of the Section as a national leader and innovator in the provision of pro bono legal services and helps oversee the Section’s successful public service and diversity fellowship programs.  The Director works with member leaders and staff to set the strategic direction and priorities for the Section including the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion in the Section, the tax profession, and the tax system itself.

The Director holds ultimate responsibility for the Tax Section member experience, financial stability, future growth, and programmatic success. The Director manages a staff team of 16 with an annual budget of $5 million.

Performs other related duties as required.

Required Education, Qualifications, Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (or equivalent experience).
• 10-15 years of relevant managerial experience.
• Experience in one or more of the following environments is preferred: association, legal, nonprofit.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple simultaneous responsibilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain successful interpersonal relationships with staff and member leaders.
• Substantive experience in the respective legal field may be required.
• Management experience working with boards of directors and multiple committee and membership structures is a must.

Preferred Education, Qualifications, Experience

A Master’s is preferred, or equivalent previous association management experience.

About American Bar Association

The American Bar Association is one of the world’s largest voluntary professional organizations, with over 400,000 members and more than 3,500 entities. It is committed to doing what only a national association of attorneys can do: serving our members, improving the legal profession, eliminating bias and enhancing diversity, and advancing the rule of law throughout the United States and around the world. Founded in 1878, the ABA is committed to supporting the legal profession with practical resources for legal professionals while improving the administration of justice, accrediting law schools, establishing model ethical codes, and more. Membership is open to lawyers, law students, and others interested in the law and the legal profession. Our national headquarters are in Chicago, and we maintain a significant office in Washington D.C. The ABA offers competitive employment benefits which include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k), commuter benefits, and more.

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