A more detailed job description can be found here.
The Palm Beach County Bar Association is conducting a search for its next Executive Director, as Carla Tharp-Brown prepares to retire after 10 years of leadership and service to the Association. Founded in 1922, our Bar Association is a voluntary 501(c)(6) nonprofit association located in West Palm Beach, Florida that serves over 2,500 members and maintains a history of leadership in the Florida legal community. Our Bar is also fortunate to be situated in a county that offers so many incredible lifestyle amenities. Its residents enjoy the finest dining and shopping and the best of every outdoor activity associated with South Florida. Residents enjoy oceanfront and other waterfront living all along the sixty miles of Palm Beach County’s coastline. From the fishing, diving and parks of Jupiter, the opulent yet quaint tradition of the Island of Palm Beach, the vibrant art and style of Boca Raton, and the polo and other equestrian activities in the western portion of the county, Palm Beach County is the definition of “destination employment.” This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced association executive or nonprofit leader to guide a vibrant bar association with a long history of success while serving in a dynamic community that offers an outstanding quality of life.
Duties
The position is responsible for strategic leadership by recommending and participating with the Board of Directors in formulating the Association’s mission, goals and objectives and related policies. The Executive Director is also responsible for budget and fiscal management and serves as an ambassador to the membership. Other key duties include:
- Supervising a staff of eight
- Overseeing an association budget of $1.1 million
- Managing association programs and policies
- Developing new sources of non-dues income
- Overseeing general management of Bar headquarters
- Representing the PBCBA locally, regionally, and nationally
Qualifications
- A four-year college degree is preferred, or equivalent professional experience but is not required
- Certified Association Executive preferred but is not required
- Excellent interpersonal, leadership and communications skills
- Collaborative working style
- Ability to work with volunteers and multi-task several key projects at once
- Experience and knowledge of information technology
- Human resources experience
- Strong work ethic, personal integrity and sound judgment
- Passion for the opportunity to lead the association
- Successful career track record in association management including experience in member recruitment/retention and growth of a voluntary association
- Currently serving as the top executive of a comparable professional member organization or bar association; alternative experience includes serving as a “#2” or other senior-level executive of an association
Salary & Benefits
An attractive compensation package will be offered commensurate with qualifications and experience, to include health care, vision care, short-term disability, paid time off and retirement plan.
To apply:
Interested applicants should email a cover letter expressing your interest in this position along with your resume/CV and the name, title, street address, telephone number and email address of three (3) non-family member references who may speak about your qualifications and experience. Please also include your salary requirements. Please direct this information to Julia Wyda, Esq., Chairperson of Search Committee at [email protected].
Questions may be directed by email to: Carla T. Brown at [email protected]
Application deadline is July 27, 2026
Please note: The application deadline and job requirements for this position are subject to change. In the event of any modifications, all active applicants will be promptly notified.