Director of Conference Programming and Strategic Initiatives

About the Hispanic National Bar Association

The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) is the national voice of the Hispanic legal community in the United States and its territories. HNBA represents nearly 80,000 attorneys, judges, law professors, law students, and other legal professionals across every stage of the profession. HNBA, through its foundation, the HNBA / VIA Fund advances leadership, professional development, and opportunity within the legal profession. 

Through national conferences, leadership, and other professional development programming, HNBA / VIA convenes the Hispanic legal community to strengthen the profession and expand pathways to leadership. 

About HNBA’s National Conferences

HNBA’s national conferences are among the most significant gatherings of Hispanic legal professionals in the United States. Every year, the Corporate Counsel Conference (March) and Annual Convention (September) each bring together 700 – 850 attorneys, judges, corporate counsel, law firm leaders, law students, and policymakers from across the country. These convenings serve as central platforms for professional development, leadership engagement, and community building within the Hispanic legal profession. 

Through high-quality programming, thought leadership, and national networking opportunities, HNBA’s conferences help shape conversations across the legal profession while strengthening the pipeline of Hispanic lawyers advancing into leadership roles. 

About HNBA’s Strategic Initiatives

HNBA’s strategic initiatives are designed to advance leadership development, expand access, and strengthen the pipeline of Hispanic legal professionals across the profession. These initiatives include programs focused on preparing attorneys for senior leadership roles, fostering mentorship and sponsorship, and creating meaningful pathways for professional growth. 

Programs, such as our leadership development and GC ready programs, and other leadership-focused initiatives reflect HNBA’s commitment to developing the next generation of leaders while supporting continued advancement at all stages of the legal career. These efforts complement HNBA’s national conferences and serve as year-round platforms for engagement, leadership development, and impact within the Hispanic legal community. 

Position Overview

The Director of Conference Programming and Strategic Initiatives leads the planning, coordination, and execution of programmatic content for the HNBA and HNBA / VIA’s flagship national gatherings, and a select number of strategic initiatives as determined in coordination with the Executive Director.  

This role oversees the development, coordination, and execution of conference programming, including CLE sessions, keynote programming, speaker engagement, and agenda development for HNBA’s largest convenings. 

The Director works closely with HNBA leadership, board members, volunteer committees, sponsors, and speakers to deliver high-quality programming that reflects the organization’s mission, strategic priorities, and national leadership within the legal profession. 

The position also serves as the primary liaison between HNBA program leadership and the external event production firm responsible for conference logistics, ensuring that programmatic elements are seamlessly integrated into the overall conference experience. 

The Director manages concurrent planning cycles for HNBA’s national conferences, coordinating programming for multiple events that are in different stages of development throughout the year. 

In addition to conference programming, the Director supports the development and execution of select strategic initiatives and leadership programs, including efforts such as our leadership development and GC ready programs, and other initiatives aligned with HNBA’s mission and priorities. 

Key Responsibilities

National Conferences 

Lead program development and coordination for HNBA’s flagship convenings. 

Responsibilities include: 

• Developing conference agendas and program tracks 
• Managing the CLE programming, selection, and accreditation processes 
• Managing the conference session proposal process, including evaluation and coordination of programming ideas submitted by volunteer leaders and committees 
• Coordinating with volunteer leaders and subject-matter experts to develop conference programming while maintaining responsibility for overall program structure, quality, and execution 
• Ensuring programming reflects emerging issues and thought leadership across the legal profession 
• Supporting the integration of sponsors into conference programming where appropriate 
• Managing program timelines and deliverables across overlapping conference planning cycles 
• Ensure on – site coordination and execution to ensure a seamless, high – touch experience for all attendees 

Coordination with Event Production Partner 

Serve as the primary programmatic liaison to the external event production firm responsible for conference logistics. 

Responsibilities include: 

• Coordinating program schedules with venue logistics and room assignments 
• Managing run-of-show planning and session flow 
• Ensuring speaker and program needs are incorporated into conference operations 
• Supporting on-site conference execution 

Internal Coordination 

• Work with HNBA communications staff on program announcements and conference marketing materials 
• Coordinate with sponsorship staff regarding sponsor-related programming opportunities 
• Maintain conference planning timelines and program documentation 
• Support post-event evaluations and program reporting 

Strategic Initiatives & Leadership Programming 

• Support the development and execution of certain strategic initiatives and leadership programs, such as our leadership development and GC Ready programs 
• Coordinate programmatic elements, content development, and stakeholder engagement for these initiatives 
• Ensure alignment between strategic initiatives and HNBA’s broader programming and conference platforms 

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of experience managing professional conferences, legal programming, or industry events 
• Experience coordinating large-scale conferences or multi-track programming preferred 
• Strong project management and organizational skills 
• Experience working with speakers, volunteers, or professional committees 
• Familiarity with CLE programming requirements preferred 
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously 
•  Strong written and verbal communication skills 
• Experience working with membership or professional associations preferred 
• Experience working with national conferences or professional association convenings strongly preferred 

• A J.D. or legal background is a plus, given the role’s engagement with attorneys and legal programming, but is not required 

• Experience working with a legal member or trade association is a plus 
• Evaluating and continuously improving conference programming, identifying opportunities to enhance content, format, and audience engagement and to evolve HNBA’s conference offerings over time 
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing the Hispanic legal community and a deep commitment to the broader Hispanic community including experience working with or supporting diverse professional communities and initiatives 

Compensation

HNBA offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package. The anticipated salary range for this position is $90,000-$105,000, depending on experience. 

Who You Are

You are a strong project leader who enjoys turning complex ideas into well-executed programs. 

You are comfortable coordinating senior professionals, volunteer leaders, and speakers, and you are skilled at managing multiple stakeholders and timelines simultaneously. 

You thrive in environments where thoughtful planning, proactive communication, and attention to detail are essential to delivering high-quality professional programs. 

You bring a genuine commitment to supporting and advancing the Hispanic legal community and broader Hispanic community. You understand the importance of representation, access, and leadership development, and you are motivated by the opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven organization that serves as a national voice for Hispanic legal professionals.