Director of Professional Standards & Legal Affairs

Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® is hiring: Director of Professional Standards & Legal Affairs

Do you enjoy bringing order, clarity, and fairness to complex situations where policy, procedure, and people are all involved? Are you a licensed attorney who thrives in a structured environment, values confidentiality, and can stay calm and consistent when managing sensitive matters?

Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® is seeking a Director of Professional Standards & Legal Affairs to lead and strengthen ACAR’s Professional Standards process while growing into a broader legal advisory role. This position will initially focus on administering mediation, arbitration, and ethics enforcement with precision, integrity, and strict adherence to procedure. As the primary internal resource for Professional Standards, this role safeguards due process and regulatory compliance. Over time, responsibilities will expand to include governance guidance, contract review, risk education, and broader legal support to leadership.

Join the Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® team and work for a professional trade association comprised of over 5,000 real estate professionals engaged in the industry. At ACAR, you’ll become part of a community that genuinely cares about each other’s success. There is an abundance of opportunities to grow and develop while working with a seasoned, empathetic, and high-performing team.

Responsibilities include:

Core Responsibility: Professional Standards

• Administer ACAR’s Professional Standards process, including Mediation, Arbitration, and Ethics enforcement, ensuring strict adherence to NAR policy and due process.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Professional Standards and Grievance Committees, supporting procedural consistency and documentation accuracy.
• Safeguard fairness, confidentiality, and regulatory compliance throughout all complaint and hearing processes.
• Act as ACAR’s internal Ombudsman and promote the REALTOR® Code of Ethics through structured education and awareness efforts.
• Coordinate with member and association attorneys as needed on Professional Standards matters.

Expanded Legal & Governance Support (Developing Over Time):

• Provide internal compliance guidance aligned with federal, state, and REALTOR® policy.
• Support governance matters, including bylaws interpretation, rules and regulations, and application of Robert’s Rules of Order.
• Partner with Education and Communications to ensure legal accuracy of courses, publications, and member-facing materials.
• Contribute legal insight on Ohio REALTORS® forms, ODRE updates, and emerging regulatory topics.
• Coordinate with outside counsel regarding trademark, copyright, and related protections.
• Monitor and manage the department budget.

*Please note: This role educates on risk, procedure, and standards; it does not provide legal advice or recommend specific courses of action to members.

Knowledge and skills required:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, SharePoint)
• Comfortable with Zoom/web conference platforms
• Ability to translate legal concepts into clear, accessible guidance and education
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and disciplined follow-through (this role emphasizes analysis, consistency, and adherence to policy)

Experience:

We are seeking a candidate with experience managing sensitive matters with discretion, applying policy consistently, and working effectively with a variety of stakeholders (committees, members, attorneys, staff, and volunteers). Success in this role will require strong conflict management, time and priority management, and the ability to build credibility and trust with members.

Education:

• Juris Doctor (JD) – Required
• Licensed attorney admitted to practice in Ohio – Required
• Working knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order – Required

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range is $90-110k yearly depending on experience. The compensation package includes a 401(k) with matching, Medical, Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance.

To arrange a confidential interview, send a résumé by responding to this ad or contact

ACAR is an equal opportunity employer and we value an inclusive work environment.

About Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS®:

The Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS®, abbreviated ACAR, is a professional organization for real estate professionals who sell real property and businesses that work in or with the real estate industry. ACAR provides a variety of services to its members including education, insurance, affinity programs and legislative representation, as well as membership in the Ohio Realtors® (OR) and the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).

Members who hold the title REALTOR® are licensed real estate professionals who choose to voluntarily subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics that is above and beyond the law. The word REALTOR® is a registered trademark that can only be used by members of a local, state, and national association of REALTORS®. People who do not subscribe to the strict Code of Ethics are not members of a REALTOR® association and are simply real estate licensees.

#J-18808-Ljbffr