Operations & Administration Manager

Deadline: Please submit a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and at least three references by Monday, April 29, 2024 for priority review. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Law for Black Lives (L4BL) is seeking an exceptionally organized and detail-oriented person to join the organization as the Operations & Administration Manager. This position is a unique opportunity to support the building of a strong organization as we build an emerging radical national network of lawyers, legal workers, and law students, and support our movement and legal field partners across the country, all working towards Black liberation. 

About Law for Black Lives

Law For Black Lives (L4BL) is dedicated to transforming the legal field by promoting movement lawyering and cultivating a national community of radical law students, lawyers, and legal workers, building the power of local organizing to defend, protect, and advance Black Liberation, and transforming the law to change the conditions of the struggle and defend Black Lives. L4BL is a fiscally sponsored project at NEO Philanthropy.

Through the coordination and provision of legal support, training, mentorship, research, political education, policy and popular education tools, we are building a legal infrastructure that is responsive, action-oriented and collaborative.

Role Description & Key Responsibilities

The Operations & Administration Manager is responsible for the overall management of our day-to-day internal operations and ensuring a smooth functioning organization. The Operations & Administration Manager will work under the direction of the Executive Director to guide the organization in meeting its goals of transforming the law, transforming the legal field, and supporting Black-led base building. Specifically, the Operations & Administration Manager will be responsible for the following key pieces of work:

LEADERSHIP:

• Support L4BL leadership in the implementation of organizational strategy 
• Represent the organization to key stakeholders
• Coordinate with our advisory board and when appropriate support the Executive Director in coordinating our governing board
• Support the Executive Director in identifying and addressing problems and opportunities for the organization’s growth
• Strive to bring the values of Law for Black Lives into practice.  

COMPLIANCE:

• Manage organizational compliance with fiscal sponsor
• Manage the process of organization transition to 501(c)3
• When appropriate, manage tax and governance counsel to develop, and establish tax and governance policies and procedures
• When appropriate, support the Executive Director in developing internal compliance processes to ensure timely and accurate reporting
• Liaison with our fiscal sponsor 

OPERATIONS: 

• Oversee the Operations department including the work plans of the operations, development, and communications staff. 
• Manage the department’s budget and resources
• Ensure operations are carried on in an appropriate and cost-effective way
• Work alongside the Executive Director in the organizational development and implementation of operational plans and processes.
• Manage policies and procedures for the organization’s internal operations, HR, and financial management
• Train staff and ensure compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
• Improve operational management systems, processes, and best practices by locating bottlenecks and streamlining existing processes
• Manage the travel and accommodation approval process
• Manage the Operations & Culture Coordinator as they coordinate the organization’s overall culture, systems, and events
• Manage general record keeping. 

HR:

• When appropriate, manage external HR support including fiscal sponsor. 
• Manage staff onboarding and exit process and maintain staff records 
• Manage the Operations & Culture Coordinator as they coordinate the interview process
• Manage internal HR policies and procedures
• Manage the internal benefits and PTO process and manage the Operations & Culture Coordinator as they coordinate the records

FINANCE:

• Manage the organization’s budget, forecasts, and reporting process
• Manage department budgets
• Coordinate internal financial reporting
• Manage purchases and expense approval process
• Manage contract, invoice, and payment approval process and manage the Operations & Culture Coordinator as they coordinate contracts and payments
• Manage the reimbursement process 

DEVELOPMENT:

• Manage the Development Coordinator and support the grant procurement process, in-kind donations, membership dues, and paid training opportunities.

COMMUNICATIONS:

• Manage the Digital Communications & Brand Coordinator and support the creation of collateral materials and swag, and organizational brand adherence. 

STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES:

• Assess resource opportunities as they arise, and identify points of leverage, opportunity and alignment.

Skills & Experiences

• Deep commitment to and enthusiasm for L4BL. 
• Familiarity and comfort with L4BL’s values and those of fellow abolitionist movement partners with a strong understanding of Black organizing, Black liberation, intersectionality, and anti-oppression principles and practices. 
• Proven track record of utilizing personal and professional engagements to successfully engage with Law for Black Lives politics (including Black Queer Feminism, Abolition, and movement lawyering) 
• Experience engaging community and movement organizations, preferably with strong relationships with organizations doing Black liberation work.
• Ability to adapt to respond quickly to a shifting reality and adjust initiatives and priorities
• At least 1-2 years of experience working in the legal field, with lawyers, law students, and legal workers is preferred.
• At least 1-2 years of experience with supporting coalition building and/or working in established coalitions and/or growing new collaborations is preferred.
• At least 1-2 years of experience working with a fiscal sponsor is preferred.
• At least 1-2 years of experience with nonprofit development is preferred. 
• At least 2-3 years of experience with communications strategy is preferred.
• At least 3-4 years of experience with nonprofit governance and compliance is required.
• At least 3-4 years of experience providing logistical and administrative support is required.
• At least 3-4 years of experience with nonprofit finance is required.
• At least 2 -3 years of experience with nonprofit HR is required.
• Exceptional organizational skillset and practices.
• Strong relationship-building skills.
• Exceptional knowledge of project management practices, tools, and technology
• Able to effectively represent L4BL to a variety of audiences and communities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to provide leadership within a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work well with a team
• Experience with 501(c)3 transitions is a huge plus. 

Position: Full-time salaried employee. Overtime exempt. 

Compensation: $85,000 - $90,000 commensurate with experience. Through NEO Philanthropy, this position is offered a full benefits package, including 100% medical coverage for the employee and 90% medical coverage for dependents; 100% coverage for vision, dental, life/AD&D, and long-term disability. NEO also offers a 401K retirement savings plan, Healthcare Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), Medical FSA, Dependent Care FSA, commuter benefits, Employee Assistance Program, other supplemental benefits and paid time off.

Location: This is a remote position, however, some travel will be required

Start Date: May 2024 

Reports To: Executive Director

Vaccination Requirement: L4BL at NEO staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.  Requests for medical and/or religious exemptions from the vaccination requirement will be considered on an individual basis.

TO APPLY: Submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three (3)references at bit.ly/L4BLWork.

L4BL at NEO Philanthropy is an equal-opportunity employer. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected status. We strongly encourage black people, people of color, women, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and people who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system to apply

Law for Black Lives Guiding Values

• We believe in using the law for the people and that legal tools should be used to build the power of movements.
• We are committed to the liberation and self-determination of all Black people -- including Black women and LGBTQIA folks.
• We hold ourselves accountable to support movements for Black liberation including organic uprisings. This means following the leadership of movement organizers and taking direction and feedback from our partners. 
• We are political. We understand that this work requires political lawyering and explicit partnership with movement activists/organizers. 
• We strive to think creatively and collectively about how the law can be used to support movements while respecting activists’ and organizers’ political choices. 
• We are unapologetically committed to developing and following the leadership of Black people within the law. 
• We believe in the importance and necessity of an agile and radical legal infrastructure that supports liberation movements. 
• We believe in actively combatting the elitism, hierarchies, and lawyer-centric tendencies within the legal world. 
• We believe in an internationalist approach that draws connections between the struggle for human rights and dignity in Black communities in the United States and across the globe. 
• We are committed to continued growth and in the words of Mary Hooks, we are willing and ready to be transformed in service of the work. 
• We believe in creating a space that is affirming, healing, transparent, and respectful. We work to ensure that those spaces don’t replicate the kinds of oppression, harm, and trauma that we are working against. 

Through NEO Philanthropy, this position is offered a full benefits package, including 100% medical coverage for the employee and 90% medical coverage for dependents; 100% coverage for vision, dental, life/AD&D, and long-term disability. NEO also offers a 401K retirement savings plan, Healthcare Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), Medical FSA, Dependent Care FSA, commuter benefits, Employee Assistance Program, other supplemental benefits and paid time off.