Operations Associate

About the organization

The Center for Constitutional Rights works with communities under threat to fight for justice and liberation through litigation, advocacy, and strategic communications. Since 1966, we have taken on oppressive systems of power, including structural racism, gender oppression, economic inequity, and governmental overreach.

Too often, the law supports systems of power that violate our most fundamental rights and prevent people from living with dignity. We use creative and aggressive advocacy, communications, and legal strategies to combat the most virulent forms of oppression and to push law and policy to meet the demands of justice. Our teams partner and work with systems-impacted communities and social movements to build power and co-design legal, policy, and cultural interventions that advance the vision of the world our partners and clients want to see. And through strategic communications, we increase public support for our efforts in order to challenge dominant narratives that normalize injustice.

Our approach is holistic, fearless, and relentless. You have a role to play in this fight. Join forces with our activists, lawyers, and storytellers to fight oppression and build power.

Position Summary

The Operations Associate will provide support to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) who supervises the Operations Team – consisting of staff members working in finance, human resources, facilities and office services, information management, and technology functions.

The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated previous experience with successful organizational and time management, strong judgment, decision-making, and problem solving, as well as a high level of accuracy and execution, and technical skills, including strong digital skills and proficiency with project management software.

Status: Part time – 20 hours per week

Location: In-office presence 1-2 days per week is preferred; eligible for fully remote on a case-by-case basis

Core Responsibilities

• Serve as the assistant to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), which requires handling of confidential information
• Assist in the preparation of letters, reports, and other correspondence for the COO
• Prepare all materials for meetings and events and maintain the COO’s e-files
• Maintain an overview of the COO’s priorities and tasks, including monitoring progress and following up on outstanding issues promptly
• Handle logistics, taking minutes, and maintaining documentation related to COO-led Board Committee meetings
• Provide administrative support to the COO, including scheduling meetings and note-taking; maintaining and updating e-files and contact lists; and monitoring the organization’s general information email account
• Collaborate with the HR or Facilities teams in executing in-person and virtual staff or Operations Team events, including researching and liaising with venues, vendors, and assisting with event preparation, set-up, and registration as needed
• Research best practices or benchmarking peer organizations when updating policies/manuals
• Draft first-pass summaries or FAQs when new policies roll out to support staff communication
• Support rollout/adoption of new operational tools or software (helping train staff, troubleshooting basic issues)
• Conduct periodic audits of shared drives/files to ensure documentation stays organized and current
• Assist the COO with the organization and maintenance of the Operations Team’s electronic and hard copy documents and information
• Contribute to efforts to advance and upgrade internal systems and practices for information management and knowledge sharing
• Assist the COO in creating, updating, and keeping current the Center for Constitutional Rights' operational and organizational policies and manuals
• Liaise with other staff/teams to train on and ensure good document management practices
• Support the Center for Constitutional Rights archiving project
• Participate in departmental and organizational planning and projects, organization-wide committees, and carrying out work assigned
• Perform other Operations Team related work as assigned by the Chief Operating Officer

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of two (2) years of related experience required
• A belief in the mission of the Center for Constitutional Rights, commitment to social justice issues, and comfort working in a progressive legal and/or non-profit environment
• Ability to build trust quickly and maintain long-term working relationships with executives, staff, board members, and external stakeholders
• Comfort serving as a liaison/gatekeeper without creating friction
• Political savvy — ability to read organizational dynamics and navigate diverse stakeholders
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, including proven ability to efficiently manage multiple tasks and priorities under tight deadlines and in a fast-paced environment
• Experience managing complex, high-volume calendars across multiple time zones
• Meeting and event planning experience (board meetings, offsites, receptions)
• Flexibility to adjust priorities quickly as the executive’s needs shift
• Availability for occasional extended hours or off-hours responsiveness, as organizational needs require
• Excellent problem-solving skills, including the ability to anticipate problems and use judgment to plan solutions
• Critical thinking skills
• Research abilities
• Integrity and grace under pressure
• Demonstrated discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information
• Sound judgment in representing the executive and organization internally and externally
• Comfort with ambiguity and ability to self-direct with minimal oversight
• Excellent attention to detail with a high level of accuracy
• Experience drafting correspondence, presentations, and briefing materials on behalf of an executive
• Ability to synthesize complex information into concise summaries or talking points
• Strong digital skills, with proficiency in MS Office, Adobe, and Google Workspace
• Experience with project management tools (e.g., Asana and Trello)
• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communications skills
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team
• Integrity and grace under pressure
• Multi-cultural competence and comfort – ability to work with a diverse team and to work across differences at all levels

THE CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO BUILDING A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE. THE CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ENCOURAGES APPLICATIONS FROM WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, LGBTQIA+ INDIVIDUALS, GENDER NON-CONFORMING PEOPLE, AND CANDIDATES FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.

Benefits include employer contribution to 401K plan and flexible spending account, vacation, sick leave, and holidays, and 100 percent organization-paid health benefits including medical, dental, life, and short- and long-term disability insurance.