Outreach and Operations Associate

Our Culture: Why work with us?

Our most valuable resource is our people--with a diversity of backgrounds, ideas, opinions, and life experiences. We have built a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment full of mission-driven people. We admire people who have forward thinking and sound judgment. Our leaders are transparent, accessible, authentic, and invest in their employees. Together we do meaningful work that is life-changing for our client community.

Who We Are:

The Project on Predatory Student Lending is the first legal services practice in the country focused solely on representing postsecondary students who were harmed by predatory practices in higher education and vocational training. Started at Harvard Law School in 2012, PPSL became an independent non-profit organization in August 2022. PPSL primarily uses impact litigation to further its mission of ending predatory practices in higher education. PPSL has prosecuted landmark litigation holding corporations and the government accountable for abusive and discriminatory actions and policies.

Our Mission:

To date, the Project on Predatory Student Lending has won cancellation of over $30 billion in student debt for over two million former students located throughout the United States. To learn more about our current cases, please visit our website, read news coverage of our work, and listen to our clients' experiences with predatory actors in higher education.

What's in it for you:

The Outreach and Operations Associate will provide critical operations and cross-organizational program assistance.

• Salary: $65-68k per year, depending on experience
• Hybrid role, flexible weekly travel to Boston
• Excellent benefits: Generous vacation policy, paid parental leave, 80/20 split on health care costs, 5% match on 401k, $200/month remote work stipend

Primary Purpose of Position:

The Outreach and Operations Associate will provide critical support across operations, client engagement, advocacy and legal program support. This role is ideal for a highly organized, tech savvy, detail-oriented individual who can manage multiple priorities, communicate effectively and thoughtfully, and contribute to a collaborative and mission-driven small team.

This position is hybrid; must have the ability to travel to Boston weekly.

Essential Functions:

Operations and cross-organizational program assistance

• Assist the litigation and advocacy programs through assigned research, material drafting, stakeholder correspondence and scheduling, project execution and note-taking.
• Schedule meetings with stakeholders (partners, funders, and others), draft agendas, take notes, and support follow-up actions.
• Draft monthly updates, assist in creating PPT presentations, and take notes for the Board of Directors meetings
• Assist with managing project planning, support internal calls, and assist in identifying and implementing tools and processes that improve the organization's effectiveness.
• Provide general administrative and event support as needed, including webinars and in-person meetings
• Support to the Executive Team including travel bookings, reimbursements, meeting arrangements
• Manage mail and record keeping

Support PPSL's litigation and client relationships

• Maintain PPSL's records of client communications including mail, email, voicemail, and survey responses
• Review and compile PPSL intake data and collaborate with the legal team to identify trends and outreach priorities
• Work with PPSL's attorneys to conduct outreach to identify, connect, and build relationships with potential plaintiffs
• Support outgoing client communication through mass and individual email responses, case updates, and other client-facing communications
• Escalate individual client issues and questions to legal team
• Assist with PPSL's client community webinar, programming, logistics and execution

Support Communications and Advocacy program

• Act as primary point of contact and designated liaison for borrowers before, during, and after media/advocacy requests
• Coordinate requests for borrowers to participate in media and advocacy opportunities, responsibilities include identifying borrowers, ongoing communication with selected borrowers, interfacing/coordinating with external parties as needed, assisting with capturing borrower stories, assisting with any in-person or virtual logistics for borrowers, post-event follow-up with survey, etc.
• Support outgoing communications through MassMailer including newsletters, case updates, funder updates, etc.
• Identify client stories that are relevant to PPSL's communications strategies on cases and key issues; coordinate closely with PPSL's communications team including weekly status meetings
• Draft, build, and circulate surveys for PPSL's client community and review response data, reporting to the PPSL team as needed
• Support tracking and analysis of advocacy data and goals

Manage PPSL's data

• Run tailored reports in Salesforce and other platforms
• Work with PPSL's litigation and communications teams to anticipate information for data reporting
• Identify opportunities to communicate PPSL's impact through intake qualitative or quantitative data (impact graphics, trend reports)

Other duties as assigned

Requirements and Qualifications:

• High School degree required; Associate or Bachelor's degree preferred
• Experience in legal support, policy, advocacy, data management, administrative, and/or client facing roles
• Proficient in Microsoft Office with strong grasp of Microsoft Excel.
• Highly organized and responsive
• Willingness to learn and develop skills that will enhance contributions to the team, including new technologies. Experience with Salesforce and/or CRMs preferred
• Exceptional listening skills and a strong ability to convey complex information orally and in writing
• Committed to and passionate about the PPSL's mission and working with underserved and marginalized communities
• Enjoy working on multiple different projects and perform well under deadlines

Hybrid role, flexible weekly travel to Boston

Excellent benefits: Generous vacation policy, paid parental leave, 80/20 split on health care costs, 5% match on 401k, $200/month remote work stipend