Abolitionist Law Center & Straight Ahead Operations Director

Summary: Abolitionist Law Center (ALC) and its 501(c)(4) Straight Ahead (SAO) are seeking a detail-oriented, passionate, and experienced Operations Director to run the operations, finance functions, and administration of our organization.

Location: Hybrid Philadelphia, PA

About the organization:

The Abolitionist Law Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, movement law firm and community organizing project inspired by the struggle of political and politicized prisoners, that focuses on the human rights of people who are impacted by various forms of state violence. Straight Ahead is our 501(c)(4) legislative and electoral arm. SA lobbies for abolition-centered legislation and injects decarceral narratives and policies into the political and electoral arenas.

We are led by people who’ve been directly impacted by the criminal punishment system and other forms of state violence, including currently and formerly incarcerated people and their loved ones.

ALC and SA wield class action and impact litigation on behalf of people whose human rights have been violated by jails, prisons, policing, and other carceral institutions. We engage in grassroots advocacy, base building, electoral advocacy, research and public education, pressure campaigns, media outreach, and other strategic communications, and we challenge U.S.-based corporate and governmental entities that perpetrate and support carceral violence and wars abroad.

We use these tools in coalition with an extended movement ecosystem to build power; dismantle the racist, classist mass incarceration system; redistribute resources from carceral institutions to people they harm; and protect the human rights and wellbeing of people who encounter state violence including policing, the courts, jails and prisons, and other forms of U.S.-sponsored detention and supervision domestically and overseas.

About the position: ALC’s Operations Director oversees all operations, finance, and administrative functions of both organizations including general operations, HR, budget and expense management, and staff supervision. The Operations Director is a member of ALC’s Senior Leadership Team and will act as a key strategic partner with the Executive Director and Legal Director. This position supervises the Administrative Manager. As we move into the 2026 midterm election season, this position will play a key role in running successful programming on our 501(c)(4).

Job responsibilities:

Oversee all operations and administrative activities of ALC/SAO:

Manage contracts and vendors;
Oversee management of both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia offices, including negotiation of real estate leases;
Oversee management of digital infrastructure, including coordinating directly with platform vendors for IT support and setting up accounts on platforms for staff;
With Executive Director oversee and ensure organizational 501(c)(3)  and 501(c)(4) compliance;
Manage all aspects of administration of ALC and SAO’s fiscally sponsored projects;
Manage ALC/SAO state-level fundraising registrations and other fundraising compliance measures;
Prepare and file all required lobbying and campaign finance reports and other electoral and lobbying-related compliance materials.
Lead Finance functions:

Oversee day-to-day financial operations, including accounts payable and receivable, reporting to bookkeeper, running payroll, and benefits administration;
Work with the ED to build and manage ALC and SAO’s budgets;
Present financial statements with analysis and recommendations to ED and Board;
Oversee cash flow and advise on if/when transactions between operating and reserve accounts should occur;
Prepare monthly payroll allocations and cost share reports;
Oversee financial, project/program, and grants accounting;
Oversee annual audits and tax filings;
Support organizations’ fundraising by providing financial content including budget and other financial documents and narratives, financial projections, tracked grant spending, etc. as needed for fundraising efforts including grant applications and reports;
Collaborate with the Development Director to assess and maximize projected and actual income from individuals and grant making institutions;
Supervise the receipt, recording, depositing, and conveying to Development of income received by check via surface mail;
Collaborate with Development to reconcile all grant and donation income on a monthly basis.
Lead all HR functions:

Assist hiring managers in hiring processes, including writing job descriptions for new positions;
Onboard new staff and offboard exiting staff;
Work with managers on performance evaluation of staff they supervise;
Develop and maintain policies that promote equitable and sustainable workplace environment;
Evaluate and oversee decisions on staff compensation, benefits, and professional development;
In partnership with the ED develop and implement strategies to strengthen organizational culture and drive initiatives that enhance staff experience, belonging, and equity.
Lead Operations Department:

Manage the Administrative Manager and consultants, providing guidance, support, and accountability in implementing plans;
Ensure strong collaboration and coordination with other teams and staff as needed; hold the team accountable to other teams that are depending on them;
Serve on the Senior Leadership Team, give input on strategic decisions, and build trust, cohesion, and alignment between operations staff/team and the organization’s mission and overall direction;
Drive annual planning and goal setting for the operations team, in alignment with organizational strategy and direction.

Experience and qualifications:

5-7 years of operations experience at a nonprofit organization which has both a 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4);
1-2 years of supervision experience;
Experience at an organization which offers direct services like legal or healthcare services;
Experience working with formerly incarcerated folks;
Extensive finance and compliance experience including at organizations with registered lobbyists and which do electoral work;
Experience with budget tracking in Sheets or Excel;
Experience with an expense tracking system;
Experience with a grant tracking system and experience at an organization with many different funding sources (including grants, major and grassroots donors, and/or fees for service).

Skills and abilities:

Equity and inclusion commitment and skills: Motivated by ALC/SAO’s mission and racial and economic justice. Ability to connect with our staff, partners, and community members across lines of difference, and be relentlessly positive in order to provide them with the support they need. Centers those most impacted by these issues; actively works to maximize equity in decisions, policies, and processes.
People centered culture builder: Demonstrated track record of developing and implementing people centered systems and practices at the organizational level. Deep experience in at least one or more of the following functional areas: equity, inclusion, and belonging; organizational risk management; organizational change management; organizational and individual performance management; recruiting and hiring; training and coaching.
Operations & systems expertise: Demonstrated track record of designing, implementing, and maintaining strong team or organization-wide systems to maximize efficiency, transparency, equity, and usability. Experience with budget and expense management. General understanding of nonprofit compliance regulations, with an interest in gaining experience in this area.
Effective people & project management: Practices equitable, sustainable, and results driven management. Coordinates and collaborates effectively across a complex and multifaceted state organization. Ability to lead a team in developing goals and plans, adhering to deadlines, and prioritizing tasks.
Highly organized, detail-oriented problem-solver: Manages a high volume of work with efficiency. Holds the big picture while managing the details; juggles competing priorities and makes smart judgements on where to invest resources. Strong discernment to identify practical solutions to complex problems and challenges.

Salary and benefits:

Salary: $90,000 base salary; room for negotiation depending on experience

Benefits:

100% employer paid medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance for employee and dependents
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
280 hours of paid time off per year
4 months of paid parental leave
11 paid federal holidays
Monthly wellness stipend
Supervision stipend for formerly incarcerated persons with ongoing parole/probation fees

The work schedule can at times be greater than 40 hours per week and includes evening and weekend meetings and events, as necessary. It is not a strictly 9am-5pm position.

Abolitionist Law Center is an Equal Opportunity employer. We believe that a diverse staff which is representative of our clients and membership base is essential to fulfilling our mission. Employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual abilities, qualifications, and the needs of the organization, and without regard to race (including hairstyle/texture), color, national origin, age, religion, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, language fluency except as required by job responsibilities, Native American or First Nations tribal membership status, or marital status. Former incarcerated folks and folks who have been directly impacted by the criminal punishment system are highly encouraged to apply.