Position Overview

Abolitionist Law Center and its (c)(4) Straight Ahead are seeking a detail-oriented, passionate, and experienced Operations Director to run the operations, finance functions, and administration of our org from our Philadelphia office.

Position Summary

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).

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

Location: Philadelphia, PA / Hybrid

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.

Application Instructions

Please submit a resume and cover letter using the form on this page. Please keep your cover letter to one page and answer the following questions:

1. How has your experience, both professional and lived, prepared you to work at an organization taking on something as powerful and harmful as the criminal punishment and mass incarceration system? Why is doing so important to you?
2. What role do you see yourself playing in fighting for justice in this particular political moment?
3. ALC and SAO are led by our Executive Director who was directly impacted by mass incarceration. Do you have experience being part of an organization led by a formerly incarcerated person or person directly affected by mass incarceration, or experience working directly with formerly incarcerated people?

Please note that Abolitionist Law Center has a zero tolerance policy for usage of generative chatbot AI tools to write cover letters. Letters will be run through multiple AI detectors and any applicant found to have used a generative chatbot AI tool to write their cover letter will automatically be disqualified with no rejection notice. If you require accommodations for this application, please email alina.sa.consulting@gmail.com

Equal Opportunity Employer

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. Formerly incarcerated folks and folks who have been directly impacted by the criminal punishment system are highly encouraged to apply.

Court watch interns will get direct experience seeing how county courts operate and handle criminal and civil cases at multiple levels, be instrumental in spotting inequities and other weak spots in the system, and work with our team to strategize about how to research, advocate, and expose systemic injustice.

Learn more at alccourtwatch.org/get-involved/

ALC accepts applications from October 1st thru January 31st for our summer legal internship positions.

The 10-week summer internship program is for law students interested in abolition and movement lawyering, who successfully complete their first year of law school and want to work with us in defending the human rights of incarcerated people and their communities in Pennsylvania.

Our casework includes solitary confinement litigation, direct representation of those seeking medical transfer under the state “compassionate release” law, post-conviction criminal representation, prison conditions litigation, and class action litigation against Philadelphia and Allegheny County Jails over their treatment of the incarcerated population.

ALC is accepting three Philadelphia-based interns who will be asked to work in ALC’s Philadelphia office at least two days a week, and up to two interns in Pittsburgh, where a preference will be given for in person interns but remote interns will be considered. Please indicate your location preference in your cover letter.

Statistics show that people from structurally marginalized communities are less likely to apply if they feel they do not meet 100% of the requirements. If you have a strong feeling in your gut about this position, no matter who you are, we strongly encourage your application.

Apply: Applications should be sent in a single email with one PDF attachment including all materials (listed below) with the subject line “Legal Internship Application” to Rupalee Rashatwar, Staff Attorney, at rupalee@alcenter.org.

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• Cover Letter: No more than two pages double-spaced. Include name and contact information; current law school or legal education; whether you are interested in a Philadelphia-based position or a remote position; your interest in prison abolition; why you want to work with the Abolitionist Law Center; and what experiences, skills, or attributes of yours make you suitable to work with ALC.
• Resume: No longer than one page in length to reflect most recent work history. Previous internships and volunteer and organizing experience may also be included.
• Professional References: Please provide three professional references. These can be prior employers, volunteer coordinators, or other people with whom you have worked. These should be from people who can attest to your ability to handle challenging intellectual work, learn new material, work well in a collaborative setting, and communicate effectively.
• Legal Writing Sample: no longer than five single-spaced pages or 10 double-spaced. This can be an excerpt from a longer writing.

Decisions: Decisions will be made on a rolling basis.

Funding: There is no guaranteed funding available from ALC for these positions; students will be required to finance their internship via grants or fellowships.