United States of America: Operations Officer
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 19 Sep 2013
Operations Officer SoughtAsylum Access, a US-based international refugee rights organization, is seeking an experienced nonprofit administrator as Operations Officer.
This position is based at our San Francisco Bay Area office in Oakland, California, and works closely with our global team across four continents.
The Operations Officer will oversee Asylum Access’s human resources and risk management initiatives, manage our Volunteer Legal Advocates program, and provide office management administrative support to our global headquarters.
Working at Asylum Access headquarters, the Operations Officer will learn firsthand about the challenges and opportunities in running a global human rights organization. The Operations Officer will be a key player in our efforts to turn human rights from paper promises into daily reality for some of the world’s most vulnerable people: 16 million refugees.
Position DescriptionThe Operations Officer is an ideal opportunity for a mid-level candidate looking to build skills and experience in NGO management and operations. Candidates with project or office management experience, strong research skills, a track record of creative and effective problem-solving, and impeccable attention to detail are encouraged to apply. Our ideal candidate also will have excellent judgment, some international experience, strong interpersonal and written communication skills, and a willingness to tackle a wide range of tasks at varying levels of complexity.
The Operations Officer will collaborate with the Strategy and Operations Manager in refining critical human resources and risk management initiatives for all four of our offices. This includes managing our international Volunteer Legal Advocate (VLA) program: a volunteer workforce of more than 50 that staff our three overseas offices with professionals from around the world.
It also includes staff recruitment and coordination globally; processing of new hires and interns in our Oakland office; and maintenance, updating, and creation of appropriate HR policies for a growing international organization. Beyond HR, it also includes maintenance of insurance policies and oversight of additional risk management initiatives as they arise.
The Operations Officer will also provide the Oakland office with critical administrative support. This will include contact and office management, answering phones, and scheduling for Asylum Access’s leadership team.
Key Responsibilities
1. Global Human Resources and Risk Management: The Operations Officer will recruit and coordinate the hire of interns, fellows, and staff at the Oakland office. This includes paperwork collection and the coordination of appropriate trainings. The Operations Officer will also collect and file critical Human Resources paperwork with incredible attention to detail. Finally, the Operations Officer will research and propose improvements to human resources and risk management policies and performance management practices that reflect the complex dynamics of an international organization.
Volunteer Legal Advocate Program Oversight: The Operations Officer will oversee the VLA program with an eye to both the big picture and attention to important details. The Operations Officer will manage the recruitment, interviewing, and hiring of VLAs, and ensure each has a positive learning experience with Asylum Access. The Operations Officer will also liaise with oversees offices staff and the leadership team at Asylum Access Headquarters to understand critical staffing needs, and collaborate with the Strategy and Operations Manager to measure the success of the program. Finally, the Operations Officer will file important VLA paperwork and develop relationships with universities to increase the number of VLA fellowships.
Office Management: Provide Oakland office with critical administrative support including basic office management (order supplies, file paperwork, answer phone), the scheduling of the leadership team’s travel and meetings, the coordination of the annual Holiday Mailout, and the management of relationships with our telephone and Internet provider, sub-tenants, and external technology support provider.
Preferred Qualifications• Project management experience• Basic familiarity with human resource systems• Experience recruiting and managing staff and volunteers, ideally in an international setting• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written• Experience managing a wide range of professional relationships• Strong research skills• Strong judgment and ability to make recommendations or take decisions on operational issues• Familiarity with Salesforce (preferred) or other contact management systems• Highly organized, able to multi-task and attentive to detail• Experience working or volunteering in Africa, Asia and Latin America• High degree of professionalism• Passion for human rights • Preference for Spanish proficiency
The successful applicant will be asked to show proof that he or she can legally work in the US.
Hours of WorkThis position is a full-time (40 hours/week) position. With the right candidate, Asylum Access is also willing to consider a 3/4-time arrangement.
CompensationThe salary range for this position is $32,000 - $40,000. This position includes a modest monthly wellness incentive.
How to apply:
On or before September 19, 2013, please send a cover letter, résumé, concise writing sample and three references to Strategy and Operations Manager, Diana Essex at diana.essex@asylumaccess.org with the subject line “Operations Application”. Please describe your qualifications for the position and specify your earliest available start date. Applicants will be considered on a roll-in basis until position is filled. No calls, please.
