Come Work With Us—as Our Operations Manager!

Reporting to the managing director, the operations manager will provide administrative and project support to members of the senior management team at the Lawfare Institute. The operations manager will support Lawfare’s operations; organize and coordinate executive outreach and internal/external relations efforts; and oversee special projects.

The operations manager must be a flexible self-starter who enjoys working in a small, mission-driven organization with a friendly, newsroom-like culture. The ideal individual will have a proven ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of situations; possess superior administrative, organizational, and written and verbal communication skills; and handle confidential matters with discretion. The operations manager must be comfortable tackling and prioritizing diverse assignments, working independently and in groups, and managing projects from conception to completion.

Duties/Responsibilities: 

Administration and Operations (70%)

• Provide high-level administrative support and assistance, including correspondence and scheduling, to the editor in chief, executive editor, managing director, research director,  and/or other assigned leadership staff.
• Perform clerical and administrative tasks including managing Lawfare’s mailbox and drafting correspondence, memos, invoices, reports, and other documents for senior staff.
• Schedule and attend meetings on behalf of executives, take notes and record minutes.
• In consultation with the managing director, maintain weekly agendas for the senior editors’ meeting and the senior management meeting.
• Receive incoming communication on behalf of senior staff, review contents, determine importance, and summarize and/or distribute contents to appropriate staff.
• Manage vendors and subscription services.
• Manage Lawfare’s records, including accounting, bookkeeping, and other records.
• Maintain filing systems, including Google Drive and Egnyte.
• Arrange employee travel and accommodations and process reimbursements as needed.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Human Resource Coordination (15%)

• Manage hiring and onboarding processes for employees, contractors, and other personnel.
• Serve as a resource regarding Lawfare’s policies, processes, and people.
• Maintain personnel records.
• Manage employee benefits programs.
• With direction from the senior management team member, draft, initiate, and maintain contracts.
• Support the managing director, including by tracking tax and benefit information, drafting policies, and monitoring deadlines.

Fundraising Support (15%)

• Draft and distribute acknowledgment letters and tax receipts as requested.
• Maintain donor/prospect lists.
• Support the managing director with donor/prospect development, including identifying opportunities, conducting research, preparing background materials, monitoring deadlines, and tracking action items.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to track and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to manage up and down to multiple stakeholders.
• Extensive knowledge of office administration and recordkeeping systems.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace with the ability to learn new or updated software.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma required; Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field preferred.
• Two to three years of related experience preferred.
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations or on issues related to national security, law, journalism, or media is a plus.

Location Requirements:

• This position is based in the Washington, D.C. area with some in-office work required.
  

The salary for this position will range from $50-70k annually, commensurate with experience. Benefits include health and dental care (with premiums fully paid by Lawfare), flexible hours, and 401(k) with Lawfare matching contribution.

Lawfare is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

HOW TO APPLY:

Submit an email to applications@lawfaremedia.org with the subject line <OPERATIONS MANAGER: your name>. Please attach a single document with (1) a cover letter of no more than two pages; (2) a resume showing the experience and education requested above; and (3) 2-4 references with their contact information. Please refrain from including any additional materials. Applications are due April 11, 2025.