Director of Operations

Public Law Center • Santa Ana, CA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Operations is a senior leadership position responsible for the effective, efficient, and equitable operation of Public Law Center (PLC). Reporting to the CEO/Executive Director, the Director oversees core administrative systems, risk management including liability insurance, facilities, technology, vendor relationships, and organizational processes, and collaborates across departments to support PLC’s legal services and mission. Specific direct reports will be determined based on organizational structure.

The position is based at PLC’s offices in Santa Ana, California, with work travel to sites throughout Orange County. The Director must work from the office four to five days a week; some hybrid work is permitted if the employee can work from home in a distraction-free and confidential environment. A flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends, is required.

Compensation is dependent on experience, with a salary range of $115,000 to $150,000. PLC provides competitive benefits and is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building a diverse team and fostering a fair and welcoming work environment.

Requirements

• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in operations, administration, or organizational management, including supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, vendors, contracts, projects, and competing organizational priorities.
• Experience improving processes and implementing operational systems across teams.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and exercise sound judgment.
• Must be able to work from the office four to five days a week; some hybrid work is permitted if able to work from home in a distraction-free and confidential environment.
• Ability to work at the organization’s offices in Santa Ana, California, and travel to work sites throughout Orange County, California.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a nonprofit, legal services, or mission-driven organization.
• Familiarity with HR administration, facilities, IT coordination, compliance, and organizational risk management.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish or English/Vietnamese preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day organizational operations and develop systems, policies, and procedures that support effective service delivery and organizational growth.
• Oversee office administration, reception, facilities, equipment, space planning, workplace safety, and business continuity planning.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, purchasing, and procurement processes, with attention to cost effectiveness and accountability.
• Partner with finance leadership on annual budgeting, expense monitoring, operational forecasts, internal controls, and financial reporting processes.
• Oversee organizational technology operations in coordination with internal staff and external IT providers, including cybersecurity practices, access management, and technology planning.
• Collaborate with leadership on human resources operations, including onboarding and offboarding processes, employee policies, benefits administration coordination, and staff support.
• Supervise and develop assigned operations and administrative personnel, including setting priorities, providing coaching, and conducting performance management.
• Improve cross-departmental workflows, records management, document retention, data practices, and administrative tools to strengthen consistency and service quality.
• Support compliance and risk management related to applicable employment, workplace, contractual, insurance, and grant-related operational requirements, in coordination with appropriate internal and external experts.
• Coordinate operational planning for organizational events, meetings, audits, and strategic initiatives.
• Identify operational risks, develop practical solutions, and provide regular updates and recommendations to the CEO/Executive Director.
• Support development and implementation of the strategic plan.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; PLC pays 100% of employee premium costs for most plans and 50% of dependent health insurance premium costs.
• Flexible Spending Account Program to help pay for medical expenses and childcare costs.
• 18–20 paid holidays, including the office shutdown between December 24 and early January.
• 21 paid sick/wellness days per year.
• 15 paid vacation days per year, with additional days added for each year at PLC.
• Birthday paid time off: two hours during the employee’s birthday month.
• 403(b) retirement plan; after six months, PLC provides a matching contribution equal to 100% of salary deferral up to a maximum of 3–4%, depending on length of employment.
• Monthly stipend to offset Wi-Fi and cell phone costs.
• Monthly bilingual pay premium after achieving a sufficiently high score on an oral and/or written test: $50 for the oral premium and $50 for the written premium.
• Opportunities for growth and advancement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director