Operations Director

Reports to: Executive Director

Classification: Full-Time, Senior Staff, At-Will

Location: Columbia, SC

About the Organization

At the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina (ACLU-SC), we envision a just South Carolina where We the People means all of us. To bring this vision to life, we advocate, litigate, educate, and mobilize to defend and advance the civil rights and civil liberties of all South Carolinians. Whether we’re defending free speech, enhancing voting rights, reforming the criminal legal system, advocating for immigrant rights, or protecting transgender kids—our employees engage in meaningful work.

The ACLU-SC is an affiliate of the ACLU, a federated organization. When people refer to the ACLU, that generally includes the national office as well as a nationwide network of autonomous and independent ACLU Affiliates, of which the ACLU of South Carolina is one.

The ACLU-SC is a highly rewarding place to work for those interested in protecting our fundamental civil rights and civil liberties. To learn more about the work of the ACLU-SC and the ACLU, please visit www.aclusc.org and www.aclu.org. 

Location and Travel Requirements 

The ACLU-SC is headquartered in Columbia and has a distributed team with staff working in communities across South Carolina. This position is based in Columbia with a hybrid schedule that allows for some remote work.

About the Position

The Operations Director reports to the Executive Director and is a member of the senior staff. The position is responsible for maintaining the overall and day-to-day operations of the organization. The Operations Director provides hands-on oversight of human resources, risk management and compliance, and information technology functions. This role also supervises the Operations Coordinator and contract partners, including accountants and auditors. The Operations Director is a partner of, and adviser to, the Executive Director, and will help provide support for the Board of Directors.

Responsibilities

Human Resources

• Develop and manage the implementation of human resources policies and procedures.

• Oversee the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of new employees, in partnership with the Operations Coordinator and hiring managers.

• Supervise payroll processing, timekeeping, and benefits administration.

• Lead annual goal setting and performance evaluation processes.

• Ensure the effective maintenance of personnel files.

• Advise the organization on employee relations matters, including complaints, allegations, performance issues, and disciplinary actions, in partnership with outside counsel.

• Maintain current knowledge of employee and labor relations trends, legal decisions, and statutory changes, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws.

• Oversee strategies to reduce turnover, improve onboarding, provide training and development, and promote internal advancement.

• Develop and implement strategies for succession planning and offboarding.

• Partner with the Executive Director to execute initiatives that advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

• Stay abreast of research and best practices in equity and inclusion and adapt them to the ACLU-SC culture.

• Plan and manage internal team gatherings (team building workshops, professional development opportunities, staff retreats, etc.).

Operations & IT

• Facilitate smooth functioning of the office and organization in partnership with the Operations Coordinator.

• Serve as point person for vendor contracts, ensuring proper vendor governance.

• Supervise IT consultants and service contracts, ensuring that IT infrastructure is aligned with organizational and staffing needs.

• Improve knowledge management approaches, establishing and managing storage and archiving procedures and ensuring compliance with records retention and confidentiality guidelines.

• Drive initiatives to improve internal systems, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen cross-functional collaboration.

• Design and implement systems that support sustainable growth and evolving programmatic needs.

Compliance and Risk

• Conduct regular risk assessments to identify and remediate potential threats.

• Develop processes and procedures to minimize risk.

• Establish and ensure the implementation of privacy practices for the organization’s constituents.

• Lead the senior staff through crisis management planning.

• Evaluate current practices and implement changes to support staff safety and well-being in the office and at events.

• Ensure necessary levels of organizational insurance and make recommendations to address risk.

• Ensure organizational compliance with state law and ethics rules regarding political campaign and lobbying activities.

• Provide oversight of any restricted funding and ensure adherence to funding guidelines.

• Ensure compliance with IRS, state of South Carolina, insurance, safety, and other requirements.

Financial Management

• Ensure the organization is operating as a good steward of its financial resources.

• Manage and serve as the primary point of contact for contract accountants.

• Work closely with the Executive Director and contract accountants on annual budget preparation, telling the story of our work in the numbers.

• Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable, ensuring proper internal controls.

• Partner with the Executive Director, contract accountants, and external auditors to conduct the annual audit, ensuring any recommendations are operationalized and adhered to.

• Maintain internal financial control safeguards.

Cultural Responsibility

• Serve as a leader on the team in demonstrating awareness of one’s own cultural identity, views about differences, and the ability to learn and build on varying cultural and community norms.

• Bring a complex understanding of racial justice and the urgency of confronting institutional racism and inequity into our approach to the work.

• Commit to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture.

Qualifications and Skills

The Operations Director must demonstrate the following qualifications and skills:

• A commitment to and enthusiasm for civil rights and civil liberties.

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and to valuing differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance.

• At least seven years of experience at the operational management level, including expertise in human resources, risk management, and compliance.

• Substantial experience in senior-management roles that required significant judgment, emotional intelligence, and management finesse.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, impeccable attention to detail, and a problem-solving mentality.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with colleagues in a positive, team-oriented approach.

The following qualifications and skills are highly sought after:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

• Experience working in a non-profit setting.

• Degrees or certifications in human resources and/or risk management and legal compliance.

• Experience creating effective processes, systems, and structures incorporating equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) frameworks.

Compensation

The ACLU of South Carolina offers a competitive compensation package. Consistent with the ACLU-SC's compensation philosophy, a salary is set for each role. The annual salary for this position is $100,000. In addition to an annual salary, full-time staff receive health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance as well as access to a 401K plan with employer matching. Time off benefits include 22 days of vacation time and 12 days of sick time. 

Application

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Careers@aclusc.org. The resume and cover letter should be in one PDF titled with your name, and the email subject line should read: “Operations Director: Your Name.”  

Resumes or applications sent via other avenues will not be considered. Early applications are strongly encouraged. The position will close on October 30.  

The ACLU of South Carolina is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, disability, and veteran status.