Deputy Director of Operations
Apply NowCompany: New Mexico Immigrant Law Center
Location: Albuquerque, NM 87121
Description:
About NMILC
NMILC's mission is to advance equity and justice by empowering low-income immigrant communities through collaborative legal services, advocacy, and education. Each year we provide direct legal representation and assistance with immigration-related matters to thousands of immigrants and advocate for laws and policies that respect the rights of immigrants. Our model focuses on establishing relationships with local, state, and national organizations, and governmental institutions to expand access to legal services to historically marginalized immigrant communities.
Due to the political landscape and attacks on immigrant rights in recent years, we are experiencing heightened visibility and substantial growth, having doubled the size of our staff, budget, and number of funders in the last five years. We are now over 50 employees strong and have an annual budget of over $5 million.
Position Summary
The Deputy Director of Operations serves as a critical strategic and operational leader, working in close partnership with the Executive Director and the Deputy Director of Programs, People, and Advocacy to ensure excellence across NMILC's internal operations. This role provides oversight and leadership for the organization's core operational functions, including contract compliance and administration, finance, development, communications, HR, IT, and facilities management. The Deputy Director of Operations is responsible for building and maintaining systems that ensure financial health, compliance, and sustainable growth, with particular responsibility for overseeing the administration of NMILC's complex portfolio of federal and state government contracts, as well as our other sources of funding.
Key Responsibilities:
Operational Leadership and Oversight
Provide high-level oversight of daily operations and administrative functions to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment with organizational priorities.
Design, implement, and maintain systems for tracking program deliverables while conducting continual strategic assessment of all costs associated with the contracts universe, contract milestones, and compliance requirements.
Provide direct supervision and support to internal operations teams, including HR, Operations, Finance, Development, Communications, Grants, IT, Quality Assurance, and Facilities, ensuring strategic integration and coordination across functions.
Monitor and continuously improve internal workflows, ensuring operational policies and procedures are clear, up-to-date, and consistently applied.
Lead organizational risk management efforts, proactively identifying and addressing operational, financial, compliance, and reputational risks.
Contract, Compliance, and Risk Management
Lead the oversight and management of all contract administration; and compliance for NMILC's portfolio of federal and state government grants.
Ensure accurate and timely reporting to funders and government agencies.
Provide oversight and guidance to program staff in monitoring contract performance, ensuring deliverables are met, and proactively preparing for audits and site visits.
Maintain current knowledge of regulatory and contractual requirements, providing leadership in risk management and compliance strategies.
Financial Stewardship and Oversight
In collaboration with the Finance Director, CPA contractor, and the Executive Director provide oversight of budget development, financial planning, and fiscal monitoring processes, including narrative and data justifications
Regularly monitor spending and financial performance to ensure compliance with contract requirements and alignment with organizational goals.
Contribute to financial risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
Support updating and development of fiscal policy and protocol drafting and implementation; with the skill and experience background to ensure alignment at the fiscal and operational levels.
Review financial reports for the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and funders, to ensure compliance, transparency, and accountability.
Organizational Strategy & Leadership
Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the Executive Director and Deputy Director of Programs, People, and Advocacy, contributing to organization-wide strategy and decision-making.
Support the Board of Directors and its committees with timely, data-informed operational updates.
Qualifications:
10+ years in operations leadership, preferably in government, legal services, or human services sectors.
Proven experience managing complex government contracts (federal and state).
Strong familiarity with accounting principles.
Demonstrated ability to lead and supervise cross-functional teams and manage multiple operational areas simultaneously, including strong team and project management skills.
Exceptional organizational and problem-solving abilities.
Commitment to NMILC's mission and values, with a deep understanding of the role operational excellence plays in advancing equity and justice.
Salary and Benefits:
This is a full-time position. The current salary range for this role is: $118,040-$147,550
NMILC offers a phenomenal benefits package, which includes:
Benefits may be subject to change at any time based on changes to the organization's budget.
NMILC also recognizes the value of creating an environment of positive work/life balance, acknowledging that investing in staff's ability to take care of themselves and their families enables them to do their best work. The plan currently includes:
NMILC's mission is to advance equity and justice by empowering low-income immigrant communities through collaborative legal services, advocacy, and education. Each year we provide direct legal representation and assistance with immigration-related matters to thousands of immigrants and advocate for laws and policies that respect the rights of immigrants. Our model focuses on establishing relationships with local, state, and national organizations, and governmental institutions to expand access to legal services to historically marginalized immigrant communities.
Due to the political landscape and attacks on immigrant rights in recent years, we are experiencing heightened visibility and substantial growth, having doubled the size of our staff, budget, and number of funders in the last five years. We are now over 50 employees strong and have an annual budget of over $5 million.
Position Summary
The Deputy Director of Operations serves as a critical strategic and operational leader, working in close partnership with the Executive Director and the Deputy Director of Programs, People, and Advocacy to ensure excellence across NMILC's internal operations. This role provides oversight and leadership for the organization's core operational functions, including contract compliance and administration, finance, development, communications, HR, IT, and facilities management. The Deputy Director of Operations is responsible for building and maintaining systems that ensure financial health, compliance, and sustainable growth, with particular responsibility for overseeing the administration of NMILC's complex portfolio of federal and state government contracts, as well as our other sources of funding.
Key Responsibilities:
Operational Leadership and Oversight
Provide high-level oversight of daily operations and administrative functions to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment with organizational priorities.
Design, implement, and maintain systems for tracking program deliverables while conducting continual strategic assessment of all costs associated with the contracts universe, contract milestones, and compliance requirements.
Provide direct supervision and support to internal operations teams, including HR, Operations, Finance, Development, Communications, Grants, IT, Quality Assurance, and Facilities, ensuring strategic integration and coordination across functions.
Monitor and continuously improve internal workflows, ensuring operational policies and procedures are clear, up-to-date, and consistently applied.
Lead organizational risk management efforts, proactively identifying and addressing operational, financial, compliance, and reputational risks.
Contract, Compliance, and Risk Management
Lead the oversight and management of all contract administration; and compliance for NMILC's portfolio of federal and state government grants.
Ensure accurate and timely reporting to funders and government agencies.
Provide oversight and guidance to program staff in monitoring contract performance, ensuring deliverables are met, and proactively preparing for audits and site visits.
Maintain current knowledge of regulatory and contractual requirements, providing leadership in risk management and compliance strategies.
Financial Stewardship and Oversight
In collaboration with the Finance Director, CPA contractor, and the Executive Director provide oversight of budget development, financial planning, and fiscal monitoring processes, including narrative and data justifications
Regularly monitor spending and financial performance to ensure compliance with contract requirements and alignment with organizational goals.
Contribute to financial risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
Support updating and development of fiscal policy and protocol drafting and implementation; with the skill and experience background to ensure alignment at the fiscal and operational levels.
Review financial reports for the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and funders, to ensure compliance, transparency, and accountability.
Organizational Strategy & Leadership
Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the Executive Director and Deputy Director of Programs, People, and Advocacy, contributing to organization-wide strategy and decision-making.
Support the Board of Directors and its committees with timely, data-informed operational updates.
Qualifications:
10+ years in operations leadership, preferably in government, legal services, or human services sectors.
Proven experience managing complex government contracts (federal and state).
Strong familiarity with accounting principles.
Demonstrated ability to lead and supervise cross-functional teams and manage multiple operational areas simultaneously, including strong team and project management skills.
Exceptional organizational and problem-solving abilities.
Commitment to NMILC's mission and values, with a deep understanding of the role operational excellence plays in advancing equity and justice.
Salary and Benefits:
This is a full-time position. The current salary range for this role is: $118,040-$147,550
NMILC offers a phenomenal benefits package, which includes:
- 100% of Individual Employee Health Premium paid by NMILC for the Base Plan and 50% for dependents. Buy-up Plan also available.
- Access to a 401K plan and discretionary employer match up to 10% of base salary (determined each fiscal year based on funding projections);
- Optional Flexible Spending Account for pre-tax funds for medical and/or dependent care cost.
Benefits may be subject to change at any time based on changes to the organization's budget.
NMILC also recognizes the value of creating an environment of positive work/life balance, acknowledging that investing in staff's ability to take care of themselves and their families enables them to do their best work. The plan currently includes:
- Flexible work schedule and hybrid remote work options.
- 15 paid vacation days (3 weeks) annually.
- 1 earned sick leave hour for every 30 hours worked.
- Company-paid federal holidays in addition to 2 weeks of winter break, 1 week for spring break, and 1 week for summer break, and other days as established in coordination with the local public-school schedule.