How to apply for Operations Officer

About Legal Advocates for Safe Science and Technology

Legal Advocates for Safe Science and Technology (LASST) is a nonprofit that uses legal advocacy to ensure advances in science and technology are safe for people and the planet. Unlike traditional law firms, LASST combines legal expertise with a mission-driven approach to influence policy and corporate behavior. Working here means contributing to high-impact legal work that addresses some of the most pressing challenges at the intersection of technology, safety, and social good.

About the role

As the Operations Officer, you will be the backbone of LASST's back office, ensuring that the legal team can focus on advocacy and impact. You will manage financial operations, human resources across multiple states, and nonprofit compliance, while also identifying opportunities to streamline processes as the organization scales. This role is critical for maintaining the efficiency and integrity of a growing nonprofit, directly enabling LASST's mission to advance safe science and technology.

A typical day

A typical day might involve processing invoices and reimbursements, onboarding a new employee in a different state, and preparing documents for an upcoming audit. You'll also spend time reviewing and improving operational processes, coordinating with the legal team to ensure their administrative needs are met, and perhaps researching state registration requirements for a new fundraising campaign.

Who Legal Advocates for Safe Science and Technology is looking for

• Proven experience in nonprofit operations, with a strong understanding of accounts payable, reimbursements, and budget tracking in a remote environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage employee and contractor lifecycles across multiple states, including onboarding, offboarding, and compliance with varying state regulations.
• Familiarity with nonprofit compliance and governance, including audits, Form 990 preparation, state registrations, and board administration.
• A proactive problem-solver who can identify friction points and develop lightweight, scalable processes to support organizational growth.

Tips for this application

• Highlight any experience you have with nonprofit financial operations, especially if you've worked with remote teams and multi-state compliance. Be specific about the tools you've used (e.g., QuickBooks, Bill.com, Gusto).
• Show your understanding of LASST's mission by connecting your operational work to their legal advocacy. For example, mention how efficient back-office processes enable the legal team to focus on impact.
• Provide concrete examples of process improvements you've implemented, especially those that saved time or reduced costs. Quantify results where possible.
• Emphasize your ability to handle sensitive information with discretion, as you'll be dealing with financial and HR data.
• If you have experience with Form 990, audits, or state registrations, make sure to call that out explicitly—it's a key requirement for this role.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your specific experience in nonprofit operations and how it aligns with LASST's needs, including financial management, HR lifecycle, and compliance.", 'Your ability to work independently in a remote setting and manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.', 'A concrete example of a process you improved or a problem you solved that made an organization more efficient.', 'Your motivation for joining a mission-driven organization focused on science and technology safety, and how you see operations supporting that mission.']

Research before applying

• Explore LASST's website to understand their key issue areas and recent legal advocacy efforts. Look for press releases, blog posts, or reports that highlight their work.
• Research common nonprofit compliance requirements, especially for organizations operating in multiple states, to familiarize yourself with the landscape.
• Look up LASST's leadership and board members to understand their backgrounds and priorities. This can give insight into the organization's culture and direction.
• Investigate the tools and software LASST might use for operations (e.g., accounting software, HR platforms) and be prepared to discuss your experience with similar systems.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you handle the financial operations for a remote nonprofit with employees in multiple states? Walk us through your process for accounts payable and reimbursements.
• Describe your experience with nonprofit compliance, including Form 990, audits, and state registrations. What challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?
• Tell us about a time you identified a friction point in an organization's operations and developed a solution. What was the outcome?
• How do you stay organized and ensure accuracy when managing multiple HR and finance tasks simultaneously?
• Why are you interested in working for LASST specifically, and how do you see this role contributing to the organization's mission?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on generic administrative skills without demonstrating specific nonprofit finance or compliance experience.
• Neglecting to show how your work directly supports LASST's mission—this role is not just about keeping things running but enabling impact.
• Using a one-size-fits-all resume that doesn't address the unique combination of finance, HR, and compliance responsibilities in a remote, multi-state context.