The Free Software Foundation (FSF), a Massachusetts 501(c)3 charity with a worldwide mission to protect and promote computer-user freedom, seeks a motivated and organized Boston-based individual to be our full-time operations assistant.

Reporting to the executive director, this position works on he operations team to ensure all administrative, office, and retail functions of the FSF run smoothly and efficiently, preserving our 4-star Charity Navigator rating and boosting all areas of our work.

The operations assistant is responsible for handling phone calls, managing office operations, leading the GNU Press shop, and being a friendly face for visitors to our office at the center of Boston’s Downtown Crossing. Examples of job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• fulfilling orders for FSF merchandise and related bookkeeping,
• blogging about merchandise-related news,
• processing incoming donations,
• coordinating volunteers,
• updating our contact database,
• organizing fundraising mailings, membership mailings, and similar communications,
• assisting with local and special events, including our annual LibrePlanet conference,
• assisting with Web site maintenance, and
• looking after the office space.

This is a great opportunity for a team-oriented self-starter who thrives on multitasking, is calm under pressure, has an eye for detail, and wants to make a difference. The position must be worked from the Boston office, and the position must be able to lift small to medium-size packages (up to 50 pounds) on a regular basis. With our small staff of fourteen, each person makes a clear contribution. We work hard, but offer a humane and fun work environment.

Because our mission is worldwide, language skills and a demonstrated ability to interact with people across cultures and age groups will be highly valued. While the position does not require advanced computer skills, a willingness to learn and work with new software is a must. We use free software like CiviCRM, Plone, Emacs, and LibreOffice, all running on GNU/Linux.

The FSF is a growing organization and provides great potential for advancement; existing staff get the first chance at any new job openings. Previous operations assistants have often gone on to hold other positions within the organization.

Benefits and salary

This job is a union position. The salary is fixed at $56,200/year and is non-negotiable. Other benefits include the following:

• full individual or family health coverage through Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s HMO Blue program,
• subsidized dental plan,
• four weeks of paid vacation annually,
• seventeen paid holidays annually,
• public transit commuting cost reimbursement,
• 403(b) program through TIAA with employer match,
• yearly cost-of-living pay increases (based on government guidelines),
• healthcare expense reimbursement budget,
• ergonomic budget,
• relocation (to Boston area) expense reimbursement,
• conference travel and professional development opportunities, and
• potential for an annual performance bonus.

Application instructions

Applications must be submitted via email to . The email must contain the subject line “Operations assistant.” A complete application should include:

• cover letter,
• resume, and
• three professional references.

All materials must be in a free format (such as plain text, PDF, or OpenDocument). Email submissions that do not follow these instructions will probably be overlooked. No phone calls, please.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. To guarantee consideration, submit your application by Wednesday, August 18, 2021.

The FSF is an equal-opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or application for employment on the basis of race, color, marital status, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap, or any other legally protected status recognized by federal, state or local law. We value diversity in our workplace.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users’ right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software — particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants — and free documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites, located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF’s work can be made at fsf.org. Its headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA.