Operations Associate

About the role

The Operations Associate serves as a key project management and operational support partner for Acton’s Rome team. This role helps ensure that major international initiatives, especially Acton's annual gatherings of bishops and Church leaders, are executed with excellence.

Responsibilities

• Keep projects on track by capturing deliverables, deadlines, and ownership across initiatives
• Take clear, structured notes in meetings and translate them into actionable next steps
• Proactively identify and resolve ambiguity around responsibilities and timelines
• Provide concise, regular status updates to ensure team alignment
• Support the planning and execution of Acton’s international educational events for bishops and Church leaders
• Carefully coordinate logistics including travel, schedules, materials, and on-site execution
• Help ensure a high-quality, hospitable experience for participants
• Travel internationally (including Europe) up to ~3 weeks annually to support events
• Maintain and organize key relationship and event data in systems such as Salesforce, Swoogo, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office
• Support internal coordination between the Rome team and U.S.-based colleagues
• Help prepare materials, reports, and internal documents to support team initiatives

Requirements

• The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
• Strong alignment with Acton’s mission and enthusiasm for its global impact
• A genuine desire to help others succeed and contribute to a team
• A positive, service-oriented and flexible attitude
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Natural ability to manage multiple tasks and follow through to completion
• Strong notetaking and information synthesis skills
• Natural ability to create clarity and structure in complex or fast-moving situations
• Clear, concise communication—especially in summarizing discussions and next steps
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to follow up effectively and respectfully
• Sound judgment when navigating obstacles or competing priorities
• A high level of personal productivity and ownership
• A proactive mindset—identifying what needs to be done and doing it
• Comfort working both independently and collaboratively

Qualifications

• Strong proficiency (or ability to quickly learn): Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive), Microsoft Office Suite, CRM and event platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Swoogo), Artificial Intelligence tools
• Experience & Education: Bachelor’s degree required, 0–2 years of professional or relevant experience preferred

Additional Details

• Location: Grand Rapids, MI (Acton Headquarters)
• Schedule: Morning availability is important due to daily collaboration with the Rome team (6-hour time difference)
• Travel: Up to ~3 weeks of international travel annually (to Italy, Portugal and other locations)
• Start Date: Targeting May 2026