Business Operations Associate (Process Improvement & Automation)

Lever, Inc.; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

CompassX is hiring a Business Operations Associate to bring structure, smart automation, and continuous improvement to internal processes. You will identify manual tasks, document tribal knowledge, and own the CRM to maximize efficiency.

This hands-on role offers high visibility with firm leadership, opportunities to pilot new tools, and a path to ownership from day one, in a growing boutique consulting environment in Southern California.

Qualifications

• 1+ year of experience in operations, process improvement, or a similar hands-on support role.
• Curiosity for how things work and habit of fixing inefficiencies.
• Comfortable using a CRM, spreadsheet tools, and lightweight automation tools.

Responsibilities

• Identify manual, repetitive processes and build automation or systems to fix them.
• Document tribal knowledge and create lightweight automations.
• Own and maintain our CRM to improve team productivity.
• Relieve leaders from recurring busywork by handling scheduling, research prep, and documentation.
• Manage contractor onboarding and offboarding end-to-end.
• Spot opportunities to replace ad-hoc files with templates or shared docs.
• Standardize how we track, tag, and organize information across the team.
• Pilot and roll out AI-assisted or other new tools that improve speed.

Skills

Process improvement

CRM experience

Documentation

Written communication

Organization

Communication

Initiative

Ambiguity tolerance

Tools

Zapier

Make

CRM systems

Spreadsheets

Job description

CompassX is a boutique business and technology consulting firm. We help Fortune 500 and high-growth clients deliver their most strategic initiatives, from enterprise transformations to digital and data-driven projects. With over 15 years of proven results, we’ve expanded across industries including financial services, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, consumer products, and quick service restaurants.

We are honored to be recognized as a three-time winner of Consulting Magazine's Best Boutique Firms to Work For, and previously recognized as a "Best Place to Work" in Southern California and one of INC.'s 5000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.

We're hiring a motivated Business Operations Associate (Process Improvement & Automation) to bring structure, smart automation, and continuous improvement to how CompassX runs internally.

You’ll be the person who spots what’s manual, repetitive, or inefficient - and actually fixes it, building the systems and workflows our team runs on. It's a hands-on, high-visibility role with direct exposure to firm leadership and real ownership from day one.

Unfortunately we are unable to provide sponsorship for this role.

What You’ll Do

• Hunt down the manual, repetitive, clunky processes nobody's had time to fix — and build the automation or system that finally kills them. This is the heart of the role.
• Turn tribal knowledge into real documentation and lightweight automations, so good processes don't live in one person's head.
• Own our CRM like it's your product - keep it clean, current, and push it actually to work harder for the team.
• Take the recurring busywork off our leaders' plates - scheduling, research prep, documentation - so they can focus on what only they can do.
• Run point on contractor onboarding and offboarding end-to-end, making sure nothing gets missed.
• Spot where a spreadsheet, template, or shared doc could replace a scramble - and build it before it's needed.
• Partner with the team to standardize how we track, tag, and organize information, so nothing lives only in someone's inbox or memory.
• Pilot new tools (AI-assisted or otherwise) that make the team faster, and roll out the ones that stick.

What You’ll Bring

• 1+ year of experience in operations, process improvement, or a similar hands-on support role - new grads strongly encouraged to apply.
• A genuine curiosity for how things work and a habit of fixing what's inefficient, even if nobody asked.
• Comfortable using (or quickly learning) a CRM, spreadsheet tools, and lightweight automation tools (e.g., Zapier, Make, or similar).
• Excellent written communication - comfortable documenting processes clearly and drafting internal messages.
• Highly organized, reliable, and detail-oriented - you like building systems and keeping them running.
• A confident and diplomatic communicator - you'll be reminding senior leaders to follow through on commitments, tactfully and persistently.
• Takes initiative without being asked, identifies opportunities, and moves work forward independently.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity, shifting priorities, and quickly learning new tools or approaches.

Why CompassX

• A front-row seat to how a consulting firm builds its from the ground up. You'll help shape it, not just execute someone else's playbook.
• Direct, regular access to firm leadership and real ownership over a function they depend on.

$45,000 - $60,000 a year

The posted range reflects the anticipated compensation for this opportunity. Depending on the role, client requirements, and business needs, compensation may be structured as a salaried position with bonus eligibility or as an hourly contract engagement (including 1099 independent contractor arrangements).

Final compensation and engagement type will be determined based on factors including experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, market conditions, and the nature of the role.

Our consultants say CompassX is a place where they can truly find their own path. As part of a smaller firm, they see the impact of their work, have an identity, and know their voice matters. They value the freedom to take the reins of their careers, shape their client work, and maintain a direct line to leadership.

With CompassX’s focus on serving local Southern California clients, consultants not only build lasting relationships but also see the results of their work in the communities where they live.

At CompassX, you won’t just follow a path - you’ll create one.