POSITION: Director of School Operations
TYPE: School-based
LOCATION: Des Moines, WA
SALARY: $99,291 - $118,662 annualized based on aligned years of experience up to 9 years
STATUS: Full time school year, benefits eligible, exempt, in-person position
START: December 1, 2026
REPORTS TO: CFO/COO or their designee
Core Job FunctionsManagement and Leadership
- Serve as a key member of the school's leadership team working directly with the school principal and assistant principals, driving operational excellence and taking full ownership of achieving ambitious school operations goals and metrics through outcomes-based leadership.
- Lead and manage the school site operations and enrollment team, holding direct responsibility for the team's performance and results. Actively invest in the professional growth and development of direct reports, supporting them towards achieving their individual career goals.
- Embrace and confidently fulfill the role of a visible operational leader within the school building and the wider school community, representing Impact Public Schools effectively. Serve as the "acting principal" when the principal is away.
- Actively participate in essential school duties, including student supervision responsibilities, to ensure a safe, joyful, and smoothly operating learning environment.
School Operations
- Oversee the effective implementation of core school operational practices as they relate to student and staff attendance tracking, supply requests and fulfillment, student enrollment/withdrawals, student meal tracking, student transportation, student health and safety, field trip planning and execution, basic IT & technology troubleshooting, etc.
- Lead the strategy, data tracking and execution of school site enrollment initiatives, including the maintenance of enrollment numbers prior to and during the school year and management of your school's Manager of Outreach and Enrollment to drive toward enrollment goals for the upcoming school year
- Maintain a clean, neat, and highly functional campus by managing custodial personnel and third-party contracts for trash removal, recycling, maintenance, and security, implementing school site testing procedures and complete data analysis as needed.
- Lead facilities update projects to current campus as space usage needs evolve.
- Manage the school's food and transportation services by ensuring delivery of service, coordinating with service providers, verifying and adjusting services as needed to ensure costs are within budget
- Support family and scholar needs related to meals, transportation, attendance, health, and enrollment
- With the support of IPS's Home Office, ensure that the school is adhering to all federal, state, and local compliance requirements and policies, and completing required reports on time
- Work with the School Principal and IPS Home Office to manage the school's budget, and participate in monthly meetings to review/account for budget variances
Other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications - Bachelor's degree required
- Minimum 2-4 years general management and/or school operations experience
- Proven experience in developing, implementing, and managing systems and processes.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
Preferred Qualifications - Masters in Business, Public Administration, Education, or related field
- Previous start-up experience and/or experience in a high-performing school
- Ability to speak Amharic, Spanish, Somali, or Tigrinya
- Personal and professional experience in and around the Puget Sound area
- Experience working in a middle or high school setting.
- Experience managing budgets and procurement.
- Familiarity with student information systems and other school-based technology.
License / Certification- Must have or be eligible to obtain a food handler certification
Physical Demands- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is active and may require standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, and crouching throughout the day. Frequent light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds) with occasional heavy lifting (up to 50 pounds). The employee must have sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment. Work is primarily inside but has daily responsibilities outside (exposure to sun, heat, cold, and inclement weather).
Non-negotiables - Offer is contingent upon passing a fingerprint and background check
- Complete SafeSchools trainings
- Provide academic transcript
What We Offer - Competitive pay and generous paid time off package including paid holidays, vacation and personal time;
- Eligible employees can access our earned wage program through myFlexPay;
- Medical, dental, vision, long-term disability benefits;
- Retirement account with employer contributions;
- Free mental health support + more through our employee assistance program;
- Growth pathways for increased levels of leadership.
