Job DescriptionThe ideal Director of School Operations-in-Residence candidate is a leader seeking a future Director of School Operations (DSO) position as either a founder of new schools or successor at existing schools. You have a strong track record of successful outcomes achieved through your strategic and inspiring leadership of others.
Residents are enrolled in our rigorous Residency accelerator program to develop specific DSO-ready skills and competencies. The Residency structure includes:
- Placement at host schools to both shadow a current DSO and to take on specific leadership responsibilities at the host campus, with accountability to the results of the school(s)/teams you support
- Significant formal learning and leadership coaching provided by multiple leaders throughout the organization, including Managing Director of School Operations/Managing Director of Operations, Director of Leadership Development, Host Leaders, additional mentors, etc.
- Mid-year application for available DSO roles for the forthcoming school year
Critical Competencies and SkillsEmbody a growth mindset- Accept and effectively incorporate constructive feedback with urgency
- Operate with a high level of flexibility and ownership, taking on various leadership responsibilities to support host school(s), the region, and your unique leadership growth areas
Communicate effectively and inspirationally- Articulate and consistently communicate a clear, compelling vision for your leadership brand and future
- Inspire others to commit to, and fulfill, outstanding outcomes
- Consistently prepare and execute highly effective meetings, professional development sessions, and presentations
- Build trusting relationships with all stakeholders across the organization
- Embody a customer service orientation to proactively communicate and solve problems with building staff and families/community members
Design, maintain, and improve systems- Maintain excellent personal organizational systems to monitor multiple operational systems simultaneously
- Design new systems or improve existing systems to ensure all domains of the school are efficient and contributing to school goals/priorities, including systems for:
- Daily operations of facilities including arrival, dismissal, lunch, transitions, transportation, and front office operations
- Academic operations: technology, schedules, testing,
- Financial operations: purchasing
- Compliance: student and staff compliance within organizational, city and state regulations
Drive outstanding outcomes through leading others- Create and execute data-driven strategic plans to meet goals
- Effectively manage teammates, ensuring that high performers continue thriving and struggling teammates receiv]e clear feedback, coaching, and accountability
- Effectively manage external partners (e.g. food service, facility contractors, external vendors) to ensure that all externally-provided systems run smoothly
Uphold a Culture of Excellence for staff, students, and community- Demonstrate personal excellence at all times (consistently professional, productive, prepared, and positive)
- Embody and model our organization values: Kid Focus, Radical Love, Excellence, TEAM, Fun
- Consistently reinforces high expectations for all students and all teammates all the time, using motivation, clarity, and accountability appropriately and effectively
- Engage families and community stakeholders proactively and productively as partners in school goals
- Contribute positively and productively on all teams (Resident cohort, host school teams, regional teams, etc.)
QualificationsQualifications- Bachelor's Degree
- Demonstrated student achievement results from teachers and leaders that the leader manages and coaches
- Ability to develop and manage multiple projects simultaneously and comfortably with ambiguity
- Ability to troubleshoot and manage high stress situations with a calm and positive demeanor
- Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed
- Foundational content knowledge related to DSO-specific operational domains: finance & purchasing, academic support operations, student recruitment & enrollment, technology, facilities, vendor management, nutrition program, compliance, schoolwide systems
- Adept at data analysis; ability to extract meaningful insights across school-wide data using pertinent software applications
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Operating standard office equipment
- Operating classroom technology equipment (ie. smartboards, projectors, chrome books, computers)
Physical RequirementsThe usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands:
- Prolonged periods of working at the computer and sitting at desk.
- Travel to various school locations in Newark, Paterson, Camden, and South Florida.
Additional InformationCompensation & BenefitsKIPP New Jersey offers a market-competitive salary at $97,000 for a Director of School Operations in Residence. Salary ranges at KIPP are set based upon the role level and function using benchmarks in the education and non-profit sector and allow for growth within the role. Individual compensation within this range will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to: relevant professional experience and qualifications; education, skills and training; and market conditions.
In addition to a competitive salary, we a generous benefits package including, but not limited to, the following:
- Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision
- Optional participation in the KIPP NJ 403b retirement plan, including matching contributions
- A school-issued laptop
- Transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into Newark from the New York City area
- Generous Time-Off including 3.5-4 school vacation weeks (depending on the year), allocated sick and personal days, and an extended summer break
- Up to 12 weeks 100% parental leave for primary caregivers
- Employer paid life insurance
- Extensive optional ancillary benefits including, short term and long term disability and accident and hospital indemnity
