26-27 Director of School Operations

The Director of School Operations leads all non-instructional systems on a KIPP New Orleans campus so that School Leaders and teachers can focus on student learning and culture. In partnership with the Regional Director of School Operations, School Leader(s), and regional teams, the Director designs, runs, and continuously improves operations across the full campus — including budgeting and procurement, facilities and safety, transportation and food service, attendance and enrollment, HR and compliance records, family and staff communications, athletics logistics, and master calendar and space allocation. Success is evidenced by protected instructional time and smooth daily operations, on-time and on-budget project delivery, full compliance on required processes and audits, equitable access to campus resources across all programs and student groups, and measurable progress toward attendance and enrollment targets backed by strong family and staff satisfaction.School Ops LeadershipIn partnership with the Managing Director of Schools, School Leaders, and the regional team, develops and drives the school-wide operations vision, ensuring it fully supports and operationalizes the school's academic and cultural vision. Success is measured by alignment between operations systems and instructional and cultural priorities.Plays a leadership role in the school's strategic and annual planning and budgeting process, ensuring that operations priorities are represented, resource allocation supports school-wide goals, and plans are implemented on schedule.Leads cross-functional planning and project management, ensuring operational initiatives are clearly scoped, deadlines are met, and goals are achieved across departments.Sets and monitors school operations goals, creating a regular cadence of progress checks and accountability structures to ensure milestones are reached.Hires, onboards, coaches, and performance-manages front office and operations team members (and key vendors) so that service levels and SLAs are met or exceeded.Sets clear goals and development plans; gives timely feedback and conducts evaluations per policy so that staff performance improves and retention strengthens.Oversees daily workflow and coverage plans so that essential services remain uninterrupted, even during staff absences or peak demand.Handles corrective action and terminations in line with policy to maintain a high-performing, values-aligned team.Ensures strong team communication and health, maintaining consistent structures for collaboration, feedback, and problem-solving within the operations team.Serves as the primary point of contact with the regional team, ensuring timely response to requests, proactive communication of school needs, and consistent collaboration to build scalable, region-wide systems, policies, and procedures.Serves as the point person (or assigns a point person) for hosting visitors, ensuring that school tours reflect the school's culture and excellence while supporting external relationship-building.Site Operations ManagementBuilds trust-based partnerships with School Leader(s) and facilitates alignment when priorities diverge so that the campus runs as one coherent, student-centered operation.Maintains a School Operations Playbook (decision rights/RACI, cost allocations, bell schedules, space use, SLAs, escalation paths) and proposes data-informed updates so that resources are allocated equitably and conflicts resolve quickly.Runs a weekly ops prioritization with School Leader(s) and manages intake and calendars so that leader time is protected and competing demands are sequenced intelligently.Owns the master campus calendar and space allocation, adjudicating conflicts in real time so that programs, testing, and events proceed without disruption.Standardizes campus-wide communications (routine and crisis) with translation and accessibility so that families and staff receive consistent, timely information.Continuously audits campus systems for equity across all programs, student groups, and school communities served by the campus; removes barriers so that all students and staff have fair access to spaces, services, and supports.Manages competing operational priorities, setting clear financial targets and implementing systems for resolving discrepancies to ensure equitable and strategic resource allocation.Systems, Scheduling, and FacilitiesOwns the vision for school-wide scheduling and calendar management, including space reservation systems, to ensure efficient use of facilities and alignment with instructional priorities.Proactively navigates school-wide scheduling challenges, minimizing conflicts and maximizing instructional and extracurricular opportunities.Sets the vision for safety and security at school events and manages implementation to ensure a safe, welcoming, and orderly environment for students, families, and staff.Leads the execution of end-of-year trips, ensuring safe, well-organized, and meaningful experiences for students.Accountable for the completion of facilities agreements, vendor contracts, and liability insurance for external partners.Budget ManagementWorks closely with the Regional Director of Schools and School Leaders to develop the school's annual budget, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and financial sustainability.Actively manages the school's budget throughout the year, monitoring expenditures, identifying variances, and making adjustments as needed to ensure financial health.Submits monthly budget forecasts to track spending against projections and inform decision-making.Serves as the first school-based point of contact for Finance, partnering with the regional Finance team to ensure compliance with organizational policies, legal requirements, and reporting standards.Responds to regional requests and submits all financial documentation (purchase orders, invoices, reimbursements, forecasts, etc.) in a timely manner, meeting Finance Team deadlines to ensure accurate reporting, on-time payments, and full compliance with regional and state requirements.Assists in the preparation of financial reports and audit documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and full compliance with regulations.Manages the school's Student Activity Fund (SAF) to ensure student-related funds are properly tracked, allocated, and reported.Manages the school purchasing process by establishing and maintaining clear systems, approving school purchases within delegated thresholds, and ensuring cost-effective use of funds.Oversees procurement processes to ensure the school has all necessary supplies and resources, balancing efficiency with fiscal responsibility.Processes purchase orders, invoices, reimbursements, and purchase card charges accurately and on time, ensuring vendors and staff are supported promptly.Verifies and submits invoices and financial documentation to maintain accurate, audit-ready records.Payroll and Asset ManagementReviews bi-weekly payroll for accuracy, ensuring staff are paid correctly and on time.Maintains accurate inventory records of the school's assets, reconciling purchases and disposals to safeguard school property and comply with financial reporting standards.Oversees procurement of office supplies, equipment, and materials within budget constraints to ensure smooth daily operations.Facilities ManagementOversees all major facilities functions — including maintenance, vendor and staff management, aesthetics, shared space agreements, and campus safety — ensuring the campus environment consistently supports student learning and reflects the school's mission.Oversees custodial performance to maintain a consistently clean, safe, and welcoming environment for students, families, staff, and visitors, measured through regular inspections and stakeholder feedback.Document custodial concerns and elevate patterns of concern to the regional facilities team for corrective action.Supervises the upkeep and alterations of office areas and equipment, including layout, arrangement, and housekeeping, to ensure workspaces are efficient, safe, and aligned with organizational standards.Partners with the regional facilities team to plan and execute capital improvements and long-term projects, ensuring school needs are represented and timelines are met.Accountable for the communication of facility use by external partners to the regional facilities team with sufficient advance notice. Accountable for the communication of any facility use outside of regular operating hours with sufficient advance notice to ensure building systems can be programmed and scheduled accordingly.TransportationOversees all aspects of school transportation systems, including managing vendor relationships and transportation emergencies.Partners with transportation vendors to ensure bus routes effectively and equitably serve the school's student population, measured by on-time performance, ridership coverage, and family satisfaction.Owns ultimate responsibility for ensuring that every student is transported safely to and from school each day, proactively addressing risks and maintaining compliance with all safety regulations.Implements and continuously improves arrival and dismissal procedures to ensure students enter and leave campus in a safe, orderly, and timely manner while minimizing disruptions to instruction and family routines.Develops creative solutions for transportation gaps, proactively identifying and implementing alternatives when vendor or route challenges arise, to minimize disruptions for students and families.Elevates transportation concerns to the regional team.Food ServiceOversees all aspects of school food service, including meal quality, vendor and staff management, compliance, meal tracking, and meal delivery, ensuring that every student receives safe, nutritious meals daily.Attendance LeadershipAs the ultimate owner of the school's attendance goals, lead the school's overall ADA and chronic absenteeism operational systems and initiatives in alignment with regional guidelines and the School Leader's vision.Manage the Operations Team to ensure 100% daily attendance accuracy.Manage the Operations Team to complete 100% of high-quality, absent student calls by the stated deadline with detailed notes for every student.Leverage impact and influence with other Leadership Team members, at the direction of the School Leader, to ensure that all parts of the school attendance plan are moving forward and make adjustments as needed.Work in close collaboration with the School Leader to meet school's attendance goals. Plan, prepare, and facilitate weekly chronic absenteeism intervention meetings and maintain intervention workbooks at the direction of the School Leader.Student Recruitment and EnrollmentDevelops and manages the school’s internal student recruitment strategy to meet enrollment targets.Leverages the entire school team to achieve recruitment outcomes by coordinating outreach efforts and aligning staff roles with enrollment priorities.Accountable for ensuring school tours are well-coordinated and planned for with regional team and School Leader/Leadership Team.Accountable for ensuring school representatives effectively engage in high leverage recruitment events including tabling at PreK Centers. Analyzes enrollment data to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities, using insights to adjust recruitment strategies and ensure enrollment goals are met.Prepares and presents regular reports on recruitment and enrollment outcomes to school leadership, highlighting progress toward goals and key action steps.Participates in school leadership meetings to provide updates and insights on recruitment, enrollment, and attendance.Risk Management, Security, and SafetyEnsures the school is fully prepared for emergencies by conducting all required drills, maintaining updated emergency plans, and training staff to respond effectively and confidently in crisis situations.Coordinates with school nurses and emergency response personnel to ensure timely and effective medical or safety responses when incidents occur.Leads crisis management systems, including documentation of incidents, after-action reviews, and communication with school and regional leadership.Manages Security Officers to outcomes, ensuring they maintain a safe, orderly, and welcoming environment for students, families, and staff.Works closely with the school operations team, student support and compliance team, and other key stakeholders to ensure all risk management, security, and compliance practices are aligned with school goals and organizational policies.Human Resources and CompliancePartners with the regional People Team on the new hire process, including interviews, offer letters, and onboarding, ensuring all staff are fully cleared and prepared to begin work.Ensures school staff have complete, accurate, and current personnel files, including certifications, background checks, and compliance with all HR, FERPA, and other legal requirements.Reviews and approves staff time-off requests and communicates leave needs and critical dates to the Human Resources team, assisting in the facilitation of employee leaves to minimize operational disruptions.Partners with the regional Human Resources team to streamline communication and processes for new hires, leaves of absence, and separations, ensuring compliance and smooth staff transitions.Records and ConfidentialityMaintains and organizes personnel, student, and compliance-related records with a high degree of confidentiality and accuracy, ensuring alignment with all relevant laws, policies, and regulations.Coordinates with the school nurse and Student Support Team to ensure accurate health records, compliance with student medical requirements, and alignment with school safety protocols.Maintains secure, confidential records (e.g., personnel, student health, compliance) in alignment with FERPA, HIPAA, and organizational policies, ensuring clarity on which records are held at the school level.School CommunicationsFosters strong relationships with the neighborhood community to build goodwill and support for the school.Manages transparent communication channels with regional leads, ensuring that school leadership and staff receive timely, accurate updates on policies, procedures, and initiatives.Oversees school social media and branding presence, ensuring messaging aligns with school values and strengthens engagement with families, alumni, and the community.Ensures transparent family-facing communication, providing accurate, timely updates that strengthen trust and engagement with the school community.Leads school-based communications and brand management, ensuring materials, messaging, and public-facing communications reflect the school's mission and values.Supervises and coordinates overall administrative activities for the school, assisting with scheduling appointments, meetings, and events for staff and families.AthleticsSupports athletic operational logistics including transportation, facilities, scheduling, purchasing, contracts, and event management in partnership with the Athletic Director.Owns operational responsibilities within athletics, including event logistics, budget alignment, facilities use, and compliance with school and regional policies.Partners with the Athletic Director to ensure athletic programming is safe, well-resourced, and aligned with the broader school mission.Develops and manages the athletic program budget, ensuring resources are used effectively and expenditures align with program priorities.Ensures athletic facilities are safe, clean, and well-maintained, addressing maintenance needs promptly to support both performance and safety.Essential Functions Related to Student Safety and School OperationsIn support of KIPP New Orleans Schools’ commitment to providing a safe, orderly, welcoming, and well-run learning environment, school-based operations employees are expected to perform the following essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodation:Maintain active awareness of student, staff, family, and visitor safety in assigned work locations, including front offices, hallways, arrival and dismissal areas, cafeterias, buses/loading areas, common spaces, and other school settings.Support safe and efficient daily school operations, including arrival, dismissal, transitions, front office procedures, visitor management, family support, attendance-related outreach, meals, events, transportation, facilities needs, and other operational systems as assigned.Be physically present, visible, and engaged in assigned work locations during the scheduled workday to fulfill responsibilities that require in-person interaction with students, families, staff, vendors, visitors, and school leadership.Respond promptly and appropriately to urgent operational needs and school emergencies, including but not limited to evacuations, lockdowns, shelter-in-place, medical or safety incidents, reunification procedures, transportation disruptions, facilities issues, and other crisis protocols.Follow established safety, security, emergency preparedness, visitor management, confidentiality, and student supervision procedures consistent with KNOS policies, school expectations, and required training.Support student and staff safety by reinforcing schoolwide behavioral expectations, maintaining situational awareness, using de-escalation strategies when appropriate, and escalating concerns to school leadership or emergency personnel in a timely manner.Communicate clearly and promptly with school leadership, regional teams, families, vendors, emergency personnel, and other stakeholders during routine operations, urgent issues, and safety-related incidents.Participate in required training related to school operations, student safety, emergency preparedness, crisis response, confidentiality, mandated reporting, and role-specific compliance requirements.