Director of School Operations in Residence

KIPP New Jersey is part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. In 2002, KIPP New Jersey first opened its doors in Newark’s South Ward as a single class of 80 fifth graders and has since grown to educate students in grades K-12 across 18 schools in Newark, Camden, and Paterson. More than 90% of KIPP New Jersey students currently qualify for free or reduced meals.

The 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:

Embody 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.)

Physical Requirements

The usual and customary methods of performing the job’s functions require the following physical demands:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Responsibilities

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

Requirements

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); Prolonged periods of working at the computer and sitting at desk.; Travel to various school locations in Newark, Paterson, Camden, and South Florida.

Benefits

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