25-26 Director of School Operations

KIPP New Jersey has joined forces with Paterson Prep, a charter school in its third year of operation, to become KIPP Paterson Prep.  This partnership will provide KIPP Paterson Prep students with access to high-quality, data-driven instruction and offer our leadership and teachers exceptional professional development and coaching opportunities.

KIPP Paterson Prep is committed to educating students to lead lives of excellence, integrity, and purpose through a content-rich curriculum, inquiry-driven instruction, and a strong focus on character development. Our holistic approach ensures high academic expectations while fostering a joyful and inclusive community that respects the dignity of every student, staff member, and family. We recognize that families are a child’s first and most important educators, and this belief is central to our educational philosophy. By actively partnering with families, we create a supportive learning environment that nurtures both academic success and personal growth.

Join us in shaping bright futures and making a meaningful impact in the lives of our students and the greater Paterson community.

Role Overview:

We are hiring a Director of School Operations (DSO) and a Director of School Operations Fellow (DSO Fellow).

The Director of School Operations (DSO) is the leader of operations. The DSO manages and is responsible for all non-instructional systems and staff in the building. The DSO Fellowship prepares operations leaders to step into the Director of School Operations role. In addition to working with a current Director of School Operations, Fellows get support through weekly professional development and support from regional operations leads.

The core components of the role(s) are:

• People Management
  • Manage the school operations staff and all other school support workers on the operations team
  • Implement and execute a performance management system for direct reports
  • Conduct weekly individual meetings and team meetings
  • Provide professional development
• Finance and Purchasing
  • Support management of the school’s budget
  • Oversee purchasing for the school
• Academic Support Operations
  • Manage the operational logistics of all student test administration and other academic operational systems, in coordination with school leadership and/or teaching staff
• Student Recruitment / Enrollment
  • Ensure the school meets annual enrollment targets by backwards planning from target enrollment numbers and dates
  • Plan events and outreach to families
  • Establish partnerships with local businesses and organizations
• Technology
  • Oversee day-to-day operations of school-based technology projects by ensuring that school leaders, students, and staff have access to the technology they need
  • Plan any technology-related enhancements or additional purchases for the subsequent school year
• Facilities
  • Oversee the day-to-day operations of facilities and maintain a beautiful school
• Vendor Management
  • Procure and manage all vendors needed for the smooth and successful operation of the facility, including contractors, service providers, and maintenance workers
• Nutrition Program
  • Manage partnership with Food Service Management Company to ensure the meal program meets the school’s expectations
• Compliance
  • Ensure school-wide compliance with health and safety laws
  • Ensure onboarding requirements for new staff members are completed
  • Comply with any city and state education mandates
  • Comply with all federal and state workplace regulations
• School Operations
  • Ensure the day-to-day school operating systems run smoothly and efficiently, including front office systems, transportation, routines, transitions, arrival, dismissal, and attendance

Must Haves:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Suite, specifically Excel / Google Spreadsheets
• Database management and reporting
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong organization skills and meticulous attention to detail
• Superb customer service skills and love and support for families and children
• Demonstrated ability to work with a team on collaborative projects
• Ability to remain calm and solutions-oriented in high-stress situations
• Commitment to do whatever it takes to ensure our teachers and students have what they need to be successful
• Ability to proactively problem solve; anticipate challenges before they occur
• Ability to identify inefficiencies and generate creative solutions
• 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

Nice-to-Haves:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish is a plus
• Previous experience in a customer service-oriented role
• Previous experience in an educational or non-profit setting

Compensation & Benefits

The base pay range for the DSO Fellow position is $97,000. The base pay for the DSO is $107,000. Pay for both positions may vary, depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

In addition, we provide access to the NJ pension system and a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, depending on the position offered.

Our organization is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, national origin, citizen status, marital status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organization will make a reasonable accommodation to known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the organization. No questions on this application are asked for any unlawful purpose.

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