Chief Operating Officer - Etoile Academy Charter School

Étoile Academy Charter School, an independent K-8th grade charter school in Houston, is seeking an ambitious, smart, and high capacity individual to join our team. Étoile Academy is founded on the belief that all students can learn and achieve at high levels when held to the highest expectations— regardless of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, zip code, or home language. We will ensure that every student in grades K through 8 has the academic and character foundation necessary to succeed in high school, graduate from college, and pursue ambitious life goals.  

Chief Operating Officer (School Year 2024 - 2025)

Responsibilities

Departmental Leadership: 

Lead and oversee various departments, including Facilities, Transportation, Nutrition, Safety and Security.

Develop strategy, systems, and processes for ensuring operations reaches a consistently high bar of quality and efficiency in delivery of services to schools, partnering with other members of the team to ensure excellent execution.

Lead and develop our enrollment team ensuring that enrollment, operations, and school leaders work together to meet campus and network enrollment goals. 

Operational Oversight: 

Deeply understand our schools and school operations and ensure effective coordination and alignment between schools and Home Office operations so that the Home Office fulfills its vision in support of schools and every operational function is performed seamlessly and with excellence and student learning can flourish.

Coordinate, monitor, and prioritize department directors and workflow requirements to ensure efficient daily operations, activities, and services provided by our organization.

Oversee, manage, and evaluate Etoile's vendors including technology, food, transportation, janitorial, etc. 

Lead the design and implementation of any changes to our operational processes or structures to achieve stronger coordination and collaboration and a seamless experience for schools.

Financial Management: 

With support from the Finance Director direct, analyze, and understand all expenditures requests in relation to the budgeted amounts, closely monitor departmental activities in relation to the organizational Master Plan, and review operational reports, procurement requests, vendor proposals, and budget requests.

Strategic Direction: 

Coordinate the strategic direction and lead teams in developing long-term goals related to assigned areas of responsibility.

Personnel Management: 

Manage and develop the Coordinator of Talent to establish a multi-year talent strategy that helps Etoile achieve its priorities and ensure each Talent team meets its goals and accomplishes its vision.

Ensure the Coordinator of Talent helps to deliver the strongest employee value proposition and optimize hiring, onboarding, HR compliance, performance management, and total rewards strategy, including compensation and benefits.

Provide guidance and oversight to HR, Operations Manager, IT management, property management, and other departmental leads, as well as supervise and evaluate them. 

Compliance and Reporting: 

Ensure that all activities are in compliance with equal employment and nondiscrimination policies, federal laws, school board policies, and professional standards. Handle and organize personnel and other confidential information.

Budgetary Oversight: 

Work with the CEO and Finance Director to prepare the annual budget and collaborate with key staff and vendors for the annual audit.

Work with CEO, Finance Director, and Network Team to ensure adherence to the budget and sound financial decision making at the network and school levels. 

Communication: 

Work with the Director of Operations and other staff to design and implement effective communication systems, both internally and externally.

Data Collection and Analysis: 

Oversee the collection and analysis of relevant data to measure the success and challenges of educational programs.

Partnership Development: 

Represent the organization to partnering agencies and coalitions, ensuring effective collaboration and reporting on issues associated with operations.

Goals

• 90% of enrollment targets met at all campuses and network wide by October 15th each year.
• 85% or better staff and parent satisfaction with major vendors (lunch, transportation, security)
• 85% or better student retention (October to October) 
• 85% or better staff retention in home office and operations department 
• 85% or better of school leaders report operational excellence at schools and strong operations that drive academic success 
• 90% hired by May 30th of each school year (for the upcoming year)
• Less than 3% variance in budget and less than 10% variance per line item
• Meeting the greenlighting metrics in Etoile's strategic plan and growth plan including (but not limited to) timely acquisition of facilities for new campuses and 90 days COH.

We look for team members that embody our REACH values. This includes the characteristics below. 

• Open to sharing and implementing feedback with reverence and professionalism for the work (Respect).
• Authentic care for student results and effective teaching (Excellence). 
• Setting a higher bar for yourself and others each day (Ambition).
• Honest contribution to and collaboration with the community (Community).
• Do what is needed to achieve results (Hard Work).
• Believes in education as a profession and holds oneself to a high level of conduct and professionalism  

 Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required and Master's degree preferred
• Experience coaching, developing, and evaluating leaders preferred 
• Proven experience in a senior leadership role, preferably in an educational setting 
• Strong strategic thinking and team leadership skills required 
• Strong commitment to high-quality services and education equity required 
• Ability to multi-task and work within an ambiguous, fast-moving, start-up environment, while driving toward clarity and solutions
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Apply Now 

To join our team, please click here to apply.

Étoile Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability, in admission or access to, or treatment of employment in its programs and activities. Any person having inquiries concerning the organization's compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), may contact HR at 713.265.8657.