Director of Operations - Explore Schools

Director of Operations, Brooklyn, New York

In-Person Work Required

This is an exempt position and is not eligible for overtime.

WHO WE ARE 
Explore Schools is a network of public charter schools providing nearly 2,000 students in Brooklyn with the outstanding education they deserve. Our goal is to provide students with curriculum and instruction that is both standards-aligned and culturally responsive. Our approach is designed to provide the conditions that nurture students as critical thinkers and natural problem-solvers.  As an organization we are committed to engaging in work that disrupts and roots out systems and structures that perpetuate white supremacy. We intentionally seek to build and maintain a diverse and talented team that reflects the backgrounds and experiences of our students and creates an inclusive environment for all employees.  

WHAT WE BELIEVE 
We believe that all children can learn when immersed in a rich environment full of high expectations, rigorous academics, and caring, committed adults. We believe equity and excellence are not mutually exclusive—we can meet the needs of all students in our schools, while actively engaging parents and driving toward excellent academic results. We believe it is both our privilege and responsibility to help close the opportunity gap in the Brooklyn community.  

WHO YOU ARE 
Explore Schools seeks an experienced school operations leader to join one of our schools. You have a proven track record of implementing and maintaining clear operational systems within a school, and managing and leading others. You excel in collaborating with leaders, as well as cultivating strong relationships across teams and with vendors. This is an amazing opportunity for someone looking to contribute to a small charter school network as we refine our best practices. Additionally, you possess the following qualities: 

• Dedicated to working in communities that have historically been underserved and under-resourced 
• Committed to thoughtfully engaging in identity work necessary to take a culturally responsive approach to pedagogy and relationship-building with students and colleagues 
• Data-driven: experienced in using data to strategically assess and drive operational and financial decisions 
• Excellent communication skills with diverse stakeholders (teachers, parents, guardians, students, etc.); clear writer, facilitator, and public speaker  
• Demonstrated leader: experience managing staff towards results and holding staff accountable 
• Technological proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel 
• Minimum three years of experience in operations with at least two years of management experience; charter school experience preferred 
• Bachelor's degree required; Master’s preferred 

WHAT YOU’LL DO  
The Director of Operations implements and maintains clear systems in all matters of school administration outside of instruction and student behavior. This work includes developing and refining strategic short-term and long-term goals that guide and supervise the work of the whole operations team. The Director of Operations is responsible for analyzing and managing the operations team, school budget, school data, administration, technology, facilities, compliance and general school operations in order to support student achievement. You will be expected to manage the following daily: 

Leadership 

• Supervise, support, develop, and evaluate the Operations Team 
• Partner with the network Operations Team to create and continuously improve a comprehensive strategy and vision for school-based operations and logistics that supports the mission of school-based operations: to proactively anticipate and meet the needs of students, families, teachers and academic leadership 
• Facilitate all aspects of the co-location relationship in collaboration with school principal 
• Work in collaboration with the school leadership team to plan professional development and trainings for school staff 
• Actively engage in identity work and necessary conversations to dismantle white supremacy culture  

Financial Operations 

• Oversee budget and cash management for school 
• Review and approve purchases and vendor payments in accordance with Explore Schools fiscal policies and procedures 
• Ensure overall school fiscal compliance, including compliance with funding/Title I requirements 
• Review and approve staff payroll 

School Operations 

• Manage and oversee all school day-to-day operations including facilities, food service, student recruitment & enrollment, attendance, grades and assessments, student information and records, family communication and engagement, safety, scheduling, staff communication, events, technology, purchasing, main office/reception, and schoolwide systems 
• Oversee the creation and management of plans for schoolwide systems and duties including, but not limited to: arrival, breakfast, lunch, recess, hallways, and dismissal. 
• Manage staff time and attendance systems and coverage in conjunction with leadership team 
• Maintain monthly staff and Explore event calendars 
• Oversee school-based compliance and reporting 
• Collaborate with the Principal to prepare for authorizer and state site-visits 
• Write and oversee distribution of school’s official correspondence with families 
• Ensure timely notification of school events and all other important information 

• Oversee all aspects of the school’s purchasing, inventory, equipment and supplies. 
• Collaborate with school leadership to develop and implement action plans for the execution of school-wide events, including: transportation, information dissemination, traffic flow, venue logistics, audiovisual needs, etc. 
• Maintain accurate & organized records of student information 

Student Health and Safety 

• Work with co-located partners to create and implement annual school safety plan  
• Ensure legally compliant safety procedures are in place, including procedures for lockdowns, evacuation, crisis, bus drills, and immunization compliance, coordinate with school nurse for proactive and reactive student health planning 
• Ensure schoolwide community is trained on all safety policies and procedures  
• Oversee compliance with CPR and AED certifications for staff 
• Handle safety emergencies in conjunction with co-located, network, and DOE/law enforcement partners 
• Assist with non-instructional supervision of students, as needed, such as arrival/dismissal, hallway monitoring, substitute teaching, lunch & playground duty, or supervision of extracurricular activities 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

Explore Schools staff members receive a competitive salary, paid time off including network shutdown days, considerable matching of retirement contributions, and more.  

• The salary range for incoming Directors of Operations is $100,000 to $125,000 annually. This is our good faith range at the time of posting. 
• Incoming salaries are determined based on experience and internal equity.   
• Because we value staff members staying in their roles over time, we do not currently cap salary ranges and this is the range for incoming staff members only.   
• This is base salary and does not include additional compensation opportunities, such as signing bonuses, additional time worked pay, stipends, leadership opportunities, and additional pay for specialized certifications and advanced degrees.   

Additionally, you can expect: 

• A comprehensive benefits plan, covering up to 95% of the cost for employees and their families. Other benefits include dental and vision plans, employer paid disability and life insurance, parental leave benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time and paid holidays, professional development, continuing education scholarships, referral bonuses, employee assistance program (EAP), childcare assistance, a 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching, and more! 
• Flexible and reflective leadership: dedicated to staff development, team cohesion, and shared responsibility for decision-making, development, and team-wide priorities  

• Driven and passionate colleagues who contribute to a professional and collaborative work environment   
• Opportunities to sit on various committees and participate in initiatives central to key organizational decisions and strategic planning   
• Our school-based staff also receive:   

• Professional development: weekly PD, year-round retreats and trainings, and ongoing coaching by professionals   
• Continued education support: staff are eligible to receive scholarship funds towards qualifying certification costs or higher education tuition 
• A flexible work environment with the ability to choose your work location during non-student hours 1-3 days a week when possible, all within a structured 45-hour work week.  

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

Explore Schools is a network of 6 charter schools located in Canarsie, Crown Heights, and Flatbush communities of Brooklyn, NY. Our schools are currently operating fully in-person. For this position:  

• In-person work is required  
• This is an exempt position and is not eligible for overtime.  
• The standard work week is 45 hours, though at times you may work more.  
• This role requires that you be able to stand for at least 5 hours a day, take multiple trips up and down the stairs in a day, and be able to move quickly in an emergency.   
• This role also requires that you be able to lift up to 15 pounds. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

As discussed in our Who We Are section, Explore Schools is an equal opportunity employer. It is important to us that all staff members have a place of employment that is free of discrimination of all kinds and where staff can bring their authentic selves to work. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran, or military status. If any employee or applicant believes they have been discriminated against, they should let Tiffany Williams know immediately. 

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