Director of Operations, Heartwood Community School - Charter Oak Recruitment

WHO WE ARE

Heartwood Community School is a community-focused, tuition-free charter school serving Jasper, Beaufort, and Hampton Counties in South Carolina. We believe in educating the whole childnurturing each student academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. Honoring every childs unique journey, we bridge home and school to foster a compassionate, empowering environment where students feel seen and valued.

Our mission goes beyond academics; we guide students to become resilient problem-solvers, compassionate community builders, globally minded citizens, emotionally intelligent leaders, and lifelong learners. Embracing mistakes as part of growth, we equip students to thrive in school and lifeready to make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.

THE ROLE

We are seeking an entrepreneurial Director of Operations who shares our unwavering commitment to student success. The ideal candidate will be self-driven, diligent, passionate about making a tangible difference in the lives of children, and an enthusiastic team player. This is an exciting and challenging role with the opportunity to be part of building something that is new and rapidly growing.

Operations team members work relentlessly to ensure that teachers and instructional leaders maximize time and energy on student learning and well-being.

The Director, Operations will be responsible for overseeing all school level operations, and directly managing a small team of school-based staff. The person in this role is typically the first person on campus each morning and the last one to leave each afternoon. This role is accountable for all school operations outside of direct student instruction and reports directly to the school Principal.

Operations team members design, implement, and refine systems that anticipate the needs of the school community. As a service-oriented team, they solve problems and respond to urgent needs. They partner with teachers and other school professionals to create an academic and cultural environment which supports our ultimate goal of serving students.

Note: The following duties are representative for this position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Team management

• Supervising all non-academic school-based functions and people including operations specialists, school office managers, data and analytics managers, receptionists, custodians and kitchen staff
• Monitoring performance of all school-based operations staff
• Coaching and developing staff: Coordinate and provide regular training to all school operations staff
• Developing and implementing a multi-year school operations staffing plan
• Contracting with and managing third-party vendors across a wide spectrum of services

Facilities and student movement systems

• Maintaining the safety, efficiency, and physical appearance of facilities (landscaping, hallways, doors/windows, etc.)
• Designing and implementing safety systems (drills, emergency preparedness)
• Plan and execute the physical move from the schools current building into a brand-new facility
• Developing and implementing strategic campus improvement plans
• Design and execute routine student movement processes (e.g., morning drop-off, afternoon dismissal, meal service times)
• Overseeing campus food services programs, including compliance
• Oversee security, maintenance, and cleanliness of campus

Data, technology, and reporting

• Taking daily student attendance and managing daily student operational systems
• Maintaining up-to-date family information and student files
• Running bill pay and supporting the schools accounting processes
• Providing technology / IT support
• Ensuring accurate data entry into technology systems
• Managing procurement and supply management for all student, staff, and event supplies
• Supervise maintenance of necessary documents and files to ensure school compliance with all state and federal reporting requirements
• Manage and support compliance related work related to data management, state accreditation standards, district or partner school surveys, school report cards

Family engagement

• Planning and leading school and community events
• Collaborating with the Front Office Coordinator to manage communications (phone, email, text) with current and prospective families
• Gathering feedback from families/parents and communicating with school leaders or other staff
• Implementing and tracking progress on truancy interventions for students and families
• Enrolling new students and re-enrolling current students

SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

We are unapologetically committed to recruiting the best people in our field. We seek only those team members who set the highest standards for themselves and are passionate about making a lasting impact on the lives of children.

• Deep commitment to Heartwood Community Schools mission and the whole-child philosophy, choosing to contribute to a community dedicated to meaningful, lasting impact.
• True team player who celebrates the achievements of others, finds joy in shared successes, and understands that individual accomplishments are only as strong as the teams collective impact.
• Exceptional instructional and relationship building skills, driven by a belief in each students potential and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
• Strong personal organization, planning abilities, and attention to detail, ensuring a structured and inspiring learning environment.
• Passion for lifelong learning, with a drive to master content, continuously improve, and inspire students with enthusiasm for the subject matter.
• Proven ability to inspire, motivate, and engage children and adults, fostering curiosity, confidence, and a love for learning in every member of our community.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's Degree required
• At least 3 years of work experience in school-based operations
• At least 5 years of work experience including supervisory and management experience
• Prior experience working in a school or school system, knowledge of school data and operations systems and South Carolina state law and compliance

COMPENSATION

The salary for this role is $100,000, with eligibility for a relocation package.

We are committed to building a best in class team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

Additionally, we offers a comprehensive benefits package including and not limited to:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance and Disability
• Tax Favored Spending Accounts (FSA/HSA)
• Retirement Plans