Company Description

Organizational Overview

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) North Carolina, is a network of eight tuition-free, college-preparatory public charter schools educating approximately 3,000 students in grades K-12 in Durham, Halifax, Northampton and Mecklenburg counties. At KIPP NC, we are committed to improving the life outcomes of North Carolina’s children through the delivery of culturally relevant curricula that are grounded in research, and clearing the paths that our students choose to follow by ensuring that they have the roadmaps and guideposts they need to arrive at success - however they define it.

KIPP North Carolina is also committed to building the pipeline of the state’s most talented and effective teachers and leaders through competitive compensation, integrated professional development lead by coaches and mentors, and resources they need to succeed, all rooted in core values that articulate our collectively designed organizational beliefs:

Pursue Excellence - 

We uphold high standards for our staff, and are committed to providing the necessary resources, training, mentorship and feedback to help each staff member not only meet, but exceed, expectations. We believe excellence is a habit and a sustained pursuit, not an endpoint.

Build Knowledge - 

We offer our educators robust school-based, regional and external professional development opportunities, before the start of and during the school year, designed to empower them with the latest teaching strategies and technology integration techniques. School Leaders and a statewide teacher development team provide professional coaching for school-based staff and foster collaborative learning, encouraging the exploration of effective teaching strategies and best practices.

Fight Injustice -

As a staff, we dismantle the white supremacy within our institution and deepen our own learning and understanding of anti-racism and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) through providing organization-wide regular workshops designed to holistically guide us through the redesign of our workplace culture through the lens of liberation. Additionally, we train and prepare our educators to deliver culturally responsive curricula that respect learners' cultures and prior experiences, and acknowledge and value the legitimacy of different cultures, not just the dominant culture of a society. 

Spark Joy - 

We believe in publicly and privately acknowledging and celebrating the outstanding contributions of our staff, and recognize exceptional individuals across the region. We also understand the importance of fostering a positive and collaborative work environment. We organize monthly school-based staff outings to provide an opportunity for our team to unwind, socialize, and engage in activities that promote camaraderie and a sense of community.

Rise Together - 

We create space for our region to assemble and celebrate all successes - a space in which we strengthen community by embracing each other’s unique identities, and honoring the contributions that will allow us to lift as we rise in the years ahead. We believe Team always beats Individual. 

Job Description

The Role

Reporting to the Regional Director of Operations (RDoO), the High School Director of Operations (HSDoO) is a senior, school-based leader who oversees all operations functions necessary to run a high-performing school. This includes budgeting, purchasing, facilities, food services, transportation, technology, student recruitment and enrollment, student data, regulatory compliance, and academic operations support, which includes student attendance tracking and monitoring. The DoO serves as a key member of the school’s Leadership Team, ensuring that the school’s operations meet high standards of operational excellence, and enables instructional leaders and staff to focus on driving strong student achievement outcomes.

The HSDoO plans activities that are pivotal to the success of our school culture and formative experiences in our students’ lives. This role owns all logistics (e.g. transportation, lodging, meals, staffing plan, etc.) of all off-site field trips and all on-site special events (Report Card Nights, Performances, staff celebrations, etc.). Most importantly, for high schoolers this includes successful planning and execution of large scale events, such as Senior Signing Day, Prom, and Graduation. All of these events are not only important for the school culture but involve and engage the Gaston community at large. In addition, this role organizes with the support of the Principal, class schedules taking into account required credit hours so students can graduate on time.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, knowledge, or abilities associated with this position, but is intended to accurately reflect the principal job elements. Other duties may also be assigned.

School Operations Leadership & Operations Team Management

• In partnership with the RDSO, develops the school-wide operations vision that supports and operationalizes the academic and cultural vision of the school.
• Works with the People Operations team to hire school operations team members.
• Manages, coaches, and develops school operations team members (including front office staff, facilities staff, and vendors) and holds them accountable to goals and outcomes.
• Collaborates with teammates across the region to build scalable, region-wide systems, policies, and procedures.
• Creates consistent, seamless systems that look and feel equitable and supportive of a high level of academic achievement.

Finance & Purchasing

• Works with the Finance Team to actively manage the school's budget and collaborates with the School Leader to make financial decisions."
• Lead the school purchasing process by establishing clear school systems for staff to request items. Submit purchase orders, reimbursement requests, approve purchases, and support employees with required purchases placing orders with vendors, tracking delivery, coding and submitting invoices; approves school purchases under a specific financial threshold.
• Serves as the first school-based point of contact regarding finance and works with the regional Finance team to ensure financial compliance and reporting.

Facilities & Maintenance

• In partnership with the Facilities Manager, oversees facilities issues, including maintenance, managing staff/vendors, aesthetics, shared space agreements, and campus safety.
• Regularly conducts facilities walkthroughs and manages the custodial staff/vendors to ensure that the facility looks the best it can.
• Ensures that the main office is neat, organized, welcoming, and has all important parent-facing materials.

Student & Family Services (School Ops; Communications; Field Trips/Events)

• Serves as the eyes and ears of the school to ensure that all school operations run seamlessly each and every day, proactively problem solving and developing systems where needed.
• Works closely with the Food Service Management Company to coordinate breakfast and lunch schedules to ensure students receive high quality meals daily.
• Submits student attendance daily to the school nutrition director.
• Oversees all aspects of transportation including, arrival and dismissal procedures. 
• Creates and manages staff duty schedules in order to ensure coverage during peak student movement.
• Owns logistics of communications and external relations through family letters, weekly staff notes, and surveys.
• Serves as point person for hosting school tours.
• Participates as a member of the attendance team, helping to reduce the chronic absenteeism rate, the total loss of academic hours, and increase overall attendance.
• Oversees and ensures student athletics runs smoothly by providing operational support.

Technology & Equipment

• Ensures that students and staff have access to needed technology and works with the Technology Team to plan technology related enhancements.
• Leads the school opening/start up process each year to ensure that doors are ready to open by ordering furniture, equipment, instructional supplies, and ensuring that student services (e.g. food service, transportation) are ready to go.
• Manages the school’s supply and asset inventory (e.g. computers, textbooks).

Student Information, Testing, and Academic Operations Support

• Manages systems for and maintains accurate student data and information in compliance with federal, state, regional and school expectations.
• Acts as point of contact for all things related to the SMS (Powerschool) such as establishing rosters, class schedules, etc.
• Works with the principal or AP to manage the logistical elements of all major student assessments.
• Manages logistics of report cards/progress reports/transcripts.
• Manage all school scheduling

Student Recruitment & Enrollment

• Develops and manages student recruitment strategy to ensure that the school begins the academic year with full classes and actively recruits to fill open seats.
• Supervises the enrollment, transfer, and re-enrollment process for students and the preparation of related files.
• Prepares and manages the student enrollment and attendance reporting for their school.
• Ensures that family info sessions, school tours, and the lottery and enrollment process are tightly planned and executed.

Risk Management, Compliance, and People Operations Administration

• Ensure that the school is prepared for emergencies by conducting all drills and training staff on emergency plans.
• Partners with the state-wide Talent Acquisition Team on the new hire process. 
• Ensures that school staff have complete, current, and accurate employee files and certifications; all personnel interacting with students have background checks on file; and schools comply with all areas of legal compliance (e.g. HR, FERPA, etc.).
• Partners with the state-wide People Operations team on any action items related to supporting the onboarding and exiting of employees.
• In collaboration with Principal and other School Leaders, reviews, approves, denies PTO (personal time off) requests. 
• Reviews time-off data to ensure accuracy and assess leave trends.
• Communicates leave needs (FMLA, Parental Leaves, COVID) and critical dates to the People Operations team, and assists in facilitation of employee leaves and returns. 

Qualifications

Required

• A deep commitment to the mission of KIPP NC and an unwavering belief in the potential of all our students.
• An unwavering commitment to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion.
• Possess a deep commitment to both racial equity and improving the lives of kids from low-income communities; experience working within low-income communities.
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 3-4 years of full time work experience in school operations or a business of similar size and complexity.
• Demonstrated management and leadership skills (e.g. at least 3 years managing a team or multiple large projects).
• Pass Criminal Background Check.
• Unwavering commitment to KIPP NC’s mission and willingness to go above and beyond to meet the needs of KIPP NC students, families, and staff.
• Strong project and time management skills; ability to effectively backwards plan, juggle multiple priorities with great attention to detail, and deliver consistent and timely results.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills with an aptitude for shifting from fire-fighting to systems-building.
• Customer service mindset, and shows urgency and the ability to proactively solve problems and make decisions quickly.
• Team player with strong interpersonal and stakeholder management and relationship building skills.
• Ability to lead, influence, and hold others accountable to upholding high standards of operational excellence.
• High level of comfort with financial oversight and budgetary tracking.
• Ability to be calm under pressure, especially in difficult conversations with parents and staff.
• Excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Powerpoint and Microsoft Excel.
• Desire to continuously learn and increase effectiveness as a professional.

Preferred

• Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Education, or similar degree.
• Minimum 3 years of full-time teaching experience and/or project management experience.
• Fluency in Spanish.
• Experience working in the high school charter school environment.

Additional Information

Total Rewards

Compensation is commensurate with years of relevant experience and can be found here.

But our commitment to compensation is not just salary-based. KIPP NC offers best-in-class benefits, including:

• All the supplies you need to do your job well, including a laptop and a high-speed internet connection at each of our schools
• Medical, vision, and dental plans that cover a lot with little out of your paycheck
• A platinum-rated 403b retirement program with an employer match that rivals those in the private sector
• Extensive professional development and support for your chosen role
• Generous time off that includes 27 holidays a year (including a week off at Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break, and Juneteenth), 17 PTO days for your first three years of service that rollover, and 6 sick days with the option to apply for extended sick leave, if needed.

Learn more about our commitment to offering the highest salaries and the best benefits in the state at https://kippnc.org/join-our-team!

KIPP North Carolina does not and shall not discriminate on the race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, disability, source of income, or status as a veteran in any of its activities or operations.