Director of Academic Operations

Company Description

KIPP — the largest nonprofit network of college-preparatory, public charter schools in the nation—has demonstrated, at scale, that all children have the potential to excel academically regardless of race or zip code. KIPP currently serves over 120,000 students in 270 schools nationwide, including Indianapolis. KIPP Indy Public Schools (KIPP Indy) was founded in 2004 with one class of fifth-grade students and has grown to serve 1,400 students across three schools. Of the students that attend KIPP Indy, 93% qualify for free and reduced lunch, 95% are African American or LatinX, 16% receive special education services, and 15% are designated as Multilingual Learners. As we continue to grow, our mission remains the same: to create joyful, academically excellent schools in which teachers, students, and families are all united around the same goal of preparing students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose —college, career, and beyond— so they can lead fulfilling lives and create a more just world.

Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

KIPP Indy Public Schools seeks an experienced Director of Academic Operations (DAO) who will serve as a project manager, coordinator, and organizer for the Academics team. This role will be an essential support partner to the Head of Schools and the Academics Teams. They will partner closely with KIPP Indy school leaders, instructional staff, and external stakeholders. DAO will be a member of KIPP Indy’s regional team and will have the unique opportunity to ensure seamless, proactive support and structures that will contribute to the overall impact of KIPP Indy.

Responsibilities

Initiative Organization and Management

• Execute the implementation of Academic based strategic initiative priorities in pursuit of achieving organizational goals.
• Track and progress monitor against large-scale Academic priorities and initiatives, work closely with the Academics team leaders to gather relevant data, and project manage accordingly.
• Perform research and develop activities to determine whether new initiatives are viable and worthy of prioritization for the Academics Team efforts.
• Maintain existing partnerships and lead the exploration of new vendors, opportunities and program priorities, including serving as a liaison with the Indianapolis Office of Education Innovation, our authorizer as needed.
• Serve as the lead project manager and problem solver for academic program initiative efforts, moving into launch and implementation.
• Design tools and systems for high-level accountability tracking academic program requirements.
• Manage several high impacts, academic strategic projects for the Academics team, to be determined collaboratively with the Head of Schools; and
• Additional duties as assigned
  
  

Content Creation

• Create visually appealing content that successfully communicates compelling and meaningful messages.
• Uses data to create presentations, one-pagers, online content, and other media to support team recommendations
  
  

Project & Systems Management

• Determine the priority level of various projects to be completed and take initiative to create action plans and move forward
• Create long-and short-term plans, including setting targets for milestones and adhering to deadlines
• Delegate tasks on the project to team members best positions to complete them.
• Make effective decisions when presented with multiple options for how to progress with the project
• Communicate with team members, school-based staff or other KIPP Indy staff to keep the projects aligned with their goals and on deadline
• Adjust schedules and targets on projects as needed for the project change
• Create systems for tracking the team’s long and short-term plans, including setting targets for milestones and adhering to deadlines
  
  

Relationship Management

• Cultivate and manage relationship with members of the region-wide leadership team and other critical stakeholders, especially Head of Schools, school leaders, and members of the school leadership teams
• Meet and manage relationships with regional leaders and other critical stakeholders and synthesize their concerns, challenges, and ideas into easily understandable and actionable recommendations.
  
  

Special Projects

• Lead strategic initiatives and special projects as determined by the Head of Schools that are critical to KIPP Indy’s long-term success
  
  

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in education or related fields
• Deep belief in being part of and helping lead a multi-cultural, anti-racist organization
• Team-player capable of working both collaboratively and independently
• Highly organized, resourceful, and accountable, with strong attention to follow through and detail
• Proactive and creative problem-solver; ability to identify, analyze, and recommend solutions
• Track record of exceptional results
  
  

Additional Information

The salary for this position is $72,000

Salary is commensurate with experience and includes a highly competitive benefits package. Opportunities for performance-based bonuses are also available.

KIPP Indy Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.