Director of Academic Operations

Company Description

About Us

KIPP TEAM & Family is our network office that includes support teams - such as Leadership Development, Recruitment, Advocacy, Facilities, Finance, HR and more - dedicated to empowering our schools and ensuring the success of KIPP students throughout New Jersey and Miami. Our schools are part of the nationally recognized "Knowledge Is Power Program" network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life.

The first KIPP New Jersey school opened in Newark in 2002 and since then our school network has expanded to educate 8,684 students in grades K-12. By 2027, KIPP New Jersey will provide a world-class education to over 10,300 students across Newark and Camden. To learn more, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

In 2018, we grew our KIPP community in response to a need for high-quality school options for students in Greater Miami's Urban Core communities. That led to the creation of KIPP Miami, which currently educates more than 1,200 students in 2 schools, with plans to reach 5,800 students by 2026. By offering highly effective educators with strong bonds to families, more time in school learning, services that support a variety of student needs, and a culture focused on achievement, our students in New Jersey and Miami are on the path to and through college, career, and choice-filled lives.

Job Description

Role Summary

The Director of Academic Operations is responsible for ensuring that all KIPP New Jersey and KIPP Miami schools execute academic operations with excellence and consistency. Reporting to the Deputy Chief Academic Officer (CAO), this leader manages the systems, policies, and processes that enable effective teaching and learning across the network.

The Director oversees the implementation of academic policies, state testing, instructional technology, curriculum purchasing, and school scheduling. They partner closely with regional operations, school leaders, and the academic team to ensure that all schools have the tools, guidance, and support needed to drive strong student outcomes and uphold compliance standards.

The Director sits on the CAO Command Center Team. This team works to integrate the work of our teaching and learning teams, special education teams and school management teams throughout the organization. These strands of our organization report up through the CAO, and are complex and high touch. The CAO Command Center team works to ensure all teams under the CAO umbrella are high performing and driving outcomes for students.

The CAO Command Center team works to integrate these teams with central office functions such as operations, data, finance and talent.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Policy Leadership

* Lead the communication, and implementation of all academic policies, including grading, promotion, and retention.

* Partner with the CAO, achievement directors, and school leaders to ensure consistent and equitable policy execution across schools.

* Provide ongoing training and resources to school-based teams to ensure policies are clearly understood and effectively applied.

* Monitor compliance with academic policies and support schools in resolving edge cases or unique student situations.

ES and MS State Testing & Assessment Operations

* Serve as the network's organizational lead for all state and national testing programs.

* Oversee test coordination, logistics, and compliance for KIPP NJ and KIPP Miami, and any prospective future sites for growth, ensuring accuracy and adherence to state regulations.

* Manage relationships with testing vendors and state agencies to ensure smooth administration and timely data reporting.

* Partner with the Data and Technology teams to ensure test systems integrate effectively with student information platforms.

Curriculum Purchasing & Resource Management

* Manage curriculum purchasing and distribution in partnership with network and regional operations teams.

* Oversee vendor relationships, contracts, and renewals for all curriculum and instructional resources.

* Support in the maintenance of accurate records of orders, inventory, and school-level needs to…