Regional Director of Operations

About Achievement First

Achievement First (AF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that currently supports 41 public charter schools in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Consistently rated as one of the top charter school networks in the country for almost 25 years, AF is committed to continuous improvement, programmatic evolution for enhanced student outcomes, and sustainable growth. The majority of AF students are Black and Latinx children from low-income families who will be the first in their families to graduate from college.

AF currently employs more than 2,200 staff — 61% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, and Multi-racial — who collectively educate nearly 15,000 students in Brooklyn and Queens, NY;
New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford, CT; and Providence, RI.

The mission of Achievement First is to deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all of America’s children. AF knows that every child—regardless of race, zip code, or economic status—deserves access to great schools. At AF, students realize their potential and develop the skills they need to graduate from high school, succeed in college, thrive in a competitive world, and serve as the next generation of leaders in their communities.

At AF, students and staff embark on a shared journey to fulfill their incredible potential.

Achievement First is currently seeking a strategic and dynamic New York
Regional Director of Operations (RDO) to coach, support, and develop operational school leaders to meet their ambitious school performance goals.

The RDO will oversee the school and regional operational program in a portfolio of 5-8 schools, in conjunction with your manager, the New York Associate Chief of School Operations. They will pursue racial equity for all stakeholders in their portfolio, through strong relationship building, strong talent practices, data analysis and professional development. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an educator with school-based operations management experience to work closely with high performing, results-oriented directors of school operations and serve as a thought partner with regional superintendents, principals, multiple teams throughout the network and the organization’s senior leaders.

The Regional Director of Operations reports directly to the New York Associate Chief of School Operations. The role is part of the larger regional leadership team and the team works together to ensure that all AF schools succeed.

• Ensure that all schools meet core performance outcomes and achieve key operational performance metrics in all areas. Examples of this work include the following, all with a racial equity lens:
  • Plan frequent operational observation days; highlight areas of strength and improvement during the day; work hand-in-hand with directors of school operations to address areas of school operations improvement.
  • Regularly review key operational performance data to spot strengths and growth areas; work with directors of school operations to develop clear plans to address growth areas.
  • Work with directors of school operations to set ops team members performance and learning/development goals for the year.
  • Problem-solve solutions to challenges common to all schools in network-wide forums (meetings, conference calls, etc.)
• Drive strong talent practices at schools to build a diverse and inclusive community, and support, coach, train and supervise directors of school operations and other operations team members to help develop leadership power skills:
  • Hold regular meetings with each director of school operations (reflection/data review, problem-solve around pressing issues,…