Director of School Operations in Residence
Listed on 2026-10-08
-
Management
General Management -
Education / Teaching
- Full-time
- Start Date:
Immediate opening - Compensation: up to USD 97,000 - yearly
KIPP New Jersey is 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. In 2002, KIPP New Jersey first opened its doors in Newark’s South Ward as a single class of 80 fifth graders and has since grown to educate students in grades K-12 across 18 schools in Newark, Camden, and Paterson.
More than 90% of KIPP New Jersey students currently qualify for free or reduced meals.
The ideal Director of School Operations-in-Residence candidate is a leader seeking a future Director of School Operations (DSO) position as either a founder of new schools or successor at existing schools. You have a strong track record of successful outcomes achieved through your strategic and inspiring leadership of others.
Residents are enrolled in our rigorous Residency accelerator program to develop specific DSO-ready skills and competencies. The Residency structure includes:
- Placement at host schools to both shadow a current DSO and to take on specific leadership responsibilities at the host campus, with accountability to the results of the school(s)/teams you support
- Significant formal learning and leadership coaching provided by multiple leaders throughout the organization, including Managing Director of School Operations/Managing Director of Operations, Director of Leadership Development, Host Leaders, additional mentors, etc.
- Mid-year application for available DSO roles for the forthcoming school year
Critical Competencies and Skills
Embody a growth mindset
- Accept and effectively incorporate constructive feedback with urgency
- Operate with a high level of flexibility and ownership, taking on various leadership responsibilities to support host school(s), the region, and your unique leadership growth areas
Communicate effectively and inspirationally
- Articulate and consistently communicate a clear, compelling vision for your leadership brand and future
- Inspire others to commit to, and fulfill, outstanding outcomes
- Consistently prepare and execute highly effective meetings, professional development sessions, and presentations
- Build trusting relationships with all stakeholders across the organization
- Embody a customer service orientation to proactively communicate and solve problems with building staff and families/community members
Design, maintain, and improve systems
- Maintain excellent personal organizational systems to monitor multiple operational systems simultaneously
- Design new systems or improve existing systems to ensure all domains of the school are efficient and contributing to school goals/priorities, including systems for:
- Daily operations of facilities including arrival, dismissal, lunch, transitions, transportation, and front office operations
- Academic operations: technology, schedules, testing,
- Financial operations: purchasing
- Compliance: student and staff compliance within organizational, city and state regulations
Drive outstanding outcomes through leading others
- Create and execute data-driven strategic plans to meet goals
- Effectively manage teammates, ensuring that high performers continue thriving and struggling teammates receiv]e clear feedback, coaching, and accountability
- Effectively manage external partners (e.g. food service, facility contractors, external vendors) to ensure that all externally-provided systems run smoothly
Uphold a Culture of Excellence for staff, students, and community
- Demonstrate personal excellence at all times (consistently professional, productive, prepared, and positive)
- Embody and model our organization values:
Kid Focus,…
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