Director of School Operations in Residence

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.

• 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

• 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 receive 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, Radical Love, Excellence, TEAM, Fun
  • Consistently reinforce high expectations for all students and all teammates all the time, using motivation, clarity, and accountability appropriately and effectively
  • Engage families and community stakeholders proactively and productively as partners in school goals
  • Contribute positively and productively on all teams (Resident cohort, host school teams, regional teams, etc.)

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Demonstrated student achievement results from teachers and leaders that the leader manages and coaches
• Ability to develop and manage multiple projects simultaneously and comfortably with ambiguity
• Ability to troubleshoot and…