Director of Academic Operations

About Ascend

Ascend is Brooklyn’s premier K–12 public charter network, committed to graduating high-achieving students who have access to boundless choice in their futures—not only through college acceptance, but through meaningful preparation for career readiness and thriving adult lives.

Across our schools, we pair rigorous academics with strong systems, supportive adult culture, and a deep belief in students’ brilliance and potential. Our work is grounded in the understanding that preparing students for long-term success requires excellence in instruction, intentional culture-building, and disciplined execution at every level of the organization.

At Ascend, adults are held to high standards because our students deserve nothing less. How we teach, lead, collaborate, and make decisions every day directly shapes the opportunities our students will have tomorrow.

Join us in shaping learning environments where curiosity is nurtured, excellence is the norm, and every student is prepared for a lifetime of boundless choice.

About the Role

The Director of Academic Operations is the operational owner of academic materials, systems, and assessments at Ascend. This role translates the instructional vision set by Teaching & Learning into practical, compliant, and scalable materials and procedures. This position does not set instructional vision, determine pedagogy, or make independent content decisions. Instead, the Director ensures all academic materials are accurate, accessible, aligned, and ready on time, protecting quality and consistency across schools while preventing duplication, version errors, and compliance risk.

This role serves as the bridge between the Teaching & Learning strategy and school-level execution, ensuring Ascend’s instructional vision is operationalized with precision through high-quality materials, compliant assessments, and well-maintained academic systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
• 8 years of professional experience, with at least 4 years in leadership roles managing operations and systems
• Strong familiarity with academic programming, curriculum, and assessments across the K-12 ecosystem is preferred

Skills and Traits

• Strategic thinker who can set vision while managing execution
• Experienced people leader who develops talent and builds strong teams
• Excellent project and operations management skills with the ability to oversee multiple large-scale workstreams
• Skilled communicator who can partner across diverse stakeholders and functions
• Commitment to educational equity and Ascend’s mission

Responsibilities

Publications & Curricular Materials Management

• Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of curricular and assessment materials, including development, editing, review, and publication.
• Establish and enforce quality standards for instructional materials, grading systems, and internal assessments.
• Manage the development and maintenance of item banks across content areas and grade levels.
• Partner with the Teaching and Learning team and the Testing Operations team to ensure instructional materials needs are being tracked and fulfilled.
• Partner with Student Support Services to ensure instructional materials meet accessibility and student support requirements.

Assessment Compliance & Testing Readiness Operations

• Establish and maintain assessment standards, specifications, and processes to ensure rigor, accessibility, and compliance.
• Oversee the creation, maintenance, and implementation of internal assessments.
• Coordinate with Teaching & Learning, Testing Operations, and school leadership to ensure readiness and compliance for external exams.
• Ensure alignment of materials, timelines, and communication across stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain master assessment and academic calendars.

Digital Platform Maintenance & Support

• Oversee organization, version control, and access for curriculum and assessment materials across digital platforms.
• Ensure effective implementation and maintenance of curriculum and assessment systems (e.g., Pear, AimsWeb).
• Support staff training and troubleshoot issues related to academic materials and digital tools.

Team Leadership & Management

• Manage Academic Operations team staff.
• Provide coaching and ensure strong execution, quality, and accountability.

Staff and Reporting Relationships

The Director of Academic Operations reports to the Senior Director of Academic Operations. This leader partners closely with curriculum leaders, school-based staff, and other network teams.

Compensation

The salary for this position begins at $95,000. Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience and levels of attained education.

Location & Work Arrangement

• Based in our Brooklyn, NY office
• Hybrid work schedule requiring in-office presence at least three days per week

In-person work expectations include network office time, stakeholder meetings, school visits, special events, and other role-specific responsibilities as determined by management.

This is a full-time, exempt position that offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching
• Generous paid time off and additional employee benefits