Head of Operations (NYC)

About Drive Rite Academy

Drive Rite Academy has been training drivers across New York City for over a decade. We're profitable, growing, and committed to delivering excellent instruction and customer service. We're now looking for an operational leader who can help us build scalable systems, improve efficiency, and identify opportunities to grow the business.

The Role

As Head of Operations, you'll own all operational decisions across our New York locations. You'll manage instructor teams, oversee scheduling and logistics, monitor financial performance, and build the systems and processes that allow us to operate efficiently and serve our students well. You'll also think strategically about how we can grow — whether through new partnerships, expanded services, or better utilization of our existing capacity. You'll report directly to our founders and have significant autonomy in how you approach your work.

Key Responsibilities

People Leadership

• Recruit, develop, and manage instructor and support staff across locations
• Set clear performance expectations and hold team members accountable
• Create a work environment where people want to do their best work
• Make personnel decisions within company policy

Operational Management

• Oversee daily operations across all locations — scheduling, vehicle utilization, compliance
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement solutions
• Monitor key metrics and performance data
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements

Systems & Process Building

• Document and standardize critical processes
• Implement systems and tools that reduce manual work and improve accuracy
• Create reporting and metrics dashboards that provide visibility into business performance
• Build operational infrastructure that can scale

Financial Performance

• Own profitability responsibility for all operations
• Manage budgets responsibly within approved parameters
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without sacrificing quality
• Report on financial performance to leadership with insights and recommendations

Business Growth

• Identify and evaluate opportunities to grow revenue and expand the business
• Develop relationships, partnerships, and accounts that benefit the company
• Think strategically about how to better utilize current capacity and resources
• Bring growth ideas and recommendations to leadership

What We're Looking For

Experience

• 7 years of operational management experience — service industry, education, or similar preferred
• Proven track record of growing and scaling a business
• P&L ownership — accountable for revenue and profitability, not just operations
• Experience managing multiple teams or locations

Skills & Approach

• Strong analytical skills — you work with data and metrics
• Problem-solving mindset — you diagnose issues and implement solutions
• Good judgment — you make sound decisions with incomplete information
• Systems thinking — you understand how different parts of a business connect
• People skills — you build trust with your team and hold people accountable

Who You Are

• You take ownership — you don't blame circumstances or other people
• You're comfortable moving fast and making decisions without extensive approval
• You're entrepreneurial — you see opportunities and pursue them
• You value building something meaningful over working for a big brand
• You're reliable and follow through on commitments

Compensation

Base salary: $130,000 - $150,000 plus performance bonus up to $50,000 annually based on achieving targets around profitability growth, revenue growth, operational efficiency, and team retention. Total compensation potential: $180,000 - $200,000 . We believe in aligning compensation with results — the more you grow the business, the more you earn.