Director of School Operations

Director of School Operations

OUR MISSION

Innovation Charter High School (“Innovation”) nurtures students to be academically successful, mature, emotionally healthy, and equipped to lead self-directed and fulfilling lives. We embrace all students and we empower them to adapt, excel, innovate and lead. By instilling our core values of collaboration, tolerance, respect, activism, safety, and innovation, students will graduate prepared for success in college and careers.

ABOUT INNOVATION

Innovation Charter High School opened in 2010 to meet the needs of underserved youth in East Harlem, Upper Manhattan, and the Bronx. Since its founding, Innovation students have applied what they learn in the classroom to the real world through project-based and experiential learning. These experiences are transformative and prepare them for life after graduation.

Today, Innovation’s 50 instructional and student support staff serve just over 400 students. About 30% of our students have IEPs and over 90% are economically disadvantaged. We embrace all students, address their needs, and help them to realize their potential, through creative and engaging instruction with a college and career readiness focus. Innovation takes a restorative approach to discipline and focuses on building a collaborative school culture. We have developed close ties with the East Harlem community and with our co-located neighbor schools. We were the first charter school in New York City with a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program (in the culinary arts) and the only charter school to participate in the NYC DOE’s Software Engineering Pilot. Innovation students participate in a wide variety of sports, clubs, and extracurricular programs including performing arts, Science Technology Engineering and Math, National Honors Society, hydroponic gardening, and many more.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Principal, the Director of School Operations (DSO) serves as the leader of all school operations and is responsible for the development and maintenance of structures that create the conditions for staff to support Innovation students and for Innovation students to learn and thrive.
The DSO is a member of Innovation’s highly collaborative School Management Team (SMT), along with the Principal, Assistant Principal of STEM Instruction, Assistant Principal of Humanities & Intervention, and Director of College & Career Success and CTE. The DSO supervises approximately 10 staff working across various functions including human resources/talent, finance/business operations, family and community engagement, communications and school events, student recruitment/enrollment, data/compliance and reporting, and facilities/technology, while also collaborating closely with other SMT members, the Board of Trustees, and various external vendors and partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The DSO is tasked with the following responsibilities, leveraging the Operations team:

Human Resources & Talent Acquisition (20%)

• Collaborate with the Principal and other SMT members to conduct effective workforce planning; Plan and manage the effective recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of highly qualified, mission aligned staff
• Manage staff compensation setting, performance evaluation, and termination processes in a manner that aligned with best practice, compliant with relevant laws and regulations, and grounded in Innovation’s values
• Collaborate with insurance broker and other vendors or partners to maintain a “best fit” benefits plan/total rewards that is aligned to the school’s budget and staff needs
• Ensure the school’s compliance with workplace and employment laws, required record-keeping, and teacher certification

Financial Management & Business Operations (20%)

• Effectively manage the school's financial resources, in accordance with the school’s Financial Policy & Procedures Manual and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, to build long-term sustainability and to support the school's mission
• Develop a sustainable annual budget that meets the school’s needs in collaboration with the Principal and Board of Trustees
• Work with outsourced financial planning support, the Principal, and the Board of Trustees to ensure financial stability, sound fiscal planning, effective asset management, adequate insurance and risk management, and full compliance with government and charter audit requirements

Reporting/Compliance & Data Management (15%)

• Manage reporting to Innovation’s charter authorizer, NYSED, US DoE and other oversight entities, including data related to student discipline, students with disabilities, teacher certification, and charter renewal; Maintain an accurate reporting/compliance calendar and collaborate across teams to ensure the effective ongoing tracking of all relevant data and information
• Collaborate with and support the Board to ensure effective  legal and procedural requirements related to governance, such as review and approval of the annual budget, Annual Report, audited financial statement, review of executive personnel, and Form 990 as well as oversight of meeting logistics, record keeping, and compliance with the New York Open Meetings Law
• Support school-wide efforts to leverage data for decision-making including collection, management, analysis, sharing, and action planning

Family Engagement & Student Recruitment/Enrollment (15%)

• Maintain effective Front Office policies, procedures, and team management in order to effectively interface with the Innovation community
• Lead Innovation’s student recruitment and enrollment efforts including effective strategy development, goal-setting, resource allocation, marketing, and supervision of key staff
• Collaborate with SMT members and other staff to plan effective Parent/Teacher Conferences, engagement with the PTO, and a variety of events and opportunities for family involvement throughout the year
• Support collaboration with Counseling, College & Career Readiness, and other Innovation teams involved in Innovation’s full-service community school supports focused on youth mental health, substance use, vision exams, and other community needs

Team & School Leadership (10%)

• Ensure that all operations workstreams are delivered efficiently and effectively through appropriate resource allocation, prioritization, project management, and staff supervision
• Serve as the senior leader of the Operations team and work to create clarity and cohesion across Operations workstreams in addition to supervision of individual team members through delegation, performance management, and support/professional learning
• Collaborate with the Principal and other members of the SMT to communicate the school’s vision and strategy and lead the school community to results for Innovation students and families; Make periodic reports to the Board of Trustees on relevant topics in collaboration with the Principal

Facilities/Technology/Safety (10%)

• Lead Innovation’s efforts to maintain a safe, welcoming space and effective purchasing and maintenance of school materials, supplies, and equipment
• Ensure that the Operations team effectively interfaces with relevant vendors, consultants, co-located schools and community-based organizations, Building Council, School Safety, and other stakeholders in the JHS 99 Complex
• Lead Innovation’s efforts to maintain effective, appropriate technology infrastructure for students, families, and staff

School Culture & Community (10%)

• Maintain a consistent, visible presence throughout the school and model healthy adult-youth relationships and other behaviors that exemplify Innovation’s core values
• Collaborate with others on the School Management Team to ensure that arrival, lunch, dismissal, transitions, and other spaces are aligned to Innovation’s vision for school culture and serve as the adult presence in these spaces whenever necessary
• Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous reflection, and improvement among staff to enhance student outcomes

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

• Minimum of three years in charter school operations leadership required (five or more years preferred)
• Strong track record of systems or process development and leadership of school-wide initiatives
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and collaboration with other leaders is required; Experience supporting or collaborating with Boards or other governance entities is preferred
• Experience leading the human resources/talent function in an education setting is required
• Experience leading or supporting school financial management is required and may include budget development and management, procurement, or management of school finance vendors, auditors, or other outsourced support
• Experience with family engagement programming required; Track record of leading school events, family involvement, student leadership, and community engagement preferred
• Experience working in schools that support underserved communities and/or student populations in urban areas is highly preferred

Skills & Knowledge

• Knowledge of New York charter school compliance, reporting, and regulations
• Strong project management skills, detail orientation, and capacity to lead work that is high-stakes, complex, and cross-functional
• Strong team management skills such as capacity to motivate and inspire teams, demonstrated ability to effectively lead through empowering others, and a balance of clear expectations, support, and accountability
• Interpersonal leadership skills such as strong ability to establish relationships, communicate collaboratively, set boundaries, hold space for difficult conversations, and build investment with a variety of stakeholder groups and individuals across a school community
• Deep understanding of talent acquisition, employee benefits/total rewards, performance management, and/or other essential aspects of human resources
• Knowledge of financial management systems and best practices for schools is highly preferred
• Knowledge of student information systems, registration/enrollment, and recruitment is preferred

Values & Mindset

• Passion for Innovation’s core values of collaboration, tolerance, respect, activism, safety, and innovation; Consistently model these values
• Deeply held belief in the power of diversity and community; An assets-based orientation to students, families, community, and staff, and a commitment to a school environment that fosters and respects the voices and opinions of students
• Deeply held belief in inclusive classrooms, in the value of high expectations, and in the idea that all learners deserve to have their needs met
• Adaptability, a solution orientation, and a systematic approach to achieving results
• Commitment to authentic collaboration and to the development and empowerment of leaders throughout the school community
• Belief in the importance of holistic support for young people, including restorative practices to strengthen relationships, and a full-service community school approach to meet the wide-ranging needs of students and families

Other Qualifications

• Bachelors degree required; Masters or other graduate degree in a relevant field highly preferred
• SHRM, PMP, or other relevant certifications are a plus
• Spanish language skills are highly preferred
• Authorization to work in the United States required

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time, 12-month position and the ideal start date is mid-September, though an earlier start date is possible. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications and is in the range of $120,000 - $140,000 per year. Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with an employer matching contribution of up to 5%.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Innovation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

*This search is being supported by talent consultant, Mike Jolley. Any questions or referrals can be directed to Mike at michael.jolley@innovationhs.org.

Salary : $120,000 - $140,000