Operations Lead - Connor Kids Academy

A rare role running the operation behind a fast-growing youth program, with a direct impact on the boys we serve and no ceiling on where you can take it.

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Connor Kids Academy is a three-year enrichment program for under-resourced boys that uses sports as the hook to teach healthy habits and good choices. We launched in 2021 in one city. Today we’re in five cities across three states serving 350 boys, with a sixth opening in 2027. We’re looking for someone to help the Director run the program, and eventually own how it runs.

A few things worth knowing before you apply:

• This is an operations job, not a sports job. You’ll run everything behind the program: events, enrollment, logistics, vendors, partners, data. If direct sports interaction is what you’re after, this isn’t the role.
• We work hard. This is a full-time, in-person role based in our office between Dayton and Cincinnati, about 85% in the office and 15% on the ground in our markets. Plan on 50 to 55 hours a week, including some Saturdays. Events cluster in three windows (April, July, and October) when most of the travel and occasional overnight stays happen. There is some other travel for site visits and school presentations. Hours are predictable, and outside of event windows, they’re consistent.
• We’re relentless about improving the program. We refine how we operate as we learn what helps boys most, so a year from now it may not look exactly like it does today. We want someone who finds that exciting rather than unsettling, because the same drive that keeps us improving is what opens room for you to grow.

This role is for you if:

• You own outcomes, not tasks. When something breaks, you fix it without waiting to be asked.
• You hold the standard for yourself and everyone around you, and you’re comfortable holding the line when it matters.
• You sweat the details. You catch the small things before they turn into big things.
• You build trust fast, with anyone. Boys, parents, schools, vendors, staff.
• You outwork the room. A hard week energizes you.

This probably isn’t the right fit if:

• You’re looking for a sports-industry job.
• You want a 40-hour week with no weekends or travel.
• You’d rather be handed a finished playbook than help write one.
• You see change as something to put up with.

About the role

You’ll be the second full-time member of the CKA team, working very closely with the Director. You will take on more of the day-to-day operations over time, with the goal of fully running them yourself after 12 months. You won’t just execute events and enrollment. You’ll make sure they run consistently, at a high standard, and in a way that holds up as we grow.

The impact you’ll have

This isn’t a job where you keep someone else’s plan running. You’ll shape how CKA operates, and through that, how much we change the lives of the boys we serve. Your decisions will show up directly in the experience of the 350 boys in the program today, and the many more who join as we grow. There’s no ceiling here.

What you’ll own

• Event operations across all cities: planning, logistics, execution, and ongoing improvement
• Participant recruitment and enrollment through school outreach and digital efforts
• Vendor, partner, and staff accountability to CKA standards
• Operational data, and acting on what it tells you
• Real-time decisions that keep events on track
• Clear, proactive communication with participants, families, and partners

What we’re looking for

• A track record of owning complex projects or operations start to finish
• The ability to manage many priorities at once without letting things slip
• Clear, confident communication, in writing and in person
• A genuine willingness to work 50 to 55 hours a week, including some Saturdays, with travel during event season

Helpful, but not required

• Experience running high-stakes events (weddings, conferences, fundraisers)
• Multi-site or multi-city operational experience

What you get

• A direct, lasting impact on the lives of under-resourced boys
• Target compensation of $75,000 to $100,000, commensurate with your experience and skills
• The potential for equity ownership in The Connor Group ($5B in assets)
• A 2026 USA Today Top Workplace
• Strong health benefits and 401(k)
• A performance-driven, reward-and-recognition culture

How to apply

There’s no portal or cover letter. A real human reads every submission.

Email admin@connorkidsacademy.org with the subject line "Operations Lead - [Your Name]," attach your resume as a PDF, and answer these three questions. Give yourself about 30 minutes.

1. Tell us about something you owned from start to finish. It was broken, missing, or not good enough when you got it, and better when you were done. What was going on, what did you actually do, and how did you know it worked? Be specific; numbers help. (200 words max)
2. You’ve got a signed agreement with a local caterer for the Nashville spring event, but they haven’t responded to your emails since you signed it. The event is in five days. Walk us through your thought process. (150 words max)
3. Above, we told you who this job isn’t for. Why do you want this job, and what part are you least sure about? (150 words max)

We’ll reply within a week. If it’s a fit, the next step is an interview, in person if you’re local and over video if not.