Director of School Operations

Job Description

Director of School Operations | KIPP Foundation

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at KIPP Foundation, located in New Orleans, LA. KIPP Foundation supports a national network of K-12 public charter schools, dedicated to creating joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students for college and life. This critical role leads all non-instructional campus systems on a shared PreK–8 campus, enabling School Leaders and teachers to maximize student learning and culture. This position is essential for ensuring an equitable, safe, and efficient experience across both schools.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, New Orleans, LA

• Team: Leads a school-based operations team, partnering with Regional Director of School Operations and School Leaders.
• Mission: Owns all non-instructional campus operations to ensure an equitable, safe, and efficient experience for students, families, and staff.
• Tech Stack: PowerSchool/Infinite Campus, Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, Asana, Trello, Jira, Excel/Sheets

What You’ll Actually Do
• Strategy & Vision: Lead campus operations strategy, defining the operating model, goals, and KPIs to ensure alignment with academic objectives and cultural goals.
• People Leadership: Manage and develop the school-based operations team, setting clear expectations and fostering a high-performance, service-oriented culture.
• Financial Management: Oversee comprehensive financial management, including budget strategy, purchasing controls, and audit readiness, to ensure fiscal health and sustainability.
• Core Operations Systems: Direct critical services such as front office, transportation, food service, communications, and events, ensuring high-quality, safe, and compliant delivery.
• Student Systems: Drive student-focused systems, including enrollment, attendance, data compliance, and testing, to meet targets and ensure accurate record-keeping.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s Degree; 7+ years total operations experience, including 2+ years leading school or site operations teams; direct experience in K-12 or youth-serving non-profit with facilities, compliance, or business operations ownership.
• Experience: Proven budget management and vendor/contracts oversight, with a deep understanding of K-12 compliance basics (FERPA, IDEA-related operational requirements, student attendance/enrollment rules, safety/emergency procedures).
• Skills: Proficient SIS familiarity (e.g., PowerSchool/Infinite Campus), strong Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 skills, experience with project/issue tracking tools (Asana, Trello, Jira) and ticketing/help desk practices, intermediate Excel/Sheets (pivot tables, lookups), and basic dashboard literacy.
• Bonus: Master’s degree (MBA, MPA/MPP, Ed Admin), experience scaling operations across multiple campuses, RFP/contract negotiation skills, fluency in a second language (e.g., Spanish), or crisis management certification.