Chief Academic Officer jobs in Oklahoma

WHO WE ARE

At Tulsa Honor Academy (THA), we are on a mission to equip all scholars with the academic skills, content knowledge, and ethical character required for college graduation and life success.

We believe ALL scholars, regardless of race, background, income or ability, can achieve at high levels. We work relentlessly to ensure 100% of scholars are on a path to go to and graduate from a college of their choice, beginning in the fifth grade. 

Opening our doors in 2015 with 92 fifth grade scholars, THA will grow to serve over 1,300 scholars in grades 5-12 across our two campuses in the 2024-2025 academic year. 

When you join the THA Familia, you are joining a team with an unwavering commitment to ensuring scholars in our community have access to a high-quality, college preparatory education. One that is focused on developing successful college graduates who will become well-rounded, engaged individuals who will transform their communities. 

Candidates must share our unshakeable belief that all scholars can achieve when given the opportunity. Sound like you? 

WHO YOU ARE

• You are a firm believer that all scholars can go to and graduate from college
• You demonstrate a commitment to structure knowing that school-wide and network-wide systems are critical elements of our scholars’ success and network-wide systems support consistency and equity
• You thrive on variety and constantly grow.  Your role may change every day.  You get energy from continual learning and diversity in the day.  You have high expectations, always seek feedback, and continue to heighten expectations.
• You both are proactive and responsive.  You fix and prevent problems. You plan ahead to anticipate needs and are responsive when a need cannot be anticipated. You always have a plan but you always plan to be flexible.  
• You lead.  Whether through formal positional authority or not, you model what is expected.  You mean what you say and say what you mean.

WHAT YOU’LL DO 

THA is looking for its next Chief Operations Officer/Chief Financial Officer to lead THA’s day-to-day and long-term strategic operations.  The COO/CFO  is a critical leader, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serving on THA’s executive team with a scope that is both broad and deep to ensure that THA operates a sustainable organization that is capable of accomplishing our mission and vision.  The COO/CFO is responsible for all operations oversight and for school operations excellence and, as such,  leads a number of functions at Tulsa Honor Academy. Such functions may include, but are not limited to finance, accountability, emergency management, school operations, vendor management, enrollment, and facilities. 

The ideal candidate is strongly aligned to THA’s mission and vision and is a strategic and systems-oriented leader who both sees the big picture, how the pieces fit together, and can craft and lead the nitty gritty that allows us to get there.

Responsibilities of the role may be adjusted, based on THA’s needs and the candidate selected, and the final title may be Chief Operations Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or Chief Operations and Financial Officer.

The selected candidate will start by July 1, 2024 with the opportunity to begin earlier, depending on THA’s needs and the candidate selected.

While we will review applications on a rolling basis and keep this posting available until filled,  the priority application deadline is March 8.

Core Commitments 

• It is hard, but joyful - for kids and adults. We work hard, but love just as hard.
  • Develop a palpably positive school climate with frequent and authentic instances of shared smiling, laughter and enthusiasm where joy is deeply rooted in achievement, the content, and team/individual successes. 
  • Believe that scholar actions and mindsets stem from adult actions and mindsets.
• Back-to-basics, liberal arts school - We have a fundamental belief in teaching kids to be critical thinkers through ELA and STEM.
  • Display that you value risk-taking, especially when the work is challenging.
• Structure Driven School - We sacrifice autonomy in exchange for consistency and commitment to a shared definition of excellence.
  • Sweat the small stuff 
  • Believe that scholars want and need to be held to a higher standard and that scholars are capable of making good choices
  • Teach and enforce school-wide systems, rules and consequences, disciplinary codes, and rewards at all times
  • Know that warm and strict are not opposites 
• Team, team, team - We support our community, learn from one another and respect each other enough to hold high expectations for ourselves and our scholars. 
  • Value parents as our partners
  • Model what we expect because we know adults drive culture 
  • Believe in a all hands on deck mentality 
• Constant Improvement -We model what it really means to receive feedback. 
  • Gain energy from the feedback cycle, not lose it 
  • Looking in the mirror rather than pointing out the window 
  • Use feedback to make productive changes in performance
• Diversity and Equity - We believe institutions thrive with diverse people and backgrounds
  • Ensure our community is an inclusive and safe place
• People, paper, college - What we invest in says a lot about what we prioritize 
  • Developing rigorous instructional materials 
  • Supporting teammates, families and scholars 
  • Do whatever it takes to ensure our scholars go to and graduate from college 

Core Responsibilities

• Sustainable Budgeting and Planning: THA's long-term and annual budgets are sustainable and supports THA's strategic plan goals.
• Effective Operations Systems: THA's network-wide operations systems, including payroll, data, technology, compliance, etc. are efficient and effective, meeting both internal and external metrics for success.
• School Operations Excellence: THA's school operations systems are clear with appropriate documentation and oversight for school leaders to effectively meet standards.
• Long-Term Facilities: THA's facilities support THA's needs and strategic plan. Our facilities are safe and clean learning environments for our scholars and community.
• Executive Leadership: THA's COO/CFO is an effective leader and thought partner for THA's executive leadership team, broader leadership team, and network team. The COO/CFO pushes forward THA's long-term strategic plan and ensures it  is achievable and measurable.

Note that the specific responsibilities of our leadership team, especially our executive leadership team, can vary significantly based on THA’s needs, and the core responsibilities listed above are just that, core.  Additional specific responsibilities (such as COVID-19) will always be expected in response to THA’s needs.  

THE DETAILS

Qualifications/Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree required

Experience

• 5 years of experience at a school, district, or CMO with at least 3 years of experience related to operations
  • 10 or more years of experience in education is strongly preferred.
  • Specific expertise in school finance and budgeting and accountability are strongly preferred
• At least 2 years of experience in leadership at a school, district, or CMO
• Prior experience in a school serving a similar population to THA’s is preferred 
• Charter school experience is strongly preferred 

Role

• The Chief Operations Officer/Chief Financial Officer will lead THA’s Network Team and report directly to the Chief Executive Officer
• Full time, year round, exempt. 

Compensation and Benefits 

• THA’s starting salary range for the executive team begins at $100,000. Salary is commensurate with experience in the education field. THA’s compensation includes a comprehensive benefits package. To learn more about THA’s benefits, visit tulsahonor.org/careers.