Regional Operations Director jobs in New Jersey

Company Description

About KIPP New Jersey

KIPP New Jersey is part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. In 2002, 80 fifth graders walked through the doors of our first middle school in Newark, New Jersey and KIPP New Jersey has since grown to educate 8,135 students in grades K-12 across 17 schools in Newark and Camden. More than 90% of KIPP New Jersey students currently qualify for free or reduced meals. 

By 2025, KIPP New Jersey will provide a world-class education to over 10,300 students across fifteen schools in Newark and five in Camden. To learn more, visit www.kippnj.org.

Job Description

Here's what you need to know:

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Director of Regional Operations to join our team. The Director of Regional Operations will lead and own operational functions that directly impact schools in each region. This role will involve overseeing transportation, nutrition, health services, after-school programs, and other key operational areas. Additionally, the Director of Regional Operations will lead special projects and initiatives aimed at improving operational efficiency and service delivery across the region.

Here's what you'll be doing:

Lead Regional Operations Functions:

• Manage operational areas delegated by the Managing Director of Operations (MDO), including transportation, nutrition, health services, safety, and after-school programs.
• Oversee vendor relationships and troubleshoot problem areas as needed.
• Liaise between vendor and school-based operations teams and troubleshoot problem areas
• Define standards for internal functions and roll out region-wide policies and initiatives

Liaise Between Schools and Support Teams

• Support the MDO in coordinating centralized support teams such as technology, facilities, compliance, budget, HR Ops, purchasing, and student recruitment.
• Define regional and school-based roles in service level agreements.
• Facilitate communication between school-based ops teams and support teams.
• Develop region-wide efficiencies to better support school operations.

Board Management:

• Schedule and manage all local board and committee meetings.
• Ensure compliance with state and local laws and post meetings on the website as necessary.
• Prepare agenda items, run board prep meetings, and manage board meeting logistics.
• Manage board meeting minutes, resolutions, and documentation.

Student Recruitment and Enrollment:

• Support the monitoring of student registration and recruitment initiatives.
• Coordinate with the Managing Director of Student Recruitment and Enrollment (MD of SRE) as necessary to ensure enrollment goals are met.

Purchasing, Budgeting, and Finance:

• Support MDO and finance team with annual resource allocation and budgeting process
• Work with the Finance team to develop and manage regional budgets.
• Coordinate purchases, track emergency funding requests and expenses, and manage regional stipend payouts.
• Support payroll and HR functional areas as needed.

MDO Support:

• Identify opportunities for cross-team collaboration, systemization, and efficiencies to support effective, efficient, and sustainable cross-regional systems implementation and communication.
• Develop regional systems and structures across regional teams to streamline processes and communicate effectively with key stakeholders.
• Prepare for key regional meetings, including data preparation and presentation development.
• Co-plan materials for retreats, professional development sessions, and strategic planning meetings with the MDO.

Special Projects and Initiatives:

• Lead special regional projects and initiatives as assigned, such as charter renewals or grant-funded programs.
• Collaborate with the COO on network-wide operational efforts.

Event Planning, Coordination, and Management:

• Manage regional events and coordinate logistics for meetings and special events.
• Ensure regional events are executed according to plan and milestones are met
• Manage school and regional calendar and communications.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above essential duties and responsibilities.

Skills and Abilities

• Maintains an unrelenting commitment to continuous improvement,  results-orientation and unwavering determination to ensure students and teachers succeed
• Always makes decisions in the best interest of students, striking the right balance with external constraints
• Possesses a constant focus on excellence
• Builds positive and collaborative relationships with all stakeholders
• Influences others to achieve outcomes that best support kids
• Knows what’s important and what to prioritize at all times
• Is the fastest of learners and synthesizes information quickly
• Maintains supreme flexibility, with an ability to maneuver effectively in the face of uncertainty and transition and to continuously adapt priorities while maintaining focus on goals
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and manage business systems and processes to support a growing region
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with a demonstrated ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, lead projects, meet multiple concurrent deadlines and organize time and priorities
• Ability to collaborate with a wide range of constituents and to build partnerships around common interests and goals
• Robust knowledge of public education, education reform initiatives and the charter school movement
• Sense of humor and strong interpersonal skills that contribute to a collegial working environment

Qualifications

Must Haves:

• 5 years of progressively increasing operational management experience in the context of a growing organization or business
• Bachelor’s degree required
• Previous experience in education and/or nonprofit environment strongly preferred
• Familiarity with school-based operational structures strongly preferred

The usual and customary methods of performing the job’s functions require the following physical demands:

• Weekend and evening work will be necessary to carry out the requirements of this job
• Period presence in person will be required for events, training, events and applicable meetings. 
• Travel to other KTAF regions or for work-related conferences and professional development will be required from time to time

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Additional Information

Compensation & Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, KIPP NJ offers a full comprehensive benefits plan, including health care, retirement, a school laptop, and transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into New Jersey from the New York City area.