KIPP Columbus, a growing network of free, open-enrollment public schools in Columbus, Ohio, invites passionate individuals to apply for the position of Vice President, Operations. The Vice President, Operations position at KIPP Columbus is the ideal position for someone with a deep belief in the KIPP Columbus mission, a hunger to create excellence in process and product, and the mindset that all students can and will achieve.

KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open enrollment, college preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and life. There are 255 KIPP schools across the nation and the District of Columbia, serving more than 100,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are graduating at 3x the national average for low-income students.

Founded in 2008 with 50 students in 5th grade, KIPP Columbus currently serves nearly 2,000 students in grades Kindergarten through twelfth. During the 2018-2019 school year, and for the third year in a row, KIPP Columbus had the highest amount of academic growth of any community school in Ohio.

The mission of KIPP Columbus is to create a system of schools where students develop the intellectual, academic, and social skills needed to understand and take action on issues they encounter in everyday life. By establishing a rigorous, safe, and personalized learning environment, KIPP Columbus will foster a culture of responsibility and service and empower all students to become active and engaged citizens.  Our vision is to ensure that all students in our community will have access to a transformational education that empowers them with the knowledge, skills, and character necessary for success in college and life.

What Sets Us Apart: 

• Our Team and Family: KIPP Columbus has incredible people creating transformational impact every day in partnership with our students, families, and community.
• Results: For the past several years, KIPP Columbus had the highest amount of academic growth of any community school in Ohio and amongst the top of any in Ohio, continuing to be a proof point of what is possible in public education. 
• Alumni Impact: 2020 marked the first class of graduating seniors from KIPP Columbus High (100% graduation rate and over $9M in scholarships awarded) and the first class of graduating alumni from college. 
• Community Partnership: KIPP Columbus has over 100 community partners that are deeply committed to serving as a resource hub to the community. Examples of our partnerships include, but are not limited to: a local hospital, The Urban League, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, a partnership with PAST Foundation that provides weekly STEM science programming to KIPPsters in K-12, as well as science summer camps for local students. 
• Facilities: The campus sits on a 125-acre former golf course turned into a state-of-the-art, award-winning space that is home to KIPP Columbus Elementary, KIPP Columbus Primary, KIPP Columbus Middle, KIPP Columbus High, the Battelle Environmental Center, the KIPP Columbus Early Learning Center, and the KIPP Athletics and Wellness Complex. Learn more and see the innovative campus here. 
• Growth: KIPP Columbus is in the midst of an extremely exciting time as it engages in the process of expanding its campus to accommodate its aspirations to more than double the number of students educated by 2025. The campus currently has a wait list of over 2,500 students, and with this expansion, KIPP Columbus will be able to enroll each student. 
• National Recognition: KIPP Columbus was one of ten schools who received national recognition for the response to COVID-19 in our community through the National Association of Public Charter Schools Above and Beyond award. Additionally, our AP Computer Science teacher was one of ten teachers in the country to be named a Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award from Amazon.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Vice President, Operations (VPO) will be a critical member of the senior leadership team, working cross-functionally as an organizational leader, and will play a key role in partnering with the Executive Director and Head of Schools to bring KIPP Columbus into its next chapter of growth and innovation. KIPP Columbus’ VPO will manage functions critical to the campus’ success, including facilities, information technology,compliance, school operations, finance and business planning. While the role is scoped at the Chief Operating Officer level, KIPP Columbus is committed to no longer using the “Chief” title out of respect for the Indigenous/Native community. 

The VPO oversees the implementation of the growth strategy for KIPP Columbus and leads work to define and deliver on services provided to KIPP Columbus schools. The VPO serves as a thought partner to the Executive Director and Head of Schools, sits on the KIPP Columbus Leadership Team, manages a team of operations professionals, and works closely with key stakeholders to ensure KIPP Columbus’ successful impact, sustainability, and growth. 

This is an ideal opportunity for a seasoned finance and operations professional with a track record of building and right-sizing systems in organizations that have moved from start-up to long-term sustainability. The next KIPP Columbus VPO should be people and community-oriented in their approach to ensuring KIPP Columbus’ schools, families and teams have the resources to thrive. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Vice President, Operations will be responsible for the following scope of work: 

1. Provide strategic finance and accounting direction and oversight of a ~$25M budget 

• Develop and maintain KIPP Columbus’s multi-year financial forecasting, including annual staffing plans, detailed analysis of each revenue source and critical expense driver, pro forma financial projections, and financial health and sustainability targets. 
• Oversee the fiscal management of the organization, through supervision of the finance and operations team, including but not limited to the following areas: 
  • Fiscal Policies and Procedures 
  • Accounting and payroll processes 
  • Financial reporting, including audit 
  • Annual budgeting 
• Refine and lead compensation strategy to ensure KIPP Columbus is a competitive force in the local education market. 
• Support finance and other operations direct reports to develop next-level financial analysis and reporting -- building models and tools that allow for robust forecasting, scenario planning and real-time decision making, as well as developing an enhanced financial system 
• Build and implement a revised approach for revenue and cost allocation across teams in order to support: better fiscal sustainability, including adequate protections, checks and balances against unforeseen fluctuations in revenues or costs; alignment with intended use of funds; clearer expectations; and, appropriate incentives within teams

2. Manage all facilities and campus operations (total of 300,000 sq. ft. of facilities) 

• Support staff and vendors providing facilities management to ensure all facilities are clean, well maintained, safe, and secure. 
• Identify revenue generation opportunities from property rental agreements and partnerships. 
• Oversee strategy, planning, and implementation of school operations, including collaborating with key vendors/partners in the following areas, but not limited to: transportation, food services, safety and security, campus events and all operations related to student recruitment, enrollment and attendance. 

3. Develop and maintain compliance systems, grant processes and risk management 

• Ensure compliance systems are established for charter cycles such that KIPP Columbus fully complies with federal, state, and local legal and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee KIPP Columbus’s federal and state grants to ensure grants are secured, allocated, budgeted, tracked, and in compliance. 
• Lead region-wide management of legal affairs, insurance, and other risk management strategies. 
• Create and maintain organizational policies and administrative guidelines.

4. Establish and maintain information technology and data systems 

• Oversee strategies for planning, implementation, and support of information technology.
• Build and maintain data infrastructure to support the region’s instructional goals and growth. 

5. Oversee annual and strategic planning process and monitor progress toward multi-year goals and strategic priorities 

• Participate in 2025 KIPP Columbus multi-year planning process to establish the region’s academic, talent, alumni success, community engagement and growth goals, strategies and financial sustainability. 
• Oversee the annual planning process for all support service functions to clearly identify annual priorities, initiatives, milestones and owners in line with the 2025 KIPP Columbus plan. 
• Establish and implement the structures to progress monitor the annual plan.

6. Partner closely with the Head of Schools to ensure schools are joyful, excellent and equitable 

• Oversee strategies for planning, implementation and support of excellent and equitable school operations 
• Oversee the hiring, managing, training, and development of regional operations staff and school operations staff to deliver excellent operations services and supports.
• Define operations excellence for KIPP Columbus and develop systems to manage regional office and school-based operations staff members to results. 
• Leads the operations team to ensure that every school operations function is performed in excellence: student information systems, procurement, food program,compliance and reporting, student recruitment and enrollment, 
• Participate in and contribute to the KIPP national network and local charter network of operations and leadership staff to access and share learning and support with peers in other organizations. 

An effective KIPP Columbus Vice President, Operations must be able to:

• Set and communicate a clear direction, goals and strategy 
• Builds relationships with team, colleagues, partners/vendors and members of the board
• Serve as an activator; Build and integrate systems 
• Think critically and make decisions 
• Effectively lead cross-functional teams 
• Champion a high-performing, equitable culture with aspirations of building an anti-racist organization 

A KIPP Columbus Vice President, Operations must possess the following personal and professional attributes: 

• Bachelor's Degree required; MBA or Master's Degree in related field preferred
• Approximately 10 years of team management experience in two or more of the following areas: HR, finance, data, operations, facilities, IT, safety and security; preferably in a school system that has a focus on closing the student opportunity gap between racial, ethnic and economic groups 
• Strong financial, operational, and/or strategic experience, with preference for 5+ years of progressively increasing management experience and strategic planning for a growing, multi-site organization 
• A passion for and understanding of the mission of KIPP Columbus including possessing a deep commitment to improving the lives of kids from low-income communities; knowledge of and experience working with low-income communities, required 
• An integrated systems builder with the ability to both build and scale best practices across multiple schools 
• Experience leading, planning and managing in an entrepreneurial, client-oriented setting 
• Ability to negotiate and execute contracts and manage the quality of service providers and vendors 
• Commitment to building relationships and trust with leaders, teachers, students, parents, and the community of Northeast Columbus 
• Exceptional organizational skills, particularly in developing and implementing multi-year plans 
• Ability to take and quickly implement feedback 
• Adept at thinking strategically, translating plans into action, and exhibiting excellent judgment 
• Articulate, professional demeanor with strong self-confidence and initiative

Compensation and Benefits

KIPP Columbus offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefit plan including medical and dental insurance, as well as group term life insurance, retirement plan and paid time off. 

Statement of Non-Disclosure

KIPP Columbus is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying to the school for consideration of any position (admission, employment, etc.). KIPP Columbus does not discriminate on the basis of disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 4112.02 of the Ohio Revised Code.