About KIPP

Together with families and communities, KIPP creates joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. KIPP is a national network of tuition-free, public charter schools open to all students. There are 255 college-preparatory KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 100,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are graduating four-year colleges at three times the national average for low-income students.

About KIPP Albany Community Public Charter Schools

KIPP Albany Community Public Charter Schools (KIPP Albany) is a network of high-performing public schools that has been committed to creating joyful, academically excellent schools in Albany since 2005.  KIPP Albany is affiliated with KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) Public Schools, a national network of over 10,000 educators serving 160,000 students and alumni. For the 2021-2022 school year, KIPP Albany schools will serve over 1,600 students in grades K-8 and will employ more than 225 staff.  We are committed to furthering anti-racism, equity, and racial justice in all our efforts, and expect all of our stakeholders to participate in this work so that we can create a future without limits for our students, together.

Further regional growth is on the horizon with the Troy Prep K-12 schools planning to join the KIPP Albany network (new name TBD) at the start of the 2022-23 school year. Serving over 2,500 students in grades K-12 at seven schools across the Capital Region will allow increased curriculum offerings for students, professional development for staff, and enhanced family and community partnerships.

Position Overview:

The Senior Director of School Operations will serve as the architect for school-based operational systems for the KIPP Albany region to enable instructional leaders to focus on driving academic results to put our students on a path to and through college and career.  The Senior Director of School Operations will be leading, coaching and managing school based Directors of Operations. 

Duties and Responsibilities of the Senior Director of School Operations include, but are not limited to:

Team Leadership:

• Manage, coach and develop the Director of Operations (DOOs) for each school and regional operations team members who support school-based operations

• Create and implement professional development for all DOO’s and Operations Fellows in the region

• Be accountable for driving excellent school operations and ensuring goals are met in attendance, enrollment, budget and finance, compliance at the school and regional levels.

School Operations:

• The SDSO will hire, coach, manage Directors of Operations to: 

  • Set vision of excellence for school operations and lead team to ensure schools are efficient, beautiful and reflective of our organizational goals

  • Create and manage Operations Fellow program including PD and continued development

  • Coordinate with the Chief Operating Officer and other Regional Operations  leaders to facilitate and/or ensure regular professional development for DOOs

  • Ensure a pipeline of DOOs exists to support regional growth goals

  • Facilitate regional operations meetings with school leaders, DOOs, and relevant regional office staff to ensure alignment with current priorities and initiatives

  • Own attendance outcomes for region; lead regional attendance initiatives

  • Ensure schools implement procedures that increase attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism

  • Ensure effective management of transportation services for the region

  • In coordination Director of Information Technology, provide vision for local technology, needs that support regional goals

Student Recruitment and Enrollment:

• The SDSO manages the student recruitment and enrollment team and will:

• Ensure that region as a whole and each school is fully enrolled (meeting overall, F/R lunch, SPED, and ELL targets)

• In conjunction with COO ED, and school leaders, set enrollment targets for each school and grade level

• Design and lead implementation of local student recruitment strategy - including outreach to community events, open houses, and door-to-door canvassing

• Coordination as necessary with the marketing and enrollment team on student recruitment strategy and marketing efforts

• Act as a liaison between school based operations staff and regional operations staff to ensure regional compliance across functions

• The ideal candidate for this role…

  • 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

  • Inspires and leads teams to reach aggressive goals

  • Builds the strongest 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 a fast of learner 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

• Specific requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree in a related field preferred

  • Multiple years of operational leadership and at least 5+ years of operations experience 

  • Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and manage operational systems and processes to support a growing region

  • Previous experience in education and/or nonprofit environment strongly preferred 

  • Familiarity with school-based operational structures required

  • 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

  • Demonstrated passion for and a commitment to the KIPP mission for high quality public education and the character traits we value: Zest, grit, self-control, hope, love, social intelligence, gratitude, and a sense of humor. 

Compensation Salary is competitive, commensurate with experience, and includes benefits.

KIPP Albany Community Public Charter Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual preference, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status