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 285 KIPP schools across the nation and the District of Columbia, serving more than 175,000 students and alumni with more than 15,000 educators. 

Founded in 2008 with 50 students in 5th grade, KIPP Columbus currently educates  2,000 students in grades Kindergarten through twelfth.  With a mission to, together with families and the community, create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose -- college, career, and beyond --  KIPP has maintained excellence in its growth, and will improve upon that standard – proving what is possible in public education.

KIPP Columbus continues to rank as one of the top schools for academic growth of any school in the state of Ohio, and is a top performing urban school in the state for academic growth. In our first three graduating classes (in spring 2020, 2021, and 2022) 100% of students were accepted to college and/or military service  with nearly $40 million in merit scholarships from colleges and universities awarded.

In addition to academic excellence, KIPP Columbus also partners with nearly 100 community organizations to provide extracurricular activities, programming, health and wellness services, meals, and more to KIPP students, families, and the broader community. KIPP is also a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, offering more than 10 varsity sports. 

The KIPP Columbus learning campus will continue to advance student learning, expand partnerships, enable superior programming, and serve as a teaching and leadership lab for schools nationwide, reimagining education through a deeper lens of antiracism, excellence, and joy as we expand to educate nearly 4,000 students on our learning campus in the coming years. 

Interested in learning more about our school?  Please check out our website: https://www.kippcolumbus.org/

The Opportunity:

Reporting to the Superintendent, the Managing Director of Finance and Operations will be a critical member of the KIPP Columbus team, working cross-functionally as an organizational leader, and will play a key role in partnering to bring KIPP Columbus into its next chapter of growth and innovation.   The Managing Director of Finance and Operations will oversee functions critical to the campus’ success, including facilities, information technology, compliance, school operations, finance and business planning. 

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 Managing Director of Finance and Operations should be people and community-oriented in their approach to ensuring KIPP Columbus’ schools, families and teams have the resources to thrive.

Responsibilities of KIPP Columbus Managing Director of Finance and Operations include, but are not limited to, the following:

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) 

• Manage the Director of Special Projects, 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 Superintendent 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. 
• Lead the Director of School Operations and the operations team to ensure that every school operations function is performed in excellence including, but not limited to: 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 Managing Director of Finance and 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 

Qualifications

• 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

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

Statement of Non-Discrimination

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.