Director of Operations

Director of Operations

Job Summary

The Director of Operations role is an integral part of the Information & Operations team, ensuring all non-instructional components of daily operations are effectively managed and executed by campus operations teams. The starting salary range for this role is $125,223-$138,403. This is a full-time, occasionally flexible role based at 2 KIPP DC campuses with an anticipated start date of February 2026.

About KIPP DC

For 25 years, KIPP DC has partnered with students, families, and the community to create joyful, academically excellent schools across the nation's capital. Today, our network of 22 schools educate more than 7,500 students in grades PreK3-12, supported by 1,500 dedicated teachers, leaders, and staff.

Our work is grounded in five pillars–Academic Excellence, Joy & Sense of Belonging, Highly Effective Teachers and Leaders, Safe, Structured, and Nurturing Learning Environments, and Commitment to College Readiness–which ensure every student is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to pursue success in college, careers, and beyond. Our schools combine high expectations with joyful, affirming environments that nurture academic success and personal growth for students and staff alike.

As part of the national KIPP network, we share best practices and innovations while maintaining deep roots in Washington, D.C. Together, we strive toward a future without limits for our students, alumni, and community.

About the Role

As the Director of Operations, you will play a key role on the Regional Operations team, overseeing non-instructional operations at 2 KIPP DC campuses to enable school leaders to focus on teaching and learning. As a Director, this position must also ensure adherence to established internal control policies and procedures and maintain compliance within the organization. This is an exempt position and will report to the Managing Director of Operations.

Location and Type of Work

As a headquarters team that is focused on being responsive to our schools and meeting the needs of our students and families, we approach our work in a way that reflects these priorities. Schools operate in person and our students and families rely on us for in-person support, and this position will regularly provide on-site support to school teams, frequently partner with other headquarters teams, or regularly work in multiple locations. Because of the nature of the work, this role allows for occasional flexibility and will be required to be onsite 4 days per week.

Responsibilities

The percentages for each key responsibility are estimates, and other duties may be assigned. Flexibility and responsiveness are encouraged to accommodate organizational needs.

School Operations Leadership & Team Management (25% of time)

• Collaborate with Deputy Chief of Schools on campus-wide and school-specific operations issues
• Hires, manages, coaches, and develops Assistant Principals of Operations (APOs) (high schools) or Campus Directors of Operations (CDOs) (PK3-8 campuses)
• Coach APOs or CDOs to collaborate with school leaders on developing and implementing a school-wide operations vision
• Supports APOs or CDOs with hiring, managing, coaching, and developing their campus operations teams
• Provides oversight for school and network-based projects managed by APOs or CDOs. Assists with special projects.

Academic Operations (25% of time)

• Work with the regional academic, administrative, and support teams to strategize on systems that accurately track student records, including contact information, attendance, grades, and transcripts, ensuring data integrity and compliance with regulations.
• Supervise appropriate management of logistics for student assessments (SAT, MAP, AP, DC CAPE), including scheduling, test preparation, and post-assessment data analysis, providing timely and detailed reports to relevant stakeholders.
• Provide oversight in collaboration with the recruitment team on efforts to recruit and enroll students, ensuring 100% enrollment by the start of each school year through strategic outreach activities such as mailings, open houses, and neighborhood initiatives.
• Oversee and manage deadlines for creating the school's yearly class schedule, ensuring alignment with staffing availability and curricular needs. Coordinate room assignments and manage any necessary adjustments during the school year.
• Supervise the development and execution of student assessments, grading systems, and other academic procedures to ensure consistency and adherence to school standards.
• Use strategic thinking to identify and address potential challenges in student records management, assessments, and enrollment processes, driving continuous improvement in operational efficiency and academic outcomes.
• Ensure campus-level regular review and analyze student data (e.g., assessment scores, enrollment trends, academic performance) to inform decision-making and generate actionable insights for school leadership. Provide clear, data-driven reports to stakeholders.

Workstream Management (20% of time)

• Serve as lead for 1-2 operations-related workstreams (Athletics, Facilities, Finance, Meal Program, Safety, Team Management)
• Collaborate with HDQ-based workstream leaders to facilitate trainings, coordinate alignment on new initiatives, and ensure operational compliance at campuses
• Manage and execute on projects to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of HDQ- and campus-based operations

School Operations (15% of time)

Facilities & Maintenance

• Ensures the Assistant Principal of Operations is overseeing most facilities issues and intervenes, when needed, to address facilities emergencies
• Conducts regular facilities assessments

Finance & Purchasing

• Monitors fiscal performance and compliance of school and campus operations budgets
• Ensures execution of procurement processes and guidelines that align with KIPP DC headquarters financial protocols

Safety

• Ensures all campuses are prepared for emergencies and Assistant Principal of Operations are conducting the required drills and trainings for school staff
• Supports the Assistant Principal of Operations during a safety crisis
• Conducts regular assessments of arrival and dismissal procedures to ensure systems and processes are being implemented and adhered to and expectations are standardized across the network
• Ensures Assistant Principal of Operations is holding security-related vendor staff accountable to ensuring student, staff, and family safety

School-wide Systems (15% of time)

• Conducts regular assessments of campus operations to ensure systems and processes are being developed, implemented, and adhered to and expectations are standardized across the network
• Engages in cross-team initiatives with KIPP DC headquarters, including but not limited to Facilities, Meal Program, Safety, & Compliance

Requirements & Preferences

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• 7+ years of professional work experience with progressing levels of responsibility
• 5+ years of program and people management experience
• Project planning experience with a demonstrated ability to see large projects through to completion
• Excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills
• Ability to identify inefficiencies and generate creative solutions
• A sense of urgency and ability to proactively and effectively prioritize multiple high-impact
  
  initiatives and tasks
• A passion for being part of a team-oriented, mission-driven culture

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in business or K-12 education
• Previous school and/or school operations experience
• Familiarity with finance and accounting principles, preferably at a non-profit organization
• Previous experience in a customer service-oriented role

Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel to various KIPP DC schools
• Ability to work on select nights and weekends

Demonstrated Excellence in the Following Areas:

• Commitment to Students and Schools: Demonstrates commitment to education reform, believing in every child's potential for success and prioritizing students, schools, and the essential role of families.
• Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving: Finds creative solutions to challenges that achieve broader goals of team and organization.
• Project Management: Sets a high bar for own work and supports others to achieve desired team outcomes.
• Communications and Influence: Demonstrates adept communication skills and influence to advance work by adjusting content and style.
• Teamwork: Contributes to a supportive team culture, fostering diverse work styles and maintaining a high performance standard.
• Trust and Collaboration: Establishes and nurtures effective relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders to support the best outcomes for our work.
• Cultural Humility: Advances KIPP DC's commitment to anti-racism by creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all stakeholders.
• Continuous Learning: Commits to continuous learning through feedback, self reflection, humility, and action.

Benefits & Compensation

KIPP DC offers an extremely competitive compensation and benefits package:

• The anticipated starting salary range for this position is $125,223-$138,403. At KIPP DC we strive for clarity, equity, and to be highly competitive. When determining salaries we look at benchmarks in the education and non-profit sector.
• KIPP DC offers a robust benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurances; various voluntary benefits; and employer paid benefits such as short term disability, long term disability, life insurance, and a membership to One Medical.
• KIPP DC also offers a 403(b) retirement account with a 3% employer contribution and a 3% match with vesting after three years.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

KIPP DC Public Schools does not discriminate against, or tolerate discrimination against, employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis or protected class including, but not limited to, actual or perceived race, color, national origin, immigration status (except as necessary to comply with federal, DC, state, or local law), religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression), marital status (including domestic partnership status), genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy, family responsibilities, personal appearance, veteran status, uniform service member status, status of being unemployed, status of victim a survivor of domestic violence, sexual offense or stalking, matriculation or any other protected class under federal, state, DC, or local law.

Click here or here to review KIPP DC's non-discrimination policy and KIPP DC's Title IX Coordinator's contact information.

Please Note: If you encounter difficulties submitting your application or fail to receive a confirmation email after applying, kindly reach out to Danica Cunningham at Please include your name, resume, and specify the role you are applying for in your email. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience caused.

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