Director of Operations at Rooted School Inc – Indianapolis, Indiana

The Director of Operations will work alongside the Principal, partnering to ensure our students receive an exemplary education. This leader is responsible for building and managing the systems that make the school run smoothly—so teachers can teach and students can thrive. The Director of Operations leads all non-instructional operations including facilities, scheduling, food and transportation services, compliance, student information systems, payroll, benefits, and vendor management. This role also supports student recruitment efforts and plays an active role in shaping a joyful, safe, and high-expectations school culture.

We want teammates who demonstrate a passion for and commitment to Rooted's

mission

• We want teammates who have an unwavering commitment to radical transparency and

radical open-mindedness (that, regardless of how much you know about something,

you could be wrong)

• We want teammates who thrive in a startup environment (mainly comfort with change

and ambiguity, strong initiative)

• We want teammates who have at least three years' experience in operations with a track record of outstanding results.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Operations Leadership

The Director of Operations will:

• Lead all aspects of school operations, including:
  
  • Facilities and building management
  • Food services
  • Transportation services
  • School schedules and student rosters
  • Student information systems and databases
  • Visitor management and front office systems
  • Payroll, benefits, and staff onboarding/offboarding
    
• Manage operations staff and ensure the smooth operation of the main office
  
• Ensure school-wide compliance with:
  
  • Health and safety laws
  • Charter contracts
  • State education mandates
  • Teacher certification requirements
  • Federal and state workplace regulations
    
• Lead student recruitment operations to ensure enrollment and fiscal solvency
• Ensure a fully functioning technology infrastructure in collaboration with vendors and internal partners
• Create and oversee the school budget, finances, purchasing, and vendor relationships
• Use data to identify problems, improve systems, and strengthen operational effectiveness
  

School Culture

• Build systems that support a joyful, safe, and rigorous school culture
• Support the Principal in fostering consistency in academic and behavioral expectations
• Ensure that operations and systems reinforce student dignity, belonging, and high expectations

Family & Community Engagement

The Director of Operations will:

• Communicate regularly with families about:
  
  • School policies and procedures
  • Trips, events, and logistics
  • Student performance updates (as needed and in partnership with school leadership)
    
• Build and foster relationships with community leaders and organizations
• Maintain a robust and up-to-date database of community partners and organizations

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 3+ years of operations experience (school-based experience strongly preferred)
• Strong project management skills and the ability to juggle competing priorities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Comfort using data systems, spreadsheets, and school operations tools
• Proven ability to lead systems, people, and vendors effectively
  

Preferred:

• Experience working in schools, nonprofits, or startups
• Familiarity with charter school compliance requirements
• Experience managing budgets, payroll, or HR-related operations