Every School. Every Student. Every Day.

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) North Carolina, is a network of eight tuition-free, college-preparatory public charter schools educating approximately 3,000 students in grades K-12 in Durham, Northampton and Mecklenburg counties. At KIPP NC, we are committed to improving the life outcomes of North Carolina’s children through the delivery of research-based, rigorous curricula, and clearing the paths that our students choose to follow by ensuring that they have the roadmaps and guideposts they need to arrive at success - however they define it.

At KIPP, we recognize the unique talents of everyone who enters our schools—especially our Directors of Operations. Their expertise. Their problem-solving. Their relentless dedication. On both the smooth days and the challenging ones, they ensure our schools run seamlessly so teachers can teach and students can learn. That’s why we invest in them.

It starts with respect—respect for their leadership, their commitment to excellence, and the full lives they lead beyond our schools. We offer competitive pay and benefits that reflect our deep appreciation for the vital role they play in creating an environment where students and educators thrive.

As our Directors of Operations grow in their roles—navigating each day, each school year, and their career journey—we ensure they always feel the strength of the KIPP Team and Family behind them. With opportunities to lead, innovate, and develop professionally, they’re never alone in the work.

Together, our students, schools, families, and communities share a bold mission: to create a future without limits. Achieving that future depends on dedicated operational leaders like you. Shape the future—of your school and your own—by joining KIPP today.

The Role

Reporting to Regional Director of Operations (RDSO) and collaborating with the Principal, the Director of Operations (DoO) is a senior, school-based leader who oversees all operations functions necessary to run a high-performing school. This includes budgeting, purchasing, facilities, food services, transportation, technology, student recruitment and enrollment, student data, regulatory compliance, and academic operations support, which includes student attendance tracking and monitoring. The DoO serves as a key member of the school’s Leadership Team, ensuring that the school’s operations meet high standards of operational excellence, and enables instructional leaders and staff to focus on driving strong student achievement outcomes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, knowledge, or abilities associated with this position, but is intended to accurately reflect the principal job elements. Other duties may also be assigned.

School Operations Leadership & Operations Team Management

• In partnership with the Principal and the RDSO, develops the school-wide operations vision that supports and operationalizes the academic and cultural vision of the school.
• Works with the People Operations team to hire school operations team members.
• Manages, coaches, and develops school operations team members (including front office staff, facilities staff, and vendors) and holds them accountable to goals and outcomes.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for the KIPP NC Regional Support Operations Team, collaborating with teammates across the region to build scalable, region-wide systems, policies, and procedures.

Finance & Purchasing

• Works with the Finance Team to actively manage the school's budget and collaborates with the School Leader to make financial decisions."
• Lead the school purchasing process by establishing clear school systems for staff to request items. Submit purchase orders, reimbursement requests, approve purchases, and support employees with required purchases placing orders with vendors, tracking delivery, coding and submitting invoices; approves school purchases under a specific financial threshold.
• Serves as the first school-based point of contact regarding finance and works with the regional Finance team to ensure financial compliance and reporting.

Facilities & Maintenance

• In partnership with the Facilities Manager, oversees facilities issues, including maintenance, managing staff/vendors, aesthetics, shared space agreements, and campus safety.
• Regularly conducts facilities walkthroughs and liaises with custodial staff/vendors to ensure that the facility looks the best it can.
• Ensures that the main office is neat, organized, welcoming, and has all important parent-facing materials.
• Student & Family Services (School Ops; Communications; Field Trips/Events)
• Serves as the eyes and ears of the school to ensure that all school operations run seamlessly each and every day, proactively problem solving and developing systems where needed.
• Works closely with the Food Service Management Company to coordinate breakfast and lunch schedules to ensure students receive high quality meals daily.
• Submits student attendance daily to the school nutrition director.
• Oversees all aspects of transportation including, arrival and dismissal procedures.
• Creates and manages staff duty schedules in order to ensure coverage during peak student movement.
• Owns logistics of communications and external relations through family letters, weekly staff notes, and surveys.
• Owns all logistics (e.g. transportation, lodging, meals, staffing plan, etc.) of all off-site field trips and all on-site special events (Report Card Nights, Performances, Graduation, staff celebrations, etc.).
• Serves as point person for hosting school tours.
• Participates as a member of the attendance team, helping to reduce the chronic absenteeism rate, the total loss of academic hours, and increase overall attendance.

Technology & Equipment

• Ensures that students and staff have access to needed technology and works with the Technology Team to plan technology related enhancements.
• Leads the school opening/start up process each year to ensure that doors are ready to open by ordering furniture, equipment, instructional supplies, and ensuring that student services (e.g. food service, transportation) are ready to go.
• Manages the school’s supply and asset inventory (e.g. computers, textbooks).

Student Information, Testing, and Academic Operations Support

• Manages systems for and maintains accurate student data and information in compliance with federal, state, regional and school expectations.
• Acts as point of contact for all things related to the SMS (InfiniteCampus) such as establishing rosters, class schedules, etc.
• Works with the principal or AP to manage the logistical elements of all major student assessments.
• Manages logistics of report cards/progress reports/transcripts.

Student Recruitment & Enrollment

• Develops and manages student recruitment strategy to ensure that the school begins the academic year with full classes and actively recruits to fill open seats.
• Supervises the enrollment, transfer, and re-enrollment process for students and the preparation of related files.
• Prepares and manages the student enrollment and attendance reporting for their school.
• Ensures that family info sessions, school tours, and the lottery and enrollment process are tightly planned and executed.
• Risk Management, Compliance, and People Operations Administration
• Ensure that the school is prepared for emergencies by conducting all drills and training staff on emergency plans.
• Partners with the state-wide Talent Acquisition Team on the new hire process.
• Ensures that school staff have complete, current, and accurate employee files and certifications; all personnel interacting with students have background checks on file; and schools comply with all areas of legal compliance (e.g. HR, FERPA, etc.).
• Partners with the state-wide People Operations team on any action items related to supporting the onboarding and exiting of employees.
• In collaboration with Principal and other School Leaders, reviews, approves, denies PTO (personal time off) requests.
• Reviews time-off data to ensure accuracy and assess leave trends.
• Communicates leave needs (FMLA, Parental Leaves, COVID) and critical dates to the People Operations team, and assists in facilitation of employee leaves and returns.

Required

• A deep commitment to the mission of KIPP NC and an unwavering belief in the potential of all our students.
• Possess a deep commitment to improving the lives of kids marginalized communities
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 2-3 years of full time work experience in business operations.
• Demonstrated management and leadership skills (e.g. at least 2 years managing a team or multiple large projects).
• Pass Criminal Background Check.
• Unwavering commitment to KIPP NC’s mission and willingness to go above and beyond to meet the needs of KIPP NC students, families, and staff.
• Strong project and time management skills; ability to effectively backwards plan, juggle multiple priorities with great attention to detail, and deliver consistent and timely results.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills with an aptitude for shifting from fire-fighting to systems-building.
• Customer service mindset, and shows urgency and the ability to proactively solve problems and make decisions quickly.
• Team player with strong interpersonal and stakeholder management and relationship building skills.
• Ability to lead, influence, and hold others accountable to upholding high standards of operational excellence.
• High level of comfort with financial oversight and budgetary tracking.
• Ability to be calm under pressure, especially in difficult conversations with parents and staff.
• Excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Powerpoint and Microsoft Excel.
• Desire to continuously learn and increase effectiveness as a professional.

Preferred

• Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Education, or similar degree.
• Minimum 3 years of full-time teaching experience and/or project management experience.
• Fluency in Spanish.
• Experience working in the charter school environment.

Additional Information

Compensation

Compensation is commensurate with experience and includes a generous benefits pack.

KIPP North Carolina does not and shall not discriminate on the race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, disability, source of income, or status as a veteran in any of its activities or operations.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.