Director of Operations Fellow

Uncommon Schools • New York, NY

9h • $111,000 - $117,700 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Operations Fellow is a full-time position that prepares individuals to become a Director of Operations (DOO) of an Uncommon school. As DOO, you will lead a school in partnership with the Principal, working together to ensure students receive an exemplary education. The DOO Fellowship is based on four core elements: Professional Development, Experiential Learning, Practical Application, and Reflective Practice. The Fellowship typically lasts one year, but the duration may vary based on open positions and Fellow readiness. Fellows should expect to work in multiple locations and grade levels within the region. Placement is determined by regional needs, Fellows' growth areas, and matching them with host DOOs for optimal development.

Requirements

• Passionate commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools.
• Passionate commitment to improve the minds, characters, and lives of students both in and out of school.
• Ability to strategically manage and prioritize time and tasks effectively to fully meet the needs of their school, with a lens towards systems thinking.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment; flexible, able to work autonomously as well as take direction as needed.
• Comfort with managing ambiguous situations and moving to clarity/solution.
• Ability to learn something new and/or 'do what it takes' to ensure the school receives high-quality operations despite obstacles.
• Proactive, strategic problem-solver who is able to work successfully in a fast-paced environment, often while balancing competing priorities.
• High-quality communication and relationship-building skills with multiple partners including teachers, students, families, vendors, and colleagues.
• Ability to have difficult conversations in a respectful manner.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Word, Excel and Access.
• Dedication to self-reflection and continual professional growth; approaches every experience as a chance to learn and grow and understands that introspection and the outward expression of that learning is essential to leadership.
• 4 or more years of work experience.
• At least 1 year of experience in operations leadership (experience in K-12 school operations is preferred).
• At least 1 year of experience coaching, leading, and/or managing others (e.g., Special Projects Manager, Associate Director of Operations, Instructional Leader, or other equivalent experience).
• Project planning experience, with proven ability to see large projects through to completion.
• A Bachelor’s degree.

Nice To Haves

• School-based or other educational experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead a school in partnership with the Principal to ensure students receive an exemplary education.
• Design, implement, and refine systems that anticipate the needs of the school community.
• Tackle problems, share standard methodologies across campuses, and respond to urgent needs.
• Partner to build an academic and cultural environment that supports the ultimate goal of ensuring every student earns a college degree.
• Attend professional development workshops grounded in DOO leadership competencies.
• Engage in experiential learning activities, including submitting weekly deliverables, receiving on-site coaching with real-time feedback, and participating in practice clinics with case studies, role plays, and problem-solving exercises.
• Serve as a full-time member of the school's operations team at a host school.
• Tackle school or regional-based operations projects.
• Conduct observations and analysis of operational systems.
• Complete a variety of pre-determined deliverables exposing them to key components of DOO work.
• Act as DOO in place of their host DOO for 4-6 weeks during an immersion period, co-leading the school alongside the Principal.
• Participate in reflective discourse sessions to learn from personal experiences and those of others in the cohort.
• Develop a reflective practice by codifying learning through written reflections and creating actionable plans for growth and development.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time, paid holidays, and ~10 weeks of paid breaks (Spring, Winter, and Summer).
• Extensive, best-in-class training and development
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Pre-tax flexible spending (FSA), dependent care (DCFSA), and health saving accounts (HSA)
• 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level