Director of Operations Fellow

Uncommon Schools • Camden, NJ

2d • $101,000 - $107,100 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Operations Fellow is a full-time position that prepares you 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 your students receive an exemplary education. The DOO Fellowship is based on a foundation of four core elements that are aligned to the competencies of Uncommon leaders. Each element is designed to build Fellows’ capacity towards becoming effective DOOs. These include Professional Development, Experiential Learning, Practical Application and Reflective Practice. The DOO Fellowship typically lasts one year; however, the length of time will vary based on open positions and DOO Fellow readiness. Fellows should expect to work in multiple locations and gradespans within the region. Fellow placement is based on the region’s needs as well as Fellows’ growth areas and matching them with host DOOs to best support their 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, working together to ensure students receive an exemplary education.
• Attend a series of professional development workshops throughout the Fellowship.
• Engage in experiential learning activities, and receive feedback targeted at individualized areas of growth.
• Submit weekly deliverables.
• Engage in on-site coaching with real-time feedback.
• Participate in practice clinics where fellows will engage in case studies, role plays, and problem solving exercises.
• Serve as full-time members of the school's operations team at their host school.
• Engage in operations work at their host school.
• Tackle school or regional-based operations projects.
• Conduct observations and analysis of operational systems.
• Complete a variety of pre-determined deliverables that expose them to all of the key components of DOO work.
• Act as DOO in place of their host DOO for 4-6 weeks (Immersion).
• Co-lead the school alongside the Principal during the Immersion period.
• Learn from their own experiences and those of others in the cohort during reflective discourse sessions.
• Develop a reflective practice, where they will codify their learning through written reflections and create plans to make their growth and development actionable.

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)
• Financial Planning
• New Jersey Pension program
• 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