Director of Operations

Montessori School of Raleigh•Raleigh, NC

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Operations provides leadership and oversight for the School’s facilities, campus safety and emergency preparedness, and transportation services across both campuses. Reporting to the Chief Financial and Operations Officer, the Director of Operations is responsible for ensuring that the School’s physical plant and core operational services are safe, reliable, efficient, compliant, and responsive to the needs of students, employees, families and the broader school community. The Director of Operations leads and supports employees and contractors within assigned operational areas; establishes effective systems, procedures, and accountability measures; manages departmental budgets and vendor relationships; and ensures that day-to-day operations support the School’s mission. The successful candidate will be a hands-on and highly organized operational leader who demonstrates sound judgement, strong follow-through, attention to detail, and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities in a dynamic school environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
Demonstrated experience in facilities, operations, safety/security, transportation, or a related operational field; experience overseeing multiple operational functions is preferred.
Demonstrated experience supervising employees and managing vendors, contractors, budgets, projects, and operational systems.
Broad knowledge of facility operations, building systems, maintenance practices, and vendor and contractor management.
Strong leadership, organizational, project-management, analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
Demonstrated sound judgment, initiative, accountability, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize competing demands and follow responsibilities through to completion.
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and customer-service skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across the School community and with external partners.
Ability to remain composed and exercise appropriate judgment during emergencies and other high-pressure situations.
Proficiency with Google Workspace and the ability to effectively use technology and operational management systems.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive operational, personnel, student, and safety matters.
Have or be willing and able to obtain and maintain a Class B Commercial Driver's License with required passenger and school bus endorsements and maintain an acceptable motor vehicle record.
Commitment to the School's mission and core values of Respect, Integrity, Community, and Love of Learning.

Nice To Haves

Experience overseeing multiple operational functions is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and oversight for the School's facilities, campus safety and emergency preparedness, and transportation services across both campuses.
Lead, supervise, develop, and hold accountable employees within assigned operational areas, establishing clear expectations and ensuring teams have the training, tools, and resources necessary to perform effectively.
Develop and maintain operational policies, procedures, schedules, systems, and documentation that promote safety, consistency, accountability, compliance, and effective service delivery.
Establish priorities and coordinate work across operational functions to support the educational program and respond effectively to changing School needs.
In coordination with the CFOO and Business Office, develop and manage assigned operating and capital budgets, monitor expenditures, and ensure resources are used responsibly.
Manage vendor and service relationships, including contracts, scopes of work, performance, quality, timeliness, and cost.
Serve as an operational escalation point for urgent campus needs and emergencies and continuously identify opportunities to improve safety, service, efficiency, and accountability.
Oversee the maintenance, repair, appearance, safety, and operation of the School's buildings, grounds, infrastructure, and physical assets across both campuses.
Manage facilities services and systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, elevators, janitorial services, landscaping and grounds, pest control, fire protection, access control, and other building systems.
Oversee the School's facilities work-order system, ensuring requests are appropriately prioritized, assigned, completed, documented, and communicated.
Develop and execute preventive maintenance and plant renewal/replacement programs and conduct regular inspections to proactively identify maintenance, safety, appearance, and capital needs.
Coordinate and oversee repairs, renovations, improvements, and other facilities projects, including scopes of work, vendor coordination, scheduling, inspection, and project closeout.
Ensure required maintenance, inspection, life-safety, inventory, and other facilities records are appropriately maintained and that employees and contractors perform work safely and in accordance with School standards.
Maintain buildings and grounds at a standard that provides a safe, functional, and welcoming environment and provide hands-on facilities support and troubleshooting when circumstances require.
Lead the School's comprehensive campus safety and security program, including personnel, policies, procedures, training, systems, and day-to-day operations.
Oversee campus safety operations, including patrols, visitor and volunteer management, video surveillance, access control, alarm monitoring, arrival and dismissal, parking and traffic management, and incident response.
Ensure campus safety operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, licensing requirements, and School policies.
Serve as an escalation point for safety and security incidents and coordinate the School's response with appropriate administrators and external agencies.
Lead the development, implementation, testing, and regular review of the School's emergency preparedness and response procedures, including fire/evacuation, severe weather, lockdown, and reunification.
Coordinate emergency preparedness training, drills, equipment, supplies, documentation, and other readiness initiatives.
Serve as a member of the School's emergency response team and maintain productive relationships with law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, and other public safety partners.
Partner with Facilities and the CFOO to identify and promptly address physical security and life-safety needs.
Oversee the School's transportation operations, including regular routes and transportation supporting field trips, athletics, and other School programs.
Coordinate driver staffing and scheduling and establish transportation procedures, safety protocols, and driver expectations.
Ensure drivers maintain required licenses, endorsements, qualifications, training, and documentation.
Oversee School vehicles, including inspections, preventive maintenance, repairs, registrations, and required records, to ensure a safe, reliable, and compliant fleet.
Coordinate with School personnel responsible for field trips, athletics, and other programs to schedule and provide requested transportation and address operational or service issues.
Serve as a backup driver when necessary and maintain the licensing and qualifications required to do so.
Support the Montessori and International Baccalaureate (IB) methods of education and the overall mission of the School.
Participate in administrative, operational, safety, and other committees or meetings as assigned.
Maintain healthy relationships with employees, students, parents, and other stakeholders.
Perform other duties as assigned by the CFOO or Head of School.