HS Director of Operations

Forte Preparatory Academy•New York, NY

26d•$105,000 - $125,000•Onsite

About The Position

Forte Preparatory Academy is seeking a Director of Operations to lead the day-to-day operations of its new high school campus. This role is crucial for ensuring the building runs smoothly, allowing teachers to teach and students to learn. The Director of Operations will manage the school's operations team and oversee systems for procurement, food service, supplies, safety, security, and special events. The ideal candidate will possess strong project management skills, operational judgment, and the ability to maintain high standards across various responsibilities. This position requires anticipating logistical needs, developing scalable systems, and collaborating effectively with school leaders, the Facilities Manager, and Central Office staff. The Director of Operations reports to the Chief Operating Officer and serves on the high school leadership team, supervising the High School's Operations Manager, Operations Associate, and Central Office staff.

Requirements

At least 4 years of operations, school operations, or related management experience in education.
At least 2 years of demonstrated success managing a small team or multiple large projects.
Strong organizational and project management skills with a track record of delivering on tight timelines.
Comfort with budget tracking, purchase orders, and vendor management.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with school leaders, teachers, families, and Central Office staff.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and standard school operations systems.
Exceptional reliability, follow-through, and attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

Experience with school logistics, including events, procurement, and food service, is preferred.
Spanish proficiency is preferred.
A belief that strong operations create the conditions for great teaching and learning.
A track record of building and managing operational systems that scale.
The judgment to prioritize across many simultaneous workstreams in a school environment.
Strong organizational discipline and the ability to coach a small team.
A proactive mindset that anticipates logistical needs before they become problems.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop the high school operations team, including the Operations Manager, Operations Associate, and School Aide.
Set clear performance expectations and provide regular feedback to direct reports.
Build operations systems and procedures that scale as the high school’s enrollment grows, implementing clear feedback loops and opportunities for process improvements.
Serve as a member of the high school leadership team and contribute to school-wide planning.
Serve as primary school-based relationship manager for the high school's critical external vendors, including IT, food service, janitorial staff and building ownership.
Track vendor performance against contracted service standards and escalate underperformance with documentation.
Partner with the Chief Operating Officer on vendor agreement negotiation, renewal, and procurement decisions.
Oversee school-based purchasing, including placing orders, tracking deliveries, and maintaining accurate inventory of supplies and equipment.
Partner with COO to ensure procurement follows network purchasing policies.
Maintain accurate records of all purchases, deliveries, vendor agreements, and inventory counts.
Oversee daily food service operations, including breakfast, lunch, and any after-school food programs.
Manage relationships with food service vendors and ensure timely, accurate meal delivery.
Coordinate accommodations for students with dietary restrictions, allergies, and medical needs.
Ensure cafeteria and kitchen operations comply with Department of Health, New York State, and SUNY requirements.
Manage the procurement, distribution, and inventory of classroom supplies, textbooks, and instructional materials.
Coordinate with academic leaders to anticipate curriculum-driven supply needs across the academic calendar, including the start of the year, testing windows, and AP exams.
Track classroom equipment, including furniture and technology, and coordinate repairs or replacements with the Facilities Manager.
Maintain supply rooms and ordering schedules to prevent shortages.
Partner with the Facilities Manager and school leaders to maintain a safe, secure school environment.
Coordinate fire drills, lockdown drills, and other required emergency response training in compliance with applicable regulations.
Maintain school safety documentation, including drill logs, visitor sign-in systems, and emergency contact lists.
Serve as a point of contact for safety-related incidents at the high school campus.
Plan and execute logistics for school events, including graduation, family nights, recruitment events, testing days, and field trips.
Coordinate setup, breakdown, staffing, and vendor management for all major school events.
Partner with the Family Manager and other school staff to ensure events run smoothly.
Build event playbooks that can be reused as the school grows.