Director of Operations

Prodeo Academy • Saint Paul, MN

19d • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Operations leads the people and systems that keep the Prodeo Academy St. Paul campus safe, welcoming, and ready for learning. As a member of the campus leadership team, the Director partners with principals to protect instructional time, strengthen family experience, and meet enrollment and retention goals. The role manages the campus operations team, leads daily execution across all academies, and translates network expectations into reliable campus practices. It combines people leadership, judgment, hands-on problem solving, systems building, and a commitment to operational excellence.

Prodeo Academy is a growing public-school network serving communities in Columbia Heights and St. Paul. Its schools aim to close the achievement gap through data-driven instruction and a culture founded on Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Development, and Engagement. The Director supports the organization’s mission of helping students access greater opportunities, achieve future success, and contribute to the vitality of their community.

The Director manages and develops operations staff; partners on hiring, onboarding, staff development, and performance management; and co-leads campus planning with principals. The role leads campus enrollment and retention work, including prospective-family follow-up, new-scholar readiness, outreach, attendance recovery, and monitoring enrollment and retention risks. It serves as the campus operations lead for safety and emergency response, and oversees daily campus routines and services such as arrival and dismissal, the front office, transportation, facilities, food service, health-office operations, and technology support.

The Director also leads operational planning for events and programs, builds trusting relationships with families, oversees attendance outreach, manages assigned budgets and purchasing, maintains accurate records and compliance documentation, and coordinates employee onboarding and offboarding logistics. The position requires a regular, reliable campus presence, hands-on support as needed, occasional evening events, school-opening work, urgent operational support, and occasional travel between campuses. Preferred start date is January 2027.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience and qualifications.
• At least three years of relevant professional experience, with demonstrated ability to manage people, coordinate complex work, and follow through on results.
• Strong organization, project management, and analytical skills, with attention to detail and the ability to prioritize competing needs and exercise sound judgment under pressure.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, a strong service orientation, and the ability to build trust across diverse families, staff, and community partners.
• Proficiency with spreadsheets and shared digital systems, and ability to learn and use student information, enrollment, purchasing, and project-management tools.
• Commitment to Prodeo’s mission, cultural responsiveness, ethical conduct, confidentiality, and continuous professional growth.
• Ability to maintain a regular, reliable campus presence and provide hands-on support when needed.
• Availability for occasional evening events, school-opening periods, and urgent operational needs, with occasional travel between campuses.
• Ability to stand and move around for extended periods and to sit at a desk and work on a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to lift, push, or pull up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to support students physically as needed, including kneeling, bending, or assisting with mobility, and to engage in crisis intervention or student safety procedures when necessary.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively verbally and in writing.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in school operations or another complex service environment.
• Experience with enrollment and family engagement.
• Experience coaching staff.
• Experience with budget and vendor management.
• Experience with student data systems.
• Experience with school safety or emergency preparedness.
• High tolerance for ambiguity and changing priorities and deadlines, and willingness to take on responsibilities and prioritize multiple projects.
• Ability to interact effectively with parents, staff, and students; team-player attitude and strong customer-service orientation.
• High proficiency in office software such as Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Google Drive.
• Meticulous attention to detail and dedication to data accuracy and reliability.
• Passion for working in the Twin Cities region and for Prodeo Academy’s mission; dedication to helping children grow and learn.
• Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with scholars and families and support diverse learners.
• Cultural responsiveness and sensitivity, a data-driven mindset, and commitment to continuous improvement.
• Professionalism, reliability, and strong ethical judgment.

Responsibilities

• Manage, coach, and develop campus operations staff through clear responsibilities, check-ins, feedback, goal setting, and performance reviews.
• Partner with Talent and the Network Director of Operations on hiring, onboarding, staff development, performance management, coverage, and cross-training.
• Co-lead campus planning with principals, communicate priorities, and build a culture of service, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Use the Operations Playbook, documented procedures, data, and observation to manage projects, anticipate risks, and improve systems.
• Lead campus execution toward enrollment and retention goals, coordinating prospective-family follow-up, tours, recruitment events, applications, registration, and transitions from offered seats to attendance.
• Own readiness for new scholars, including records, class-placement coordination, transportation, health needs, family orientation, and confirmed start dates.
• Lead outreach for intent to return, beginning-of-year attendance recovery, and midyear enrollment; assign follow-up and resolve barriers.
• Monitor enrollment data, withdrawals, and retention risks; maintain accurate documentation and recommend action within approved capacity and admissions policies.
• Serve as the campus operations lead for safety and incident command under the Emergency Operations Plan; maintain emergency coverage, visitor controls, and student accountability.
• Coordinate emergency drills, staff training, readiness checks, and emergency response systems; debrief incidents and complete corrective actions.
• Respond to urgent situations, coordinate with responders and school leaders, document incidents, and escalate concerns through established protocols.
• Ensure student safety and supervision at all times.
• Lead arrival, dismissal, front office, attendance, and shared campus routines with clear supervision assignments and dependable coverage.
• Oversee transportation, facilities, custodial services, food service, health-office operations, and campus technology support in partnership with qualified staff and service providers.
• Monitor vendor performance, resolve service problems, and manage school opening, summer work, maintenance, and campus readiness.
• Plan operations for conferences, family events, field trips, and after-school and summer programs, coordinating space, staffing, transportation, materials, and communication.
• Build trusting family relationships, arrange interpretation and translated information, and ensure timely follow-through on questions and concerns.
• Oversee attendance outreach and required notices, partnering with school leaders and student support teams on chronic absence and attendance barriers.
• Manage assigned operating budgets and purchasing; review spending with principals, maintain inventories, and ensure accurate receipts, coding, and invoice documentation.
• Ensure accurate and timely attendance, enrollment, student records, and family contact information; coordinate records requests, transfers, report cards, and assessment logistics with Data and Assessment.
• Maintain campus compliance records and complete assigned reporting, inspections, and corrective actions; protect confidential information and follow approved data-access procedures.
• Coordinate employee onboarding, access, equipment, timekeeping, and offboarding with Talent, Payroll and Business, and technology partners.
• Maintain regular, reliable, and predictable attendance and perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare options, including medical, dental, and vision.
• Retirement planning through Teacher’s Retirement Association (TRA)/Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) and optional 403B plans.
• Paid time off, federal holidays, and academic breaks throughout the school year.

What This Job Offers

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