School Operations Manager

KIPP New Orleans Schools • New Orleans, LA

6h • Onsite

About The Position

The School Operations Manager (SOM) serves as the operational backbone of the campus. Reporting to the school-based Director of School Operations, the SOM designs, implements, and continuously refines every non-instructional system. By ensuring these functions run efficiently, safely, and in full compliance with district, state, and federal requirements, the SOM frees the principal and instructional staff to remain laser-focused on teaching and learning. Acting as both strategist and hands-on problem solver, the SOM collaborates daily with school leaders, teachers, support staff, vendors, families, and community partners to create a best-in-class operational environment that directly supports student achievement.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent credential/related work experience
• 4+ years in operations, office management, or school business support
• 2+ years leading adults or frontline teams
• Hands-on school-site ownership of daily systems (arrival/dismissal, attendance, facilities tickets, vendor coordination)
• Deep understanding of daily school ops (attendance, enrollment, food service, health office, transportation logistics)
• Safety/OSHA basics for school settings
• Drill planning & incident reporting
• Purchasing, inventory, and petty cash controls
• Familiar with SIS daily use
• Basic assessment platform familiarity (e.g., NWEA, Illuminate)
• Google Workspace/Microsoft 365
• Strong Excel/Sheets skills for trackers & schedules
• Work order/ticketing tools
• Basic scheduling/rostering tools
• Ability to safely lift and move up to 50lbs independently
• Maintain a friendly, respectful, professional and courteous attitude with all people, including all KNOS employees, Board members, community and philanthropic partners, funders, and vendors.
• Model superior customer service behavior by maintaining positive relationships with all KNOS stakeholders.
• Contribute as a positive and effective team member; work effectively with other team members to accomplish KNOS goals.
• Be prompt and available for flexible scheduling; be honest and fair in all professional dealings.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Project management certificate (CAPM or equivalent) or Lean basics
• Experience training/front-desk staff
• Bilingual skills
• Exposure to state reporting or audit preparation

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of school food service, including vendor management, meal quality, compliance, and daily operations to ensure students receive safe, nutritious meals.
• Manage relationships with food service vendors to ensure adherence to safety standards and continuous improvement in service quality and efficiency.
• Implement and maintain systems for accurate student meal identification and tracking (breakfast, lunch, supper, snack) in compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Establish and communicate clear meal procedures to staff, students, and families to ensure smooth and equitable meal distribution.
• Monitor meal service operations and dining schedules to maximize efficiency, minimize wait times, and improve the student experience.
• Conduct routine observations to ensure audit readiness and compliance with nutrition and food safety requirements.
• Maintain accurate student health records, including food allergies and emergency information, to support safe meal service.
• Partner with custodial and maintenance teams to maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming school environment, supported by routine inspections and feedback.
• Conduct daily facility walkthroughs to assess cleanliness, safety, and operational needs; ensure timely follow-up on identified issues.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance and manage facilities requests to ensure timely resolution and minimal disruption to learning.
• Collaborate with regional facilities teams to ensure compliance with inspections (e.g., NOLAPS) and completion of required action items.
• Maintain organized, accessible storage and shared spaces.
• Ensure school spaces reflect the school’s culture, brand, and high standards for presentation.
• Lead student recruitment efforts to meet enrollment targets through strategic outreach, community engagement, and partnerships.
• Build and maintain relationships with local schools, childcare centers, and community organizations to strengthen recruitment pipelines.
• Plan and execute recruitment events (e.g., tours, open houses, information sessions) that reflect the school’s mission and values.
• Support families through the application, enrollment, and withdrawal processes, ensuring clear communication and access to resources.
• Ensure timely completion of new student registration (within 5 days) and support re-registration efforts to meet school enrollment goals (e.g., 90%+ returning families).
• Collaborate with regional teams and external partners to develop sustainable enrollment and retention strategies.
• Manage relationships with transportation vendors and serve as the primary liaison between families and bus providers.
• Maintain accurate transportation rosters and ensure proper bus assignments and communication of updates.
• Coordinate logistics including bus signage, stop changes, and daily operations.
• Monitor transportation performance, including late bus tracking and escalation of issues to regional teams.
• Ensure safety protocols are followed, including driver procedures and bus checks.
• Partner with internal teams to address and resolve transportation-related concerns.
• Oversee school-wide technology systems, including inventory management, distribution, and maintenance of devices (e.g., Chromebooks, staff technology).
• Partner with regional IT to procure equipment and resolve technical issues, minimizing instructional disruption.
• Maintain systems for tracking technology usage, ownership, and accountability.
• Ensure completion and monitoring of regular technology audits (e.g., Chromebook carts).
• Manage shared equipment (copiers, laminators, poster makers), ensuring functionality, maintenance, and adequate supplies.
• Troubleshoot day-to-day technology issues and escalate when necessary.
• Manage ordering and inventory of office and operational supplies within budget.
• Develop and maintain clear, consistent communication channels with families and staff.
• Create and distribute school-wide communications (e.g., newsletters, announcements, updates) aligned with school priorities and culture.
• Ensure timely communication of key events, deadlines, and important information to all stakeholders.
• Plan and execute school events in collaboration with school leadership, ensuring strong logistics and alignment to school goals.
• Coordinate off-campus trips, ensuring safety, organization, and meaningful student experiences.
• Manage event logistics, including space setup, materials, vendor coordination, and staff support.
• Monitor and support daily attendance processes, including outreach to families.
• Participate in attendance intervention efforts and serve as an attendance coach for targeted students.
• Collaborate with school teams to improve attendance outcomes.
• Coordinate and oversee athletic programs, including scheduling games, practices, and events.
• Manage athletic equipment, uniforms, and inventory.
• Arrange transportation and logistics for athletic events.
• Communicate with families and stakeholders about schedules, updates, and achievements to build engagement and school pride.
• Support front office operations as needed, including phone coverage, family interactions, and daily administrative tasks.
• Ensure smooth execution of arrival and dismissal procedures, prioritizing student safety and efficiency.
• Contribute to a strong, systems-driven operational culture that supports staff and student success.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and commensurate with experience
• 403(b) retirement plan – KNOS matches 100% of employee contribution up to the first 5% of salary and any bonuses. Vested immediately in 403(b)
• Health and wellbeing benefits starting the first day of the month following their Date of Hire
• Comprehensive, customizable health coverage, including disability, life insurance, hospital indemnity, FSAs for health and dependent care, and free dental and vision for employees
• ~30 paid holidays and additional paid time off
• Opportunities for on-going professional development

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED