Senior Director of Education & Operational Excellence

NY Preschool and Kids Club•New York, NY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director of Education & Operational Excellence is a hands-on, education-centered operational leader responsible for strengthening day-to-day execution, consistency, and performance across New York Preschool’s 12 schools. Reporting to the VP of Education Innovation, the role is part of the Education leadership team and partners closely with the Education Director, Heads of School, teachers, and central teams. The position is primarily on-site across schools and in the New York City office. The Senior Director connects organizational strategy with daily school operations, ensuring that operations support strong teaching, learning, programming, and family experiences. The role brings together staffing, enrollment, facilities, safety, compliance, communication, planning, and execution, translating organizational expectations into practical standards and systems. The leader also strengthens training, observation, feedback, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the schools. This role leads and develops Heads of School, champions New York Preschool’s educational philosophy and brand promise, and helps schools anticipate operational needs and respond to performance trends. It also partners with central teams—including People, Finance, Enrollment, Marketing, and Facilities—to ensure initiatives meet school needs and support organizational priorities. The position contributes to cross-functional initiatives such as new school openings, acquisitions, and program launches.

Requirements

At least 8 years of experience in education, including at least 5 years in school or multi-site leadership; private school, early childhood education, preschool, or a similar high-quality educational environment is preferred.
Bachelor’s degree required.
New York State Early Childhood Initial or Professional Certification (B-2 or 1-6).
Experience leading school or multi-site education operations.
Strong understanding of curriculum, teaching and learning, teacher support, training, educational programming, and developmentally appropriate educational practices.
Experience supporting or working with children with special needs and understanding of inclusive practices.
Demonstrated commitment to safety, compliance, and regulatory excellence.
Experience with enrollment, staffing, facilities, family experience, and other operational components of running a school.
Track record of improving operations through practical systems, communication, planning, and continuous improvement.
Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams and leaders.
Exceptional communication skills, strong presence, sound judgment, and ability to address complex matters clearly and confidently.
Entrepreneurial, resourceful, pragmatic, and willing to take a hands-on approach with a strong bias toward action.
Highly accountable and results-oriented, able to set clear expectations, follow through, and hold self and others to a high standard.
Passionate, curious, and energized by building, improving, and making a meaningful impact, including in an environment where resources may be limited.
Collaborative and approachable, with a willingness to listen, learn, adapt, and do what the organization needs to succeed.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in education, business, leadership, or a related field.
Experience in private school, early childhood education, preschool, or a similarly high-quality educational environment.

Responsibilities

Partner with Heads of School to establish clear expectations, consistent execution, and strong day-to-day operations across all schools.
Establish and reinforce operating standards that support high-quality schools and exceptional family experiences while respecting each school community’s needs.
Anticipate school-calendar, staffing, enrollment, and operational needs so schools are prepared in advance and challenges are identified early.
Partner with the VP of Education Innovation and school leadership to align operations with educational outcomes, programming, and the organization’s brand promise.
Translate the educational philosophy and brand promise into clear expectations and standards for school performance.
Champion school needs while balancing broader organizational priorities.
Partner with Education and school leadership to strengthen training and professional development for school leaders and teams.
Support meaningful observation and feedback practices and create opportunities for school teams to share effective practices and improve.
Partner with Enrollment, Marketing, and school leadership to support enrollment performance and school readiness.
Ensure operational processes support a seamless family experience from initial inquiry and enrollment through a child’s time at the organization.
Help schools understand and respond to enrollment, capacity, retention, and family-experience trends.
Promote a culture of safety, compliance, and operational readiness; ensure schools meet or exceed licensing, regulatory, health, safety, and organizational requirements.
Establish processes, accountability, and follow-through for compliance, inspections, and incident response.
Partner with Facilities and school leaders to ensure environments are safe, functional, welcoming, and well maintained.
Develop practical operating systems, processes, standards, and tools, and establish clear expectations and accountability across operational areas.
Use data and reporting to identify trends, simplify processes, and drive action.
Build partnerships across Education, Operations, People, Finance, Enrollment, and Marketing; strengthen feedback loops between school leaders, teachers, and central teams.
Communicate clearly and thoughtfully, including when addressing challenges or difficult issues.
Lead, coach, and develop Heads of School as accountable education and operational leaders.
Set performance expectations and standards while empowering Heads of School to lead with ownership and judgment.
Partner with Finance and school leadership to understand and improve school-level enrollment, staffing, labor, capacity, expenses, and retention performance.
Lead cross-functional initiatives such as new school openings, acquisitions, and program launches.