Senior Director of Education & Operational Excellence

New York Kids Club•New York, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director of Education & Operational Excellence is a hands-on, education-centered operational leader responsible for strengthening the day-to-day execution, consistency, and performance of all 12 schools. Reporting to the VP of Education Innovation, the role is part of the Education leadership team and works closely with the Education Director, Heads of School, and central teams to ensure operations support strong teaching, learning, programming, and family experience. The leader translates organizational expectations, educational philosophy, and brand promise into practical standards, systems, training, observation, feedback, communication, and accountability. The position connects strategic priorities with daily school operations across staffing, enrollment, facilities, safety, compliance, planning, and execution. It also coaches and develops Heads of School, partners with central teams, and leads cross-functional initiatives including new school openings, acquisitions, and program launches. The role is primarily on-site across the schools and in the New York City office. New York Preschool is a year-round early childhood education network serving children ages one to five, with 12 campuses across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

Requirements

At least 8 years of experience in education, including at least 5 years in school or multi-site leadership.
Bachelor’s degree required.
A New York State Early Childhood Initial or Professional Certification (B-2 or 1-6).
Experience leading school or multi-site education operations.
Experience managing staffing and labor costs, including scheduling, ratios, coverage, and aligning staffing with enrollment.
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 aspects of running a school.
A track record of improving operations through practical systems, communication, planning, and continuous improvement.
Ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams and leaders.
Exceptional communication skills, strong presence, sound judgment, and ability to address complex matters with clarity and confidence.
Entrepreneurial, resourceful, and pragmatic approach, with a willingness to execute hands-on and a strong bias toward action.
Accountable, results-oriented approach, with the ability to set clear expectations, follow through, and maintain high standards.
Collaborative and approachable manner, with willingness to listen, learn, adapt, and support organizational needs.
Ability to stand, walk, sit, move constantly, and occasionally climb; ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds.
Specific sensory abilities include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and adjustment of focus.

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.
Set and reinforce operating standards that support high-quality schools and exceptional family experiences while respecting each school community’s needs.
Plan ahead for school calendars, staffing cycles, enrollment patterns, and operational needs.
Ensure operations support educational outcomes, programming, and the organization’s brand promise.
Translate the educational philosophy and brand promise into clear expectations and standards for school performance.
Advocate for school leaders and help ensure they have the resources and support they need.
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.
Champion safety, compliance, and operational readiness across schools.
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 maintain safe, functional, welcoming, and well-maintained environments.
Develop practical operating systems, processes, standards, and tools that help schools execute effectively.
Use data and reporting to identify trends, simplify processes, and drive action.
Build partnerships across Education, Operations, People, Finance, Enrollment, and Marketing.
Create feedback loops among school leaders, teachers, and central teams, translating feedback into practical solutions.
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 while empowering Heads of School to lead with ownership and judgment.
Partner with Finance and school leadership to manage staffing and labor costs, aligning schedules, ratios, and classroom capacity with enrollment while protecting quality and compliance.
Lead cross-functional initiatives such as new school openings, acquisitions, and program launches.