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Democracy Prep Public Schools · 1 day ago

Chief Operating Officer

New York, NY

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

$225K/yr - $245K/yr

10+ years exp

Democracy Prep Public Schools is a high-performing public charter school network in New York, dedicated to educating responsible citizen-scholars. The Chief Operating Officer will lead operational functions across the network, ensuring excellence in areas such as student recruitment, school operations, and facilities management to support student learning and growth.

Education Management

Responsibilities

Set vision for and oversee all school-facing operational functions across the network, including all operational systems and team structures (including student recruitment and enrollment, school operations, meals, transportation, procurement, student information systems, compliance and reporting, safety, facilities management, and real estate management). Drive excellence across these functions

Manage through layers at the network level to ensure excellence in enrollment, school operations, food service, transportation, safety, facilities, compliance, and student information systems

Monitor schools’ experience with the Democracy Prep operations team to ensure consistent, responsive, and high-quality operational support that enables instructional focus

Remove operational barriers that limit teaching, learning, and school culture

Establish clear service standards and operational expectations for schools

Partner with principals to resolve complex operational challenges

Lead escalation and response to school-level operational issues and crises with urgency and care

Lead and manage senior leaders overseeing network operations functions

Build a unified, service-oriented operations culture across central and school-based teams

Set clear goals, performance expectations, and accountability structures that center on efficiency and operational excellence, customer service for our schools, and the creation of a safe and productive learning environment for our scholars

Ensure operational strategies for schools are translated into specific objectives and plans (with contingencies); integrate and align efforts across functions; set realistic yet aggressive timeframes for achieving key objectives

Develop, coach, and retain high-performing operations leaders

Foster collaboration, inclusion, and strong management practices across teams

Audit, evaluate, and refine, and continuously improve scalable operational systems and processes. Identify gaps in processes and design, and monitor new systems and processes where necessary

Ensure consistency of protocols, tools, and school-facing workflows and establish processes for rollout and consistent monitoring where needed

Continuously evaluate operational KPIs and dashboards to monitor performance and risk

Use data and school leader feedback to drive continuous improvement for schools and scholars

Identify operational risks early and implement preventative solutions

As required, lead operational planning and execution for any network growth in New York

Oversee facilities planning, maintenance, and capital projects for both private and shared school spaces

Develop and manage real estate strategy, leases, renovations, and construction projects; ensure alignment with current and future growth strategy

Ensure all facilities meet safety, regulatory, and instructional needs. Develops and organizes ongoing, long-range, and preventive maintenance plans and programs for sites, buildings and equipment, including grounds keeping, transportation, and custodial services

In the future, build sustainable, cost-effective infrastructure to support growth

Maintain responsibility for all facilities management and planning, lease and licensing agreements, hazardous materials management, security systems, capital improvement, maintenance and repair service, energy management, refuse collection and disposal, and recycling programs

Partner with Democracy Prep’s Finance Team to manage operations budgets and cost controls

Oversee processes for procurement, contract negotiation, and vendor performance

Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and authorizer requirements

Oversee operational audits, reporting, and risk management

Ensure the implementation of a best-in-class student recruitment, enrollment and retention program across all Democracy Prep schools. Operationalize enrollment efforts for accountability at all levels

Oversee enrollment forecasting, data tracking, and reporting

Oversee all public relations and marketing vendor contracts and relationships

Operationalize the CEO’s vision for Democracy Prep’s brand and marketing

As needed to reach the CEO’s strategic vision for Democracy Prep, collaborate with Academic, People, Finance, and Strategy leaders

Ensure operational readiness for academic and organizational initiatives

Align operational execution to network priorities and timelines

Perform other related duties as assigned, including participation in network-wide or department specific initiatives and/or projects

Qualification

Operational leadershipSystems/process designData analysisCharter management experienceFinancial managementInterpersonal skillsTeam leadershipCommunication skillsCritical thinkingRelationship building