Associate Director of Operations

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with two-thirds of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 52 schools serving 19,000 students in five cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond.

At Uncommon Schools, we know running exceptional schools takes more than great instruction—it also takes exemplary operations! Uncommon Schools' operations leaders work passionately to ensure that our faculty maximizes time and energy on student achievement. We design, implement, and refine systems that anticipate the needs of our school community. As service-oriented leaders, we tackle problems, share standard methodologies across campuses, and respond to urgent needs. We partner to build an academic and cultural environment that supports our ultimate goal: ensuring that every student will earn a college degree.

The Associate Director of Operations (ADOO) is a member of the High School Leadership Team who leads the day-to-day operations of the school and reports directly to the High School Director of Operations. By managing the crucial day-to-day, the ADOO frees up the HS DOO to focus on bigger-picture priorities given the complexity and scale of high school operations. The ADOO will partner on many school leadership initiatives with the school’s Academy Leader. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Leading all aspects of the day-to-day operation of the school; 
• Serving as main point of contact for all operational needs in circumstances when the DOO is not available; 
• Participating actively in the High School Leadership Team;
• Managing 1-2 operations staff members, at the DOO’s discretion, and overseeing the successful implementation of their workstreams (e.g., attendance, purchasing, invoice processing); 
• Partnering with and providing operational support to key stakeholders and leaders such as the Athletic Director and the HS 2.0 Program Manager;
• Implementing coverage system on a daily basis; 
• Developing and managing the HS schedule, including teacher and student schedules, classroom schedules, and duty assignments; 
• Owning facilities management to ensure facilities are safe, well-maintained, and meet the needs of students and faculty; 
• Any additional responsibilities identified by the DOO, including but not limited to student persistence and enrollment, major events, tracking time off, etc. 

• Passionate commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization;
• Passionate commitment to improve the minds, characters, and lives of students both in and out of school;
• Strong critical thinking skills;
• Demonstrated grit and personal responsibility;
• Ability to think strategically and innovatively, in order to continuously improve school operations;
• High-quality written and verbal communication skills with multiple partners including teachers, students, families, vendors, and colleagues;
• Ability to have difficult conversations in a respectful manner;
• Dedication to continual professional growth;
• Strong organizational skills; careful attention to detail and follow-through;
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment; flexible, able to work autonomously as well as take direction as needed;
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Word, Excel and Access;
• Strong time management skills; ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet tight deadlines;
• Ability to maintain a calm, professional attitude in the face of challenging demands and external pressures;
• School-based or other educational experience preferred;
• Experience managing others preferred;
• Required experience:
  • 4 or more years of work experience;
  • Project planning experience, with proven ability to see large projects through to completion;
  • A Bachelor’s degree.

Our people are what makes us Uncommon.  We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families.  

Compensation for this position: Candidates who meet all job description requirements will likely receive an offer of $90,000.  The starting pay will depend on various factors including but not limited to relevant professional experience, education, certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools.  To receive an offer greater than $90,000, candidates will need experience beyond the job description requirements, including time spent in a directly equivalent role.

Other Benefits:

• Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time and school breaks (spring, winter, and summer)
• Extensive, best-in-class training and development  
• Choice of 3 comprehensive health insurance plans
• Pre-tax flexible spending and health saving accounts
• Financial planning & wellness
  • New Jersey Pension program
  • 529 college savings program
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness application assistance
  • Financial  planning tools and assistance
• Dependent Care FSA, back up childcare and daycare discounts
• Paid leave of absence 
  • Fully paid parental leave
  • Fully paid medical leave
  • Additional paid Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance 
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [email protected].