Director of Operations

Who We Are

Meeting Street Schools is a groundbreaking network of four South Carolina schools with a mission of “empowering children with the excellent, life-changing education they deserve.” We were founded in 2008 to give hard-working students the opportunity to receive an education that will transform their lives. We are ambitious in our commitment to families, and we expect the same in return. We value exceptional teaching, life-changing student achievement, innovation and a growth mindset, and gratitude and responsibility.

Who We're Looking For

We exist to change the status quo in education, and we seek individuals who strongly align with our mission. We look for those who refuse to compromise and see education as the gateway to opportunity. We hold high expectations for ourselves and our students. Our team strives to meet a bar of excellence, and we constantly challenge ourselves to get better and evolve our approach. High performers and leaders are encouraged to apply.

The Role

The Director of Operations plays a critical leadership role in creating the conditions for student success by ensuring that all non-instructional functions of the school run with excellence. This position is responsible for driving the strategic direction of school operations across the campus, overseeing facilities, safety, food services, enrollment, compliance, and more, so that educators and students can focus on teaching and learning.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer and managing a team of school-based staff, the Director enforces consistency, operational excellence, and a culture of service across all areas. By building efficient systems and modeling a standard of high expectations, urgency, and accountability, this role ensures that every operational decision supports Meeting Street Schools’ mission: to provide a life-changing education for all students.

Core Responsibilities:

Leadership:

• Serve as a key member of the school leadership team by acting as a liaison between the school Operations team and other departments

• Act as a strategic advisor and thought partner to school principals, ensuring operational systems and decisions empower instructional leadership and student success

• Oversee the development of the school master calendar and plan the school budget in collaboration with the school leadership team and Meeting Street Schools Network team

• Partner with Network HR Team and school management team with the onboarding and offboarding of campus employees

• Continuously assess operational practices to identify opportunities for optimization, innovation, and alignment with MSS’s commitment to delivering best-in-class educational experiences

Operations Team Management:

• Provide vision, leadership, and oversight to all school operations staff, ensuring they operate with clarity, purpose, and accountability

• Drive performance, coach, and develop operations staff; conduct weekly team and one-on-one meetings to ensure alignment and growth 

• Act as the primary contact for external vendors, such as custodial and food service staff; manage support staff through these vendors as needed

• Model and reinforce a culture of high expectations, urgency, and service excellence across all operational domains

Attendance and Enrollment:

• Train Operations and Student Support Teams on attendance and truancy protocols and track progress regularly 

• Manage approval process for truancy referrals 

• Oversight of the attendance process to ensure completion and accuracy

• Oversee the processes for new student enrollment, re-enrollment, withdrawals, and tuition/fee collection

• Coordinate family partnership meetings for new student enrollments

Compliance:

• Serve as a liaison between the school, the Meeting Street Schools Network, and its partner district for compliance matters

• Provide support to the network team in maintaining compliance with Title I, as well as all applicable district, state, and federal regulations, as needed

• Maintain documentation and files for compliance reporting

Facilities Management:

• Drive superior standards across security, maintenance, and cleanliness of the campus, fostering a safe and well-maintained environment that reflects our standard of excellence

• Oversee campus food, transportation and health services programs 

• Ensure the campus map is maintained and up to date

• Work with the network and district partners to implement a multi-year plan for campus improvements and maintenance

Safety:

• Annually train all staff, and mid-year hires as needed, on emergency procedures 

• Schedule, conduct, and evaluate emergency preparedness exercises to ensure flawless execution 

• Oversee the safety and security of school facilities, ensuring they meet district-level requirements, as applicable

School Culture:

• Champion our values of exceptional teaching, innovation and growth mindset, life-changing student achievement, and gratitude and responsibility

• Commit to constant professional and personal growth through reflection, feedback, and collaboration

• Participate and engage in school and community events

Qualifications:

Required Experience:

• Proven experience supervising and managing high-performing operations organization and/or equivalent 

• Ability to develop and manage budgets for multiple projects or departments

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, G- Suite, and project management software

• Demonstrated experience creating and managing task management systems for facilities operations, including tracking and prioritizing requests, and efficiently resolving time-sensitive service issues with a high standard of quality

Preferred Education, Skills and Competencies:

• 5+ years of experience, or equivalent, in operations, with proven success in driving sustainable processes to drive outcomes

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field preferred

• Experience working in educational or nonprofit environments is a plus

• Extensive knowledge of the enrollment process and student attendance tracking 

• Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and balance competing deadlines 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with team members, school leaders, and external vendors

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds

• Ability to stand or walk for extended periods, up to 5 hours per day

Classification and Benefits:

This is a salaried exempt position, eligible for comprehensive benefits, including:

• Health, Dental, Vision, and Pet Insurance

• Life Insurance and Disability Coverage

• Retirement Plans and Tax-Favored Spending Accounts (FSA/HSA)

• Paid Time Off and Employee Wellness Programs

• Professional development opportunities to enhance your expertise and career growth

Salary Range: $86,000 - $105,000

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Meeting Street Schools is an equal employment opportunity employer.  Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs, and are not based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, uniformed service, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other factor or characteristic protected by applicable law.