Managing Director of Operations

About Black Men Teach (BMT)

Black Men Teach is a movement and a mission — building a future where every child has the opportunity to learn from, be led by, and be inspired by a Black male educator. We recruit, prepare, and support Black men to enter and thrive in the classroom, strengthening schools and transforming communities in the process. At BMT, we’re reimagining what it means to teach, lead, and belong. Our team is bold, innovative, and deeply rooted in purpose. We don’t just talk about change — we design it, build it, and live it every day. Our work is rooted in the belief that representation matters—and that our children’s schooling experience will never be complete without Black male teachers in the classroom.

Position Overview:

Black Men Teach is seeking a sharp, execution-obsessed Managing Director of Operations to run the engine room of the organization. This leader owns the Administration function — Finance, IT, and Operations & Strategy, and partners closely with the People & Culture lead on organization-wide People & Culture initiatives — and is accountable for making sure the org runs with precision, discipline, and speed. This isn't a role for someone who manages from the sidelines; it's for someone who builds the systems, sets the pace, and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks as Black Men Teach scales its impact across Minnesota.

This role owns execution and operational management across Administration; final authority on organizational strategy, board matters, and external partnerships remains with the CEO.

 

Role Allocation

• Operations & Strategy — 45%: Systems, workflows, cross-functional execution, performance dashboards, strategic planning support
• Finance — 20%: Financial management, budgeting oversight, regulatory compliance, resource stewardship, grant compliance support
• People & Culture Partnership — 15%: Partnership with the Director of HR on people systems alignment, culture, and performance standards
• Information Technology (IT) — 20%: Systems infrastructure, data integrity, platform administration, tech-enabled efficiency
  
   

Core Responsibilities: 

• Operations & Strategy
  • Own day-to-day operations, driving clarity, accountability, and seamless cross-functional execution
  • Design and refine operational systems, workflows, and decision-making processes
  • Build and maintain organizational performance dashboards tied to strategic goals
  • Translate the CEO's vision and strategic priorities into actionable plans with measurable results
  • Drive follow-through on leadership priorities across the Administration team
  • Support leadership team meetings by preparing materials and tracking follow-through on operational priorities
  • Serve as a thought partner to the CEO on operational and administrative matters, and represent the CEO in internal meetings on operational topics as needed
• Financial oversight
  • Ensure sound financial management, regulatory compliance, and responsible stewardship of resources
  • Support budgeting, forecasting, and resource planning, with strategic financial planning and major budget decisions remaining with the CEO
  • Support grant compliance and reporting requirements
• People & Culture 
  • Partner with the People & Culture Lead to align job descriptions, performance review structures, and organization-wide professional growth pathways.
  • Support the People & Culture Lead in maintaining equitable systems for recruitment, onboarding, performance evaluation, and employee growth.
  • Partner with the People & Culture Lead to strengthen organizational culture, accountability, and performance standards.
  • Ensure role clarity and a consistent people operations infrastructure in partnership with the People & Culture Lead.
  • Lead direct reports by providing clarity, accountability, and coaching for success while fostering a culture of belonging, collaboration, and professional growth across the BMT team.
  • Support the People & Culture Lead in implementing performance management systems and driving cross-functional initiatives that align with annual priorities and the organization's strategic plan.
  • Champion professional development opportunities and equitable career growth pathways for BMT staff in partnership with the People & Culture Lead.
• Information Technology (IT) 
  • Own systems and platform infrastructure supporting data integrity and operational efficiency
  • Ensure data integrity and compliance across tools and platforms
  • Partner with leadership to use data for continuous improvement and decision-making
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Lead direct reports providing clarity, accountability, and coaching for success.
  • Build a culture of belonging, feedback, and professional growth across the BMT team.
  • Lead performance management systems across the organization and drive cross-functional project management to ensure alignment with annual and strategic plans.
  • Support professional development and equitable growth pathways for BMT staff.
• Strategic Planning & CEO Partnership 
  • Translate the CEO’s vision into actionable plans and measurable results. 
  • Serve as a thought partner and proxy to the CEO on key initiatives and decisions. 
  • Drive leadership team meetings and ensure follow-through on priorities. 
  • Support financial management, resource planning, and grant compliance.
  • Strengthen systems that support program planning, implementation, and data-informed decision-making.
    
     

What Skills and Experience Do You Need?

• Attention to Detail: Ability to ensure accuracy through demonstrating a thorough concern for all areas involved, checking work or information, while organizing time and resources efficiently. 
• Collaboration: Ability to identify partners and work with others to accomplish goals or solve problems. Ability to bring others along and influence to drive work forward to achieve goals. 
• Comfort in Ambiguity: Experience working without all the information and being able to drive clarity with partners or resources to move work forward; proven experience navigating in the gray 
• Communication: Ability to build internal and/or external partnerships. Ability to drive awareness or change with a diverse audience through various communication vehicles. Ability to present ideas to all levels of the organization. 
• Consulting: Ability to partner with stakeholders at varying levels to understand needs/opportunities, develop strategic solutions, and implement. Ability to ask questions to ensure understanding of nuances or key business needs. 
• Critical Thinking: Ability to proactively connect and evaluate ideas using facts and data; identifying themes in service to prioritizing problems to solve. Ability to develop recommendations or solutions that fit within the strategy and goals. 
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple priorities, tight deadlines, and special projects with minimal direction. Ability to interact with and manage stakeholders in varying roles and levels. 
  
   

The Ideal Candidate Will Bring: 

• Operational Excellence: You design systems and structures that improve efficiency and performance. 
• Data-Informed Leadership: You understand how to turn data into actionable insight and continuous improvement. 
• Strategic Agility: You connect vision to execution with clarity, prioritization, and flexibility. 
• Equity & Inclusion: You lead with a commitment to fairness, belonging, and cultural authenticity. 
• Collaborative Leadership: You bring people together, navigate tension productively, and drive accountability with care. 
• Entrepreneurial: You will be the first person to ever hold this role; you have to be willing to embrace ambiguity and have the ability to do what it takes to get things done. 
  
   

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Business, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, or related field preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, finance, HR, or administration, ideally within nonprofit or mission-driven organizations.
• 5+ years leading high-performing teams with direct supervisory responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional operations spanning finance, IT, and operations, with experience partnering closely with HR/People functions.
• Experience managing budgets and aligning financial resources to strategic goals.
• Proven ability to build and scale operational systems with measurable results.
• Lived experience and/or demonstrated cultural competence working within African Diaspora communities highly valued.

Skills and Competencies:

• Mission Alignment: Deep commitment to BMT’s core values and educational equity.
• Demonstrated leadership in program strategy and portfolio management.
• Experience leading multi-layered program teams.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and driving clarity.
• Exceptional communication and facilitation skills.
• Experience building and managing cross-sector partnerships.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize competing demands.
• Deep cultural competence and understanding of Black male identity within educational contexts.

Physical Requirements: 

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. 
• The person in this position needs to be able to move about inside and outside different facilities (e.g., schools) or offices throughout the workday.
• The candidate is expected to attend conferences, meetings and training sessions both virtually and in-person. 
  
   

Work Environment

• The standard work schedule is Monday through Friday. To support collaboration, community building, and teamwork, Black Men Teach requires staff to work on-site three days per week, Tuesday through Thursday. Mondays and Fridays are designated as remote workdays.
• This position operates in a collaborative, fast-paced hybrid work environment requiring frequent interaction with colleagues, partners, schools, and community stakeholders. The role requires flexibility, effective prioritization, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  
   

Compensation and Benefits

Salary range: $110,000 – $130,000. Final salary is determined by BMT based on years of experience, educational background, and level of expertise. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. BMT offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the whole person — your health, your future, and your life outside of work:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance — BMT covers 75% of the employee premium and 65% of dependent premiums
• 401(k) retirement plan with up to 4% employer match
• Generous Paid Time Off, Sick Leave, and observed holidays
• Professional development opportunities aligned with your growth
• We offer a hybrid work environment that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and community connection.
  
   

EEO Statement 

Black Men Teach (BMT) is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where all team members feel valued and supported. We celebrate diversity in all its forms and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

Join Us! 

If you’re passionate about reimagining systems and creating lasting impact, we invite you to bring your ideas and energy to BMT. Together, we’re not just transforming education — we’re transforming possibility.