Director, Operations Excellence

Director, Operations Excellence Location: New York Summary of Key Responsibilities Leadership – Regional Operations Managers Leads, develops, and manages a team of Regional Operations Managers. Builds leadership capability by coaching leaders of leaders. Establishes performance expectations, accountability systems, and development plans for ROMs. Drives succession planning and long‑term talent strategy across School Operations. Creates a culture of ownership, follower‑ship, and operational excellence throughout the organization. Ensures ROMs are effectively developing Business Operations Managers and school‑based operations teams. Identifies, develops, and retains top operational talent across the network. Strategic Leadership & Organizational Design Defines and executes the long‑term vision and strategy for School Operations. Designs organizational structures, talent models, and operating systems that enable school success at scale. Anticipates future organizational needs and proactively builds capabilities to support growth. Evaluates the effectiveness of the operating model and continuously improves it. Leads large‑scale operational transformation efforts and organizational change initiatives. Partners with senior leadership to shape network‑wide strategy and priorities. Operational Excellence Establishes operational standards and accountability measures across the network. Ensures schools consistently deliver strong outcomes across facilities, safety, compliance, enrollment, family experience, financial management, and operational execution. Uses data and performance metrics to identify trends, prioritize interventions, and drive continuous improvement. Creates systems that allow operational excellence to be measured, scaled, and sustained. Builds a culture of noticing, problem‑solving, and accountability at every level. Cross‑Functional Leadership Serves as the primary operational thought partner to network leadership. Builds strong partnerships across Schooling, Enrollment, Facilities, Technology, Finance, People, Family Engagement, Supply Chain, and other network teams. Influences organizational decision‑making through operational expertise and insight from schools. Ensures cross‑functional initiatives are designed with implementation realities in mind. Clarifies ownership and accountability across teams to improve execution and reduce complexity. Aligns stakeholders around priorities, resources, timelines, and expected outcomes. Talent Strategy & Capability Building Develops long‑term talent pipelines for School Operations leadership. Defines leadership competencies, performance expectations, and development pathways. Drives hiring strategy, succession planning, onboarding, performance management, and leadership development. Creates systems that strengthen management capability and leadership effectiveness. Ensures leaders have the skills, tools, and support necessary to succeed. Systems, Innovation & Continuous Improvement Evaluates the effectiveness of operational programs, systems, and processes. Leads the design and implementation of tools, workflows, and standards that improve execution. Identifies opportunities to simplify work, eliminate inefficiencies, and increase consistency. Leverages data, technology, and innovation to improve operational outcomes. Ensures School Operations evolves to meet the changing needs of schools and the organization. Financial Stewardship Oversees operational budget performance across the network. Ensures leaders understand financial expectations and manage resources responsibly. Partners with Finance to develop forecasting, reporting, and accountability systems. Aligns investments and staffing decisions to organizational priorities and school needs. Identifies risks, opportunities, and resource allocation strategies that strengthen operational performance. Key Job Dimensions & Scope Strategic leadership of School Operations across the Success Academy network. Direct leadership and development of Regional Operations Managers. Leadership of leaders responsible for operational performance across multiple schools and regions. Accountable for operational outcomes, talent strategy, organizational design, and leadership development. Senior cross‑functional influencer and thought partner to network leadership. Responsible for scaling systems, standards, and capabilities across the organization. Balances immediate operational realities with long‑term organizational priorities. Frequent travel between schools and network locations. Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Leadership Proven ability to lead leaders and build high‑performing teams. Demonstrated success coaching, developing, and managing senior leaders. Ability to create follower‑ship, accountability, and ownership across a large organization. Strong judgment in talent assessment, succession planning, and organizational design. Strategic Thinking Exceptional strategic planning and systems‑thinking capabilities. Ability to connect day‑to‑day execution with long‑term organizational outcomes. Skilled at navigating ambiguity, competing priorities, and organizational complexity. Experience leading large‑scale organizational change and transformation efforts. Operational Excellence Deep understanding of operational systems, performance management, and continuous improvement. Strong analytical skills and ability to leverage data to drive decisions. Experience building scalable systems, standards, and accountability frameworks. Ability to drive operational excellence across multiple sites, teams, or business units. Influence & Collaboration Exceptional communication, relationship‑building, and influencing skills. Ability to drive alignment across diverse stakeholders and competing priorities. Strong executive presence and ability to influence without direct authority. Skilled at building trust and credibility across all levels of an organization. Business Acumen Experience managing budgets, forecasting, resource allocation, and organizational investments. Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making skills. Ability to balance organizational priorities while maintaining a relentless focus on scholar outcomes. Preferred Experience 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, education, consulting, military leadership, hospitality, retail, healthcare, or other complex multi‑site environments. Experience leading leaders across multiple regions, business units, or locations. Experience designing organizations, building talent systems, and driving transformational change. Demonstrated success scaling teams, systems, and operational performance across a large organization. Experience partnering with senior executives to drive enterprise‑wide initiatives and organizational effectiveness. Compensation Range $165,000 - $175,000 USD Success Academy offers a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth. We are an equal opportunity employer and actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We actively seek applications from people of all backgrounds to strengthen our community and the perspectives needed to flourish in a multicultural world. Success Academy Charter Schools does not offer employment‑based immigration sponsorship. #J-18808-Ljbffr