Director of Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Organization: Green Our Planet

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada — on-site and field-based

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Team: Approximately 14 staff across school, garden, hydroponics, and community programs

Status: Full-time, exempt

Salary: $80,000 – $100,000

About Green Our Planet

Green Our Planet is a national nonprofit that teaches people to grow food. We run three programs:

• Schools — students grow food in gardens and hydroponic labs, learn science, nutrition, and financial

literacy, and sell what they grow at student-run farmers' markets.

• Workplaces — hydroponic gardens in offices and facilities, run as an employee wellness program.
• Communities — hydroponic systems and coaching for families, delivered through health, government, and community partners.
  

We work in 44 states and have more than 1,300 programs running today.

We are growing. The Clark County School District is expanding our programs toward 200 elementary schools, our student farmers' markets are moving outside Nevada under a federal USDA award, and Compassionate Gardens, our new Las Vegas headquarters and community hub, is opening.

About the Role

The Director of Operations leads the team that delivers our programs in the field. This is a hands-on leadership role. You will spend a significant part of each week at schools, gardens, and partner sites — watching the work happen, coaching staff in the moment, and making sure every site meets our standard.

We have the systems: a documented customer journey, a CRM, a reporting platform, defined roles, and clear performance measures. What we need is a leader who makes sure the work gets done consistently, everywhere, every week.

This role is designed for a leader who wants to grow into broader organizational leadership over time.

Green Our Planet has learned that success here starts with understanding the work firsthand. The right

person will spend their first years deeply engaged in day-to-day operations, building relationships with

staff, customers, schools, and community partners, and developing a thorough understanding of how

our programs operate.

As the organization continues to grow, this role has the potential to expand into a broader executive

leadership position. Advancement will come through demonstrated results, strong people leadership,

operational excellence, and a proven ability to scale programs while staying connected to the work on

the ground.

This is not a role for someone looking to manage from a distance. It is an opportunity for a hands-on

leader who wants to earn the trust, knowledge, and experience necessary to help lead the

organization's future.

First 90 Days

• Learn our annual priorities, understand where each one stands, and take ownership of the parts this team delivers.

• Get to know every person on the team, what they are responsible for each week, and how their work is

tracking.

• Establish a consistent weekly field schedule so farmers, coaches, and hydroponics staff are at their sites on a predictable rhythm.

• Assess every site against our quality standard and build a plan to close any gaps.

• Close the loop on reporting so every site visit produces an action plan and every action plan gets followed through.

• Set clear performance expectations with each team member and address gaps early, with support from

HR.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Accountability

• Set clear weekly expectations for each team member and follow up on them.

• Hold regular check-ins, field observations, and performance conversations.

• Build a culture where standards are clear, measured, and met.

Field Execution and Customer Experience

• Own the quality of our customer relationships: schools, districts, workplaces, and community partners.

• Identify customer needs early and reset expectations when scope or capacity changes.

• Visit sites regularly and see the work firsthand.

Program Quality and Standards

• Hold every garden and hydroponic system to our quality standard, and inspect against it in person.

• Strengthen the planting, maintenance, and inspection routines that keep sites healthy and productive.

• Escalate and resolve facility and infrastructure issues that get in the team’s way.

• Deliver the grant and sponsorship commitments this team owns, on schedule.

Systems and Reporting

• Get the team using our CRM and reporting platform consistently.

• Use reports and dashboards to catch problems early and act on them.

• Improve the systems that get in the team’s way.

Budget and Risk

• Manage the team's operating budget

• Keep program spending in line with the grants and sponsorships that fund it, working with our finance and grants staff.
Planning for Growth

• Plan staffing, schedules, and routing for a much larger school footprint.

• Partner with the CEO and Senior Director of Finance HR on hiring, structure, and budget.

• Support Compassionate Gardens as a working headquarters and program site.

Qualifications

Required

• Five or more years leading frontline or field-based teams

• A track record of improving an existing team’s performance: setting expectations, coaching, and following

through.

• Demonstrated success leading teams while remaining directly involved in day-to-day operations and

execution. Candidates should be comfortable balancing strategic thinking with hands-on problem

solving and operational accountability.

• Strong organizational skills and comfort with CRM, project management, and reporting tools.

• Willingness to work in the field on a regular basis, including outdoors and at school sites.

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in business, operations, education, organizational leadership, or a related field.

• Experience leading other managers.

• Experience growing a program, team, or organization.

• Experience with budgets and using data to make decisions.

Who Does Well in This Role

People who take real ownership of outcomes and are energized by solving problems in real time. They are

equally comfortable coaching a team member, visiting a school site, meeting with a customer, reviewing a

budget, or helping resolve an operational challenge personally.

The people who thrive here are player-coaches. They lead from the front, not from behind a desk. They build credibility by understanding the work, supporting the team, and following through on commitments.

This role is not ideal for someone seeking a purely strategic or executive position. It is ideal for a leader who wants to build toward executive responsibility by first mastering operations, developing teams, and delivering results.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k)

• Paid time off and paid holidays

• Professional development

Working Conditions

This role is based in Las Vegas and splits time between our Compassionate Gardens headquarters, schools, and partner sites. It involves regular local driving, walking, and standing for extended periods, outdoor work in seasonal weather, and occasionally lifting up to 25 pounds. Employment is contingent on a background check required for school access.

How to Apply

Please submit a resume and a short cover letter describing a team you led and how you improved its

performance. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Green Our Planet is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation during the hiring process, please contact us.