Assistant School Leader of Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Who We Are

KIPP SoCal Public Schools is a nonprofit organization that operates 20 tuition-free, open-enrollment charter public schools, within 17 Local Education Agencies (LEA), educating more than 10,000 students and supporting 8,300 alumni to and through college and beyond. Our award winning schools are part of the national KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) network, dedicated to meeting the needs of all learners and providing the social, emotional and academic support for success in high school, college, and life.

Mission

Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and create a more just world.

What We Do

At KIPP SoCal we build trusting relationships that are strengthened by high expectations and collaboration alongside laughter and joy. We set ambitious goals and hold each other accountable for students achieving their greatest potential. We work together with each other and in partnership with families and communities in the active pursuit of a more equitable world. We do the right thing, even when it's not always comfortable standing up and speaking out against anti-blackness, racism, oppression, and injustice. We persevere through obstacles and treat failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.

The Role

The Assistant School Leader of Operations serves as the voice and face of school operations, leading all non-instructional functions that enable our instructional team to focus almost exclusively on teaching and learning. This role is critical to creating and maintaining a safe, welcoming, and efficient school environment through strong operational systems and collaborative partnerships with team members and families.

The Process [please review]

Individuals will apply to be selected to a pool of candidates that are determined to be “Assistant School Leader of Operations ready” . If selected into the pool, candidates will be invited to participate in school-based interviews as Assistant School Leader of Operations vacancies arise throughout the year. KIPP SoCal will conduct two selection events every 12 months for the Assistant School Leader of Operations role.

The next regional selection event (in-person interview day) will take place on October 26th . Individuals who are interested in participating in this selection event must submit their application between August 20th - September 8th. The next opportunity to apply for the Assistant School Leader of Operations candidate pool will be January/February 2027.

Please note: This application window will close on September 8th.

Key Responsibilities

• Student Recruitment and Enrollment
• Lead student recruitment strategies and activities for the school and implement plans to meet enrollment targets 
• Oversee student enrollment processes, including application collection, lottery management, and registration
• Analyze enrollment data to inform recruitment strategies and resource allocation

• Student Attendance
• Lead attendance improvement initiatives for the school and implement comprehensive strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism to the school's annually set target
• Monitor attendance data and coordinate interventions for students with attendance concerns
• Partner with school counselors, teachers, and families to address barriers to attendance

• School Compliance and Safety
• Oversee emergency preparedness, student health, and School Nutrition Program compliance for the school
• Lead the implementation of emergency preparedness protocols, including the facilitation of monthly safety drills 
• Oversee student health operations and compliance, including immunization compliance
• Manage food service operations, including smooth meal service systems and compliance with federal/state/local guidelines

• Fiscal Compliance and Management 
• Manage school-based budgets and purchasing processes
• Support annual budget planning and monitoring
• Ensure timely submission of invoices and credit card reconciliations, including proper documentation for all financial transactions
• Support the implementation of all KIPP SoCal financial policies at the school

• Operations Team Leadership  
• Manage all operations staff at the school, including one to three office staff plus Operational Aides
• Support and develop operations team members towards achieving both performance and developmental goals through regular check-ins and the implementation of KIPP SoCal's performance management process
• Collaborate with school leadership team to align operations with instructional needs
• Create, implement, and improve systems that contribute to operational excellence at the school
• Manage partnership with the regional Facilities team and third-party vendors to ensure maintenance of the school’s facilities 
• Plans and coordinates logistics for school events and activities as needed, including parent meetings, special events, fundraisers, and field trips

Role Specific Competencies and Skills

• Systems Creation & Management: Ability to design, document, and implement streamlined systems
• Managing Up: Skill in keeping stakeholders informed and anticipating needs
• Deadline-Driven Execution: Ability to manage own time and team members’ time effectively, ensuring deadlines are monitored and met 
• Team Leadership: Effectively manages performance, delegates tasks, drives results and holds team members accountable; fosters collaboration and a positive team culture
• Thoughtful Partnerships: Ability to build collaborative relationships across stakeholder groups
• Customer Service Orientation: Commitment to meeting the needs of the school community

• KIPP Leadership Competencies
• Lead Self: Self-awareness, critical consciousness, and continuous learning
• Lead People: Building trusting relationships, fostering team culture, commitment to developing others
• Lead Results: Strategic planning, problem-solving, and driving outcomes

Qualifications and Work Conditions

• 3+ years of experience in school operations, administration, or related field (experience in K-12 charter school operations is preferred) 
• Experience supervising and developing team members (preferred, but not required)
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Strong strategic and analytical skills with an aptitude for systems-building
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Unwavering commitment to KIPP’s mission and willingness to go above and beyond to meet the needs of KIPP students, families, and staff
• Bilingual in English and Spanish (preferred, but not required)

• Physical Demands
• This position requires the ability to move around the school campus, work in various settings (office, classroom, outdoors), and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

• Working Conditions
• Full-time, 12-month position
• Some evening and weekend work required for school events
• Fast-paced environment requiring flexibility and multitasking

Benefits & Compensation

• Salary for this role starts at $94,000 per year; Here's the current salary scale . We take up to 3 years of matching prior experience (school operations management experience) at another organization into account when determining first year salary
• 100% of healthcare premium costs covered by employer, dependents added at 50% of the cost
• Employer paid KIPP SoCal life insurance
• 401(k) plan with up to 6% match by KIPP SoCal
• Voluntary Benefits (Supplemental Life, Accident, Short Term Disability, Pet Insurance, etc.)
• Generous time off program includes paid holidays, sick leave, and vacation
• Other great benefits (Flexible spending account, EAP, etc.)

The starting salary for this role is $94,000 per year. The role of the Assistant School Leader of Operations is on a salary scale here. We take up to 3 years of school operations management experience into account when determining your first-year salary.

Please note: This application window will close on September 8th.

KIPP SoCal Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation/gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

KIPP SoCal strives to ensure that our careers website is accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please contact us. You can find our contact information on our website, Information will be sent to a talent acquisition representative who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the hiring process.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.