Operations Manager

The Cooper School is seeking a full-time Operations Manager for immediate appointment. The Cooper School is one of Charleston’s most distinctive independent schools. Serving approximately 150 students in the West Ashley community, Cooper is a progressive, project-based K8 school. Its one-acre campus includes four small buildings and a playground. The Operations Manager (OM) is primarily responsible for ensuring the smooth, efficient, and safe day-to‑day functioning of the school. This includes coordinating facilities needs, managing vendor relationships, managing transportation, maintaining the school calendar, and helping ensure that campus logistics run effectively. Working closely with the Head of School and administrative team, the operations manager helps turn school plans into clear, workable systems and routines. This role is hands‑on and responsive—anticipating needs, addressing issues as they arise, and keeping the many moving parts of a small school aligned. The operations manager coordinates and/or supports event logistics, supports safety procedures and emergency protocols, and serves as a key point of contact for operational questions from faculty, staff, and families. In a small school environment, this position requires flexibility, strong organizational skills, and a willingness to pitch in wherever needed to support the community. Responsibilities Managing two small buses and their drivers, busing schedules, and vehicle maintenance (and may include occasional driving as well) Coordinating campus maintenance and upkeep, from routine landscaping and Janitorial services to urgent facilities issues Ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal requirements (e.g. building codes, fire codes, safety procedures, etc) Overseeing and improving routine logistics, including carline, parking, and communication systems Working closely with the team on matters of safety and security Serving as the lead contact with City of Charleston Police and Fire Departments and other municipal entities Developing and maintaining relationships with employees, students and families, and community members Serving as basic administrative support to the rest of the team, including working directly with families to respond to non‑academic family needs All hands on deck: this role is about coordination and execution, and like everyone else on the team, the OM must be ready to jump in and solve problems as they arise — whether that means subbing for a bus driver, addressing an unexpected facilities issue, or ensuring that an event runs smoothly from start to finish. Ideal Candidate A clear sense of ownership and pride in maintaining a well‑run, welcoming environment Demonstrated experience managing operations, logistics, facilities, or a similarly complex, detail‑oriented environment (school or youth‑serving experience is a plus) Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and follow through reliably Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, families, vendors, and students Proven ability to anticipate needs, solve problems independently, and respond calmly under pressure High level of personal responsibility, discretion, and sound judgment Comfort working in a fast‑paced, hands‑on environment where responsibilities may shift day to day Ability to move fluidly between planning and doing—thinking ahead while also jumping in to handle immediate needs Strong attention to detail paired with practical judgment about what matters most Basic proficiency with common administrative and communication tools (e.g., Google Workspace, spreadsheets, scheduling systems) Familiarity with safety protocols, compliance requirements, and/or emergency procedures A collaborative mindset and willingness to contribute across the school community beyond formal responsibilities Comfort with the unglamorous parts of the work—this is a role for someone who notices what needs doing and takes care of it #J-18808-Ljbffr National Association of Independent Schools