Director of Operations

Status: Full-time/exempt

Classification: 12-month Administrator

Location: In-person; The Montessori School of Raleigh & Carolina Preparatory Academy; not eligible for remote work

Supervisor: Chief Financial and Operations Officer (CFOO)

Supervisees: Facilities Staff, Campus Safety/Security Personnel, Bus Drivers

Work Schedule: Primary schedule is M-F 6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Evenings/weekends as needed. On call responsibilities for alarms, emergencies, severe weather, facilities issues, and other urgent operational matters.

Start Date: Immediate

Position Summary

The Director of Operations provides leadership and oversight for the School's facilities, campus safety and emergency preparedness, and transportation services across both campuses. Reporting to the Chief Financial and Operations Officer, the Director of Operations is responsible for ensuring that the School's physical plant and core operational services are safe, reliable, efficient, compliant, and responsive to the needs of students, employees, families and the broader school community.

The Director of Operations leads and supports employees and contractors within assigned operational areas; establishes effective systems, procedures, and accountability measures; manages departmental budgets and vendor relationships; and ensures that day-to-day operations support the School's mission. The successful candidate will be a hands-on and highly organized operational leader who demonstrates sound judgement, strong follow-through, attention to detail, and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities in a dynamic school environment.

Overview

Established in 1974, The Montessori School of Raleigh (MSR) & Carolina Preparatory Academy (Carolina Prep) is a vibrant and exceptional independent Montessori and International Baccalaureate (IB) World School in the Triangle area serving 400+ students aged 15 months through 18 years. The school is committed to the intellectual, ethical, and personal development of our students. Our Montessori programs for students from Toddler - Upper Elementary (15 months - grade 6) are located on our 10-acre campus in North Raleigh. The campus features five buildings in a child-centered, village-like setting surrounded by wetlands and protected forest. Our International Baccalaureate Middle Years and Diploma programmes for Middle and High School students (grades 6 - 12) are housed on an expansive 40-acre wooded campus in Brier Creek. Driven by our core values of "Respect," "Integrity," "Community" and "Love of Learning," MSR and Carolina Prep welcomes prospective employees of all backgrounds. We are committed to attracting and retaining the highest quality faculty and staff through a comprehensive compensation plan, including competitive salary and an expansive benefits package. MSR and Carolina Prep are accredited by AMS, Cognia, and the IBO.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Operational Leadership and Administration

• Provide leadership and oversight for the School's facilities, campus safety and emergency preparedness, and transportation services across both campuses.
• Lead, supervise, develop, and hold accountable employees within assigned operational areas, establishing clear expectations and ensuring teams have the training, tools, and resources necessary to perform effectively.
• Develop and maintain operational policies, procedures, schedules, systems, and documentation that promote safety, consistency, accountability, compliance, and effective service delivery.
• Establish priorities and coordinate work across operational functions to support the educational program and respond effectively to changing School needs.
• In coordination with the CFOO and Business Office, develop and manage assigned operating and capital budgets, monitor expenditures, and ensure resources are used responsibly.
• Manage vendor and service relationships, including contracts, scopes of work, performance, quality, timeliness, and cost.
• Serve as an operational escalation point for urgent campus needs and emergencies and continuously identify opportunities to improve safety, service, efficiency, and accountability.

Facilities and Grounds

• Oversee the maintenance, repair, appearance, safety, and operation of the School's buildings, grounds, infrastructure, and physical assets across both campuses.
• Manage facilities services and systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, elevators, janitorial services, landscaping and grounds, pest control, fire protection, access control, and other building systems.
• Oversee the School's facilities work-order system, ensuring requests are appropriately prioritized, assigned, completed, documented, and communicated.
• Develop and execute preventive maintenance and plant renewal/replacement programs and conduct regular inspections to proactively identify maintenance, safety, appearance, and capital needs.
• Coordinate and oversee repairs, renovations, improvements, and other facilities projects, including scopes of work, vendor coordination, scheduling, inspection, and project closeout.
• Ensure required maintenance, inspection, life-safety, inventory, and other facilities records are appropriately maintained and that employees and contractors perform work safely and in accordance with School standards.
• Maintain buildings and grounds at a standard that provides a safe, functional, and welcoming environment and provide hands-on facilities support and troubleshooting when circumstances require.

Campus Safety & Emergency Management

• Lead the School's comprehensive campus safety and security program, including personnel, policies, procedures, training, systems, and day-to-day operations.
• Oversee campus safety operations, including patrols, visitor and volunteer management, video surveillance, access control, alarm monitoring, arrival and dismissal, parking and traffic management, and incident response.
• Ensure campus safety operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, licensing requirements, and School policies.
• Serve as an escalation point for safety and security incidents and coordinate the School's response with appropriate administrators and external agencies.
• Lead the development, implementation, testing, and regular review of the School's emergency preparedness and response procedures, including fire/evacuation, severe weather, lockdown, and reunification.
• Coordinate emergency preparedness training, drills, equipment, supplies, documentation, and other readiness initiatives.
• Serve as a member of the School's emergency response team and maintain productive relationships with law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, and other public safety partners.
• Partner with Facilities and the CFOO to identify and promptly address physical security and life-safety needs.

Transportation

• Oversee the School's transportation operations, including regular routes and transportation supporting field trips, athletics, and other School programs.
• Coordinate driver staffing and scheduling and establish transportation procedures, safety protocols, and driver expectations.
• Ensure drivers maintain required licenses, endorsements, qualifications, training, and documentation.
• Oversee School vehicles, including inspections, preventive maintenance, repairs, registrations, and required records, to ensure a safe, reliable, and compliant fleet.
• Coordinate with School personnel responsible for field trips, athletics, and other programs to schedule and provide requested transportation and address operational or service issues.
• Serve as a backup driver when necessary and maintain the licensing and qualifications required to do so.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

• Support the Montessori and International Baccalaureate (IB) methods of education and the overall mission of the School.
• Participate in administrative, operational, safety, and other committees or meetings as assigned.
• Maintain healthy relationships with employees, students, parents, and other stakeholders.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the CFOO or Head of School.

Qualifications and Professional Competencies

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience in facilities, operations, safety/security, transportation, or a related operational field; experience overseeing multiple operational functions is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supervising employees and managing vendors, contractors, budgets, projects, and operational systems.
• Broad knowledge of facility operations, building systems, maintenance practices, and vendor and contractor management.
• Strong leadership, organizational, project-management, analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
• Demonstrated sound judgment, initiative, accountability, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize competing demands and follow responsibilities through to completion.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and customer-service skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across the School community and with external partners.
• Ability to remain composed and exercise appropriate judgment during emergencies and other high-pressure situations.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and the ability to effectively use technology and operational management systems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive operational, personnel, student, and safety matters.
• Have or be willing and able to obtain and maintain a Class B Commercial Driver's License with required passenger and school bus endorsements and maintain an acceptable motor vehicle record.
• Commitment to the School's mission and core values of Respect, Integrity, Community, and Love of Learning.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Work in a fast-paced school environment with varied responsibilities, frequent interruptions, and a high expectation of accountability.
• Work in both traditional office and outdoor environments, including exposure to inclement weather and emergency or unpredictable situations.
• Regularly travel between the MSR and Carolina Prep campuses.
• Regularly walk throughout buildings and grounds and periodically climb stairs and ladders as necessary to inspect facilities and equipment.
• Stand for extended periods and regularly bend, reach, turn, and perform other movements associated with facilities and operational work.
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 50 pounds, with assistance or equipment used for heavier items as appropriate.
• Regularly use close and distance vision.
• Be available outside normal working hours when necessary to respond to alarms, emergencies, weather events, facility failures, and other urgent operational needs.

It is the policy of The Montessori School of Raleigh to make employment decisions on the basis of qualifications for a specific job without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national or ethnic origin, age, veteran status, or the presence of a disability, except where such is a bona fide occupational qualification. Applicants are encouraged to confidentially self-identify when applying. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a reference check with current employer (or most recent employer if not currently employed) and background investigation.

To apply

MSR offers competitive salary and benefits. Please see the Director of Operations webpage to apply. No phone calls please.

About Raleigh-Durham

The Raleigh-Durham area is consistently ranked among the top places to live with strong job growth and a high quality of life. Top universities, a rich diversity of arts and cultural offerings, excellent health care, and lower than average housing costs, draw people in from all over the nation. Our mild climate and proximity to both beaches and mountains makes the Raleigh Durham area an ideal place to live.