Operations Specialist

05/30/2025

 

ABOUT THE KAUFFMAN SCHOOL

The Ewing Marion Kauffman School is a free, public charter school serving nearly 1,000 students in 5th through 12th grades. Focused on student achievement and strong character, the school’s mission is summarized in three words: create college graduates. The school serves a student population of which 87% qualify for free and reduced lunch and 90% identify as students of color. Students are accepted by a lottery that prioritizes the six highest-need zip codes within the district. In 2019, 2020 and 2021, 100% of students in each graduating class earned at least one acceptance to a college or university – we believe this provides true choice and opportunity as students pursue post-secondary goals. More than 70% of our students identify as first in their families to attend college.  

 

The Kauffman School seeks results-driven and culturally responsive educators to join its team – we anchor ourselves around four guiding principles about what it means to be culturally responsive educators and create a school with strong student and staff culture:

 

• Belief and Connection: We show belief in every student through setting and holding them to high expectations while building relationships. We build connections and relationships with each student side by side by providing excellent rigorous content in order to value the individual child. We do not allow differences in identity or our personal biases to cause us to lower expectations because we know that when supported, our students can achieve.
• Clear is Kind: We show care through direct and clear communication of our high expectations rather than allowing them to ‘slip through the cracks’ by assuming they will know how to meet our standards without telling them. We also know that one of our roles is preparing our children for a world as college students/graduates that might play by different “rules” than they have previously experienced and it is our job to help them understand how to navigate, challenge the norms of, and dismantle that world.
• Intent and Impact: All of our actions are executed with the purpose and intent to empower every student to reach their full potential. We also believe that as educators, we are called to assess the impact of our actions and adjust course if they are not meeting the intent. Positive intent cannot mean we ignore the impact of actions and we believe continually assessing and reassessing practices to ensure they are effective is a critical reflection process to ensure we are being culturally responsive.
• Cultural Context + Critical Thinking: We approach rigorous learning as an activity that is responsive to students’ cultural contexts and pushes them to think critically. We seek opportunities for them to engage with and respond to the world around them - both in their immediate lives and in their broader society - while being pushed intellectually at all times.

 

 

 

The Kauffman School seeks a systems-driven and service-minded Operations Specialist.  Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Operations Specialist designs and executes the systems that ensure effective and efficient operations. In support of leaders, teachers, students, and families, the Operations Specialist will manage projects to meet outcomes, execute recurring procedures with fidelity, communicate logistical details to stakeholders, plan and run events, and manage vendors to deliver quality services. A member of the robustly-staffed Operations Team, the Operations Specialist will operate under the overarching vision of ensuring teachers can teach and students can learn.

 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

 

System Design and Execution

• Define the purpose and outcomes of necessary systems
• Design and build systems that are reliable, scalable, and easy to maintain
• Train others to execute systems
• Define accountability systems to ensure systems are executed with fidelity
• Codify systems in writing

 

Project Management

• Set vision and define project outcomes
• Develop project plans
• Manage project teams
• Define and execute look-back/look-ahead structures to facilitate reflection, planning and execution
• Define accountability systems to ensure projects meet outcomes
• Communicate project updates to key stakeholders

 

Event Planning and Execution

• Set vision and define event outcomes
• Develop event plans to guide preparation (project plans) and execution (show flows)
• Manage event teams
• Define and execute look-back/look-ahead structures to facilitate reflection, planning and execution
• Define accountability systems to ensure projects meet outcomes
• Communicate event details to team members, students, families, and other stakeholders

 

Vendor Management

• Define key performance indicators for vendor services including security, facilities, custodial, and food services
• Manage vendor relationships and performance
• Liaise between school staff and contractors

 

Communication

• Communicate clearly and effectively with team members, families, students, and other stakeholders
• Listen actively to others, ask questions, and respond thoughtfully
• Give and receive clear and direct feedback
• Contribute meaningfully in meetings
• Draft and send mass communications
• Respond to communication from team members and families

 

General Operations Support

• Manage Operations Coordinators and Interns
• Supervise students during lunch, restroom breaks, transitions, arrival, and dismissal
• Coordinate and assist with daily reporting such as attendance
• Support student recruitment and enrollment
• Provide logistical support and coordination for field trips
• Manage supply systems

 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

 

• An undergraduate degree is required
• A minimum of 3+ years of relevant operational experience is required
• Prior experience working in schools, urban communities, non-profit, military, private sector, and/or a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment is preferred
• Candidates must be highly comfortable working with students
• Demonstrated project and/or event management experience is necessary; candidates must possess experience successfully managing multiple projects or events simultaneously
• Track record of effectively prioritizing work, delegating tasks and meeting deadlines;
• Candidates must be highly organized
• Candidates must have excellent computer skills including Microsoft Office and Google Suite
• Given the longer school day at Kauffman School, this position requires extended work days and hours

 

 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The Kauffman School offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with relevant experience and anticipated duties and responsibilities, including comprehensive health benefits and a 403b Match.

TO APPLY

Interested applicants should complete a formal application through the Kauffman School Careers page at http://www.kauffmanschool.org/. 

The Kauffman School is an Equal Opportunity Employer, welcoming people to flourish in an open and inclusive work environment. A diverse pool of candidates is welcomed and encouraged.