Job Description

Organization Overview

Excel Academy was founded in 2003 with the mission to provide a high-quality education to students in East Boston and Chelsea Massachusetts, communities that are predominantly low-income and Latinx and historically have faced significant social and educational barriers. Our success in Massachusetts is proof that the opportunity gap can be closed. At Excel Academy Charter Schools, we believe that when a student has the support and tools to pursue a productive post-secondary pathway aligned to their personal identity and values, it can fundamentally change their life trajectory.

Over the years, we have grown from one middle school to a network of four schools with 1,400 students in grades 5 to 12. In the fall of 2022 we will welcome a founding class of 5th graders to help us launch Excel Academy Rhode Island. By 2032, Excel Rhode Island will run 4 schools serving over 2,100 students from Providence, Central Falls, and North Providence.

We present our students with educational experiences that allow them to grow and discover their best selves so that when they leave our halls, they can successfully navigate all of the post-secondary options available to them. You can read more about the impact of the Excel Academy model.

At Excel Academy we learn from our students, families, and staff and make improvements. We have increasingly adapted to provide a holistic education that values our community as collaborators in the learning process, social-emotional support, equity for diverse learners, and fosters identity development. We prioritize an approach that is both rigorous and inclusive. Our team of passionate, intelligent, driven, and loving staff are at the core of the work we do.

Growth Happens Here.


About the Role

This is a prospective job opening to support Excel Academy's expansion in Rhode Island. We are open to considering candidates in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island. We are looking for an experienced, flexible, and "all-in" Dean of Operations with school-based experience.

The Dean of Operations manages all aspects of school operations, serves as a member of the school’s leadership team, and is the leader of the school Operations Team.

They will serve as a model of resilience and grit while supporting all areas that ensure our students have a space that fosters emotional, physical, and spiritual safety while they engage in rigorous content. The Dean of Operations works to ensure the quality and efficiency of the school on a day-to-day basis, while also taking on medium-to-long term projects to improve the operations or programs of the school. The ideal candidate will possess skills in organization and demonstrate strong project planning execution and completion in a timely manner.

Duties and Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include:

• In partnership with the Head of School, co-own the success of the school achieving its goals and hitting its outcomes for students by owning all non-instructional components of the school program
• Manage the school budget in partnership with the Head of School and Network Finance Team and coordinate all school-based procurement.
• Manage all aspects of facility and grounds use, upkeep, and renovation including addressing staff needs and facility work requests.
• Manage IT vendor relationship(s) to ensure staff and students have their IT needs met, including both hardware (doc cams, projectors, laptops, Chromebooks) and software (serve as the liaison for PowerSchool, Clever, and other software)
• Oversee arrival, dismissal, lunch and recess duty assignment and coverage and well as develop/maintain systems for the smooth functioning of each.
• Direct student transportation services for the school: collaborate with external vendor(s) on all busing issues, ensure smooth and regular operation of buses, and coordinate all transportation needs for field trips and other special events.
• Coordinate the food service program for the school, including managing external vendor relationship(s) and ensuring compliance with RIDE and RIDOH regulations.
• Direct student enrollment for the school, through collaboration with the Network Operations Team, to ensure the school remains fully enrolled at all times.
• Support with student recruitment initiatives to build relationships with prospective families and the community.
• Coordinate after school programs, extracurricular activities, and school-wide events (i.e.- fundraisers, picture day, etc.).
• Oversee all family engagement efforts including Parent Involvement Council meetings.
• Manage testing operations to ensure for smooth implementation of internal and state assessments, including ACCESS, RICAS, NGSA, and NWEA MAP.
• Manage direct reports to develop an operations team aligned to support the instructional needs of students and teachers.
• Develop ongoing plans to provide for the professional development of direct reports.

Qualifications

• A minimum of three years of experience as a Director, Dean or Manager of Operations in an urban public school or charter school setting required;
• The ability to speak Spanish preferred, but not required;
• Excellent prioritization and time management skills, and a systematic approach to project management;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Experience in spreadsheet or database management;
• Demonstrated success in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment;
• The ability to work effectively in a team environment and the willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work;
• A commitment to working with underserved, urban youth; and
• An unwavering commitment to and belief in the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model