Regional Director of Operations, Rhode Island

Responsibilities

• This role requires balancing two interconnected responsibilities:
• Leading and developing strong school-based operations teams and ensuring schools meet operational performance outcomes.
• Serving as the regional operational lead for RI by driving key regional initiatives, coordinating across Network Support and regional teams, and supporting the Executive Director in operational strategy and execution.
• Reporting to the Executive Director of RI your responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• DSO Development & Team Leadership
• Hold Directors of School Operations (DSOs) accountable to operational KPIs (Top Priority Assessment, Attendance/AUNR, budget, etc.) and coach to specific competencies (personal organization, delegation, prioritization)
• Own the full DSO development cycle:
• Kickoff stepback: Set outcome goals and learning/development goals for the year
• Bimonthly 1:1 stepbacks (with principal): Review progress, identify action steps, reassess L&D priorities
• EOY review: Final outcome assessment, reflection, and goal-setting for the following year
• Career conversations (Oct/Nov)
• Conduct two rounds of skip-level meetings annually (fall/spring) to identify high-potential ops talent and build the DSO pipeline
• Own talent and workforce planning - anticipating development needs and flagging recruitment gaps
• Execute PIPs and performance management with clarity and follow-through
• Lead weekly meetings covering: intentional skill-building, problem-solving, quick hits, accountability, and observation/feedback
• Regional Culture & Principal Partnership
• Steward culture at both the school and regional level
• Lead regional initiatives and trainings
• Partner with principals and regional leadership to align on DSO performance, development, and the principal-DSO relationship
• Network Support Liaison
• Serve as the single point of contact between schools and high-touch NS teams
• Synthesize feedback trends from schools to inform NS team improvement
• Collaborate with NS teams to problem-solve common challenges
• Crisis & Continuity Leadership
• Lead response to safety incidents: convene huddles, activate protocols, facilitate debriefs
• Support schools navigating:
• Employee relations challenges
• Significant understaffing
• Facilities emergencies
• Acute staff/student culture issues
• Co-location crises
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Regional Operations
• Manage regional budget and financial stewardship
• Own regional procurement, contracts, and service provider relationships (transportation, nursing, food services, etc.)
• Recommend and manage regional investments
• Manage student services
• Serve as primary liaison to non-prog

Additional Information

About Achievement First Achievement First (AF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supporting 39 public charter schools across New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. For more than 25 years, AF has been recognized as one of the top tuition-free public charter school networks in the country. We are committed to creating schools of academic excellence within nurturing environments - schools that prepare students to be college-ready and to pursue and succeed in whatever paths they choose in life. The majority of AF students are Black and Latinx children from low-income families, many of whom will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Across our network, we employ more than 2,200 staff members - 64% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color - who collectively educate nearly 15,000 students in Brooklyn and Queens, NY; New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford, CT; and Providence and Cranston, RI. Our mission is to prepare every student to excel in college, career, and life; deepen their understanding of self and community; and lead lives of purpose. We believe in the limitless potential within our students and their power to shape a more just society. That belief drives our deep commitment to student achievement: we aim to set a high bar for learning and create warm, demanding classrooms where rigorous instruction is paired with the care, encouragement, and consistency every student deserves. We are looking for a strategic and dynamic Regional Director Operations to join Team RI Leadership

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