Director of Operations

ROLE SUMMARY 

The Director of Operations is a senior leader responsible for building and sustaining the operational, financial, and people systems that enable The Educator Academy (EA) to deliver excellent teacher preparation and development programming. Reporting to the COO, this role oversees day-to-day organizational operations, financial planning support, people operations, and cross-functional execution.

The Director of Operations is a key partner to program and executive leadership, translating strategy into clear processes, strong systems, and consistent execution. This role is part of EA’s Operations team and works closely with the COO to ensure the organization is well-run, compliant, and positioned for growth. This person will be an active partner to the Senior Leadership Team and a key voice in shaping how EA operates as it enters its next decade of impact.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

1. People Operations, HR & Team Leadership (25%)

• Own day-to-day HR operations, including hiring coordination, onboarding, offboarding, employee records, benefits administration, and compliance with employment law.

• Directly supervise the Operations Coordinator and the Communications & Marketing Manager, setting clear priorities, providing coaching, and supporting their professional growth.

• Administer the organization’s performance management cycle (Goal Span), including timelines, manager support, and calibration across teams.

• Respond to staff questions and concerns; escalate complex employee relations matters to the COO or external consultant as needed.

• Partner with the COO on annual compensation planning, benefits strategy, and staffing decisions.

• Foster a service-oriented, collaborative Operations Team culture.

2. Financial Operations & Organizational Planning (25%)

• Collaborate with EA’s strong fractional finance team (bookkeeper, fractional CFO, and accounting consultant), holding clear standards for timeliness, accuracy, and clarity.

• Lead annual internal budgeting process in partnership with the COO, ELT, and team directors; monitor budget-to-actual throughout the year and flag issues proactively.

• Own the monthly financial reporting rhythm — including staff spending, expense reporting, and reviewing internal dashboards and leadership updates.

• Contribute to the annual audit; serve as the primary internal point of contact for external auditors.

• Use financial and operational data to inform planning recommendations across the organization.

3. Operational Systems, Technology & Compliance (20%)

• Own and improve EA’s internal operational systems and workflows across finance, HR, and organizational administration.

• Manage the relationship with EA’s IT vendor, ensuring responsive service, appropriate security practices, and cost-effective infrastructure.

• Lead contracts administration — drafting, reviewing, executing, and tracking vendor, partner, and program contracts (escalating legal questions to the COO).

• Maintain organizational compliance across HR, finance, insurance, and reporting obligations.

• Lead risk management planning and response in consultation with the COO.

• Maintain clear documentation so that systems and processes are transferable, not person-dependent.

4. Cross-Functional Project Management (15%)

• Lead major complex, cross-functional initiatives from planning through execution — for example, a new program launch, a systems migration, or an annual planning cycle.

• Ensure that assigned cross-functional projects are completed on time and achieve the stated goals. 

• Develop project plans with clear timelines, roles, milestones, and decision points.

• Monitor progress, anticipate risks, and adjust plans as conditions change.

• Keep stakeholders informed with concise, honest status updates.

5. Organizational Leadership (15%)

• Represent the Operations function on the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and, as appropriate, in Executive Leadership Team  discussions.

• Bring a systems-level, organizational perspective to strategic conversations — not just a functional one.

• Prepare periodic operational updates for the ELT and board.

• Anticipate organizational needs and proactively surface solutions before they become problems.

• Serve as internal approver for external communications and marketing 

The right person for this role is:

• An experienced operations leader who has owned — not just supported — people operations, financial planning, and organizational systems in a nonprofit or mission-driven setting.

• Someone who thrives on building: you enjoy turning messy or informal processes into clear, scalable systems, and you know when to leave well enough alone.

• Financially fluent. You may not be a CPA, but you read a P&L with ease, challenge the numbers when they don’t make sense, and can translate financial information for non-finance leaders.

• A strong manager of people. You take real ownership of your team’s growth, hold a high bar, and give clear, respectful feedback.

• A confident orchestrator of external partners — fractional finance teams, IT vendors, auditors, — holding them accountable and integrating their work into EA’s systems.

• Detail-oriented without losing the bigger picture. You can run an audit timeline and also see the strategic implications of a staffing pattern.

• Motivated by mission. EA’s work — preparing and developing educators for Kansas City classrooms — is something you want to be part of.

What Success Looks Like in Your First Year

• EA’s monthly financial reporting is clear, timely, and decision-useful for the ELT and the board — and you are the person they turn to with questions.

• The annual audit runs smoothly with well-organized documentation and minimal friction.

• The Operations Coordinator and Communications & Marketing Manager are well-managed, clear on priorities, and growing in their roles.

• Core people operations — hiring, onboarding, performance management, compliance — are documented, consistent, and supportive of staff success.

• Key operational systems (finance workflows, HR processes, internal platforms, IT vendor relationship) are stable, documented, and improving.

• Leaders across the organization experience Operations as a proactive, solutions-oriented partner.

• The COO is able to focus more on long term strategy, reducing direct involvement in day-to-day operations, because you have built the capacity and trust for her to do so.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 

To be successful at The Educator Academy, we look for team members who embody these competencies: 

? Impact-Driven & Mission-Aligned – You care deeply about making a difference for students and communities, ensuring that everything you do advances our mission. You see your work as part of a larger movement to create lasting change in education 

? Proactive & Results-Oriented – You take ownership of your work, consistently driving toward meaningful outcomes. You don’t wait for direction—you anticipate needs, identify opportunities, and take the initiative to get results. 

? Strategically Focused – You focus on what matters most, making thoughtful decisions that drive the greatest impact for students, educators, and the organization. You prioritize effectively, directing your time and energy on what will maximize progress towards our goals. 

? Agile & Adaptable – You embrace change and thrive in a dynamic environment. You navigate uncertainty with flexibility and problem-solving, ensuring lasting impact. 

? Bold & Innovative – You think creatively, bringing fresh perspectives to drive progress. You take smart risks and are willing to push the boundaries of what’s possible to create meaningful change. 

? Collaborative & Trustworthy – You build strong relationships based on trust—communicating openly, listening actively, and following through on commitments. Your actions contribute to a culture of respect and accountability. 

? Resilient & Growth-Oriented – You embrace challenges as opportunities for learning. You actively seek feedback, reflect on your experiences, and continuously develop yourself—personally and professionally—to become even more effective in your role. 

ROLE QUALIFICATIONS: 

Minimum 

• 7+ years of experience in operations, finance, human resources, or organizational management — with meaningful ownership in at least two of those areas.

• Experience in directly supervising and developing staff.

• Strong financial fluency: you can read and interpret financial statements, lead a budgeting process, and partner with finance professionals to produce clean reporting.

• Experience managing external vendors, contractors, or fractional providers.

• Working knowledge of employment law, HR compliance, and modern people operations practices.

• Demonstrated project management skills on complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.

• Excellent written and verbal communication.

• Comfort operating in a lean, mission-driven environment where scrappy and rigorous coexist.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
   

Preferred 

• Experience in a nonprofit, education, or other mission-driven organization.

• Experience coordinating an external audit.

• Familiarity with teacher preparation, education, or youth-serving organizations.

• Advanced degrees or certifications (ex: MBA, SHRM, PMP)

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

The Educator Academy staff works in a collaborative working environment at our main office in the Crossroads neighborhood of downtown Kansas City. While our instructional courses and other programming are often at the office, other work takes place at our partner school sites or remotely from home. To encourage a balanced approach to work, our staff embraces a hybrid environment. The amount of time in the office vs. at home varies depending on the role, time of year, and workflow. For this role, you can expect to typically spend three days on site. 

WORK LOAD 

The Educator Academy we prioritize a 40-hour work week across a Monday to Friday schedule for full time employees. There are events and requirements outside of normal business hours that averages around ~6x per year per staff member, with variance depending on the role. The physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving. 

TRAVEL: 

This role requires reliable transportation and occasional willingness to travel. 

TO APPLY 

Interested applicants can apply for this position by completing an application and submitting a cover letter and resume. Submit your materials on The Educator Academy webpage at www.educator-academy.org/careers/ 

All of the statements in this position description are intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. This document describes the position currently available. The Educator Academy reserves the right to modify job duties or job descriptions at any time, including after the position is filled.