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Uncommon Schools

Director of Operations Fellow

Uncommon Schools, New York, New York, us, 10261

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Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our

students consistently exceed national benchmarks , reflecting our dedication to their success. We

invest deeply in our educators , offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

Job Description At Uncommon Schools, we know running exceptional schools takes more than great instruction—it also takes exemplary operations! Uncommon Schools' operations leaders work passionately to ensure that our faculty maximizes time and energy on student achievement. They design, implement, and refine systems that anticipate the needs of the school community. As service-oriented leaders, they tackle problems, share standard methodologies across campuses, and respond to urgent needs. They partner to build an academic and cultural environment that supports our ultimate goal: ensuring that every student will earn a college degree.

The

Director of Operations Fellow

is a full-time position that prepares you to become a Director of Operations (DOO) of an Uncommon school. As DOO, you will lead a school in partnership with the Principal, working together to ensure your students receive an exemplary education.

Fellowship Overview The DOO Fellowship is based on a foundation of four core elements that are aligned to the competencies of Uncommon leaders. Each element is designed to build Fellows’ capacity toward becoming effective DOOs. These include:

Professional Development

– All Fellows attend a series of professional development workshops throughout the Fellowship. The subject matter of these workshops is grounded in the leadership competencies that DOOs are evaluated and developed on.

Experiential Learning

– Fellows engage in activities such as submission of weekly deliverables; on-site coaching with real-time feedback; and practice clinics where fellows will engage in case studies, role plays, and problem solving exercises.

Practical Application

– Fellows are placed at an existing Uncommon school and serve as full-time members of the school’s operations team. They engage in operations work, tackle school or regional-based operations projects, and conduct observations and analysis of operational systems. Practical application includes an immersion in which the Fellow acts as DOO in place of their host DOO for 4‑6 weeks.

Reflective Discourse

– The Fellowship provides space at in-person sessions for reflective discourse, allowing Fellows to learn from their own experiences and those of others in the cohort. Fellows also develop a reflective practice by codifying their learning through written reflections and actionable growth plans.

Qualifications

Passionate commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools

Passionate commitment to improving the minds, characters, and lives of students both in and out of school

Ability to strategically manage and prioritize time and tasks effectively, with a lens toward systems thinking

Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment; flexible, able to work autonomously as well as take direction as needed

Comfort with managing ambiguous situations and moving to clarity/solution

Ability to learn something new and/or “do what it takes” to ensure the school receives high‑quality operations despite obstacles

Proactive, strategic problem‑solver who can work successfully in a fast‑paced environment while balancing competing priorities

High‑quality communication and relationship‑building skills with multiple partners including teachers, students, families, vendors, and colleagues

Ability to have difficult conversations in a respectful manner

Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Word, Excel and Access

Dedication to self‑reflection and continual professional growth; approaches every experience as a chance to learn and grow and understands that introspection and outward expression of that learning is essential to leadership

School‑based or other educational experience preferred

Required experience:

4 or more years of work experience

At least 1 year of experience in operations leadership (experience in K-12 school operations is preferred)

At least 1 year of experience coaching, leading, and/or managing others

Project planning experience, with proven ability to see large projects through to completion

A Bachelor’s degree

Additional Information Compensation Compensation for this role is between $111,000 to $117,700. Most candidates who meet job description requirements will receive an offer of $111,000. Starting pay is determined using various factors including but not limited to relevant professional development, education certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools.

Benefits

Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time, paid holidays, and 10 weeks of paid breaks (Spring, Winter, and Summer)

Extensive, best‑in‑class training and development

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans + pre‑tax flexible spending (FSA), dependent care (DCFSA), and health saving accounts (HSA)

Financial Planning – 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match

Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)

Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE.

At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve—with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email recruitment@uncommonschools.org.

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