Director of Operations

Kalama School District; Kalama (WA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

SEBB medical, dental and vision

Washington state retirement

13 paid holidays

Paid vacation and sick leave

Job summary

Kalama School District is seeking a Director of Operations to keep district buildings, grounds and technology safe, working and ready for students and staff. The Director leads the custodial, maintenance and IT staff, manages the district's facilities and technology systems, projects and vendors, and runs a department known for good customer service and quick response to the schools.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, facilities management,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and 5 years of leadership in facilities/tech ops.
• Experience in school district operations preferred.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity and data privacy is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead facilities and technology operations and supervise staff.
• Develop budgets, plans and capital needs for facilities and tech.
• Ensure safety, compliance and emergency preparedness.
• Manage contracts, vendors and project delivery.
• Oversee student information systems and network infrastructure.

Skills

People skills

Communication

Customer-service mindset

Budgeting

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, facilities management, education, business or related field

Master's degree in a related field

Tools

Qmlativ SIS

E-Rate

Job description

• Date Available: TBD
• Closing Date: 10/15/2026

We appreciate your interest in employment with Kalama School District. All applications are considered and reviewed. The most qualified and competitive applicant(s) that possess directly related experience and expertise, training, and education may be invited to participate in the interview/selection process. As part of the selection process, the District conducts confidential reference checks to include former and present employers and also requires a criminal background investigation. Unfortunately, due to the number of applications received, not all applicants will receive an interview. All district employees are encouraged to review their personnel file periodically to ensure that their file includes current and relevant documentation that supports their education, experience, training, etc., as it relates to qualifications described on job postings.

Director of Operations

Job Description

PART A: Position Identification

Field Entry

Position title Director of Operations

Job code / family AD-DIR-OPS-01

Employee group Administrative (district leader; District Leader Employment Contract)

Bargaining unit Not represented

Department / building Operations (Facilities and Information Technology), District Office

Reports to Superintendent

Evaluated by Superintendent

Supervises Custodial staff, maintenance staff, the IT Assistant and temporary technology staff

FLSA / Washington status Exempt, executive (WAC 296-128-510). Paid on a salary basis at or above the Washington threshold (WAC 296-128-545).

Work year / schedule Twelve months per year, 260 days (includes paid holidays), with evening, weekend and after-hours work as needed

Compensation District Leader Employment Contract, Schedule A, Director tier

Benefits eligibility School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) medical, dental and vision; Washington state retirement through the Department of Retirement Systems; leave and other benefits under the District Leader Employment Contract

Version / approval

Version 1.0

Approved by Superintendent (Policy 5000): Wesley Benjamin

Date: Oct 2, 2026

Last reviewed: not applicable (new version)

Next review: spring 2027

Replaces: JD-054 (Director of Operations, 2025 draft)

PART B: The Job

1. Position summary

The Director of Operations keeps Kalama's buildings, grounds and technology safe, working and ready for students and staff. The Director leads the custodial, maintenance and IT staff, manages the district's facilities and technology systems, projects and vendors, and runs a department known for good customer service and quick response to the schools.

2. Essential functions

Leadership, service and planning

1. Plans, directs and evaluates the district's facilities and technology operations and leads the department's staff (see Section 4).

2. Leads a customer-service approach for the schools: is visible in the buildings, meets regularly with each principal and walks each building with its principal, publishes service standards, and runs the work-order and ticket systems so staff can submit and track requests.

3. Develops the technology plan, replacement schedules, and the facilities and technology budgets with the Director of Business Services; approves department purchases within the adopted budget and confirms goods and work are received before payment; and recommends capital needs, serving on the Long-Range Facilities Committee.

Buildings, safety and access

4. Serves as the Safety/Operations lead in the district's Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and maintains the district Emergency Response Plan, including utilities, responder access, hazardous materials and the workplace safety program, and serves on the Safety Committee.

5. Runs the preventive maintenance program and the inspection calendar for building systems such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), boilers, fire alarm and sprinklers, backflow devices and playground equipment. Serves as the district's designated person for asbestos management under the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) (40 CFR 763.84(g)), and carries out school pesticide notification (RCW 17.21.415) and lead-in-water follow-up (RCW 28A.210.410).

6. Represents the district on facilities and technology projects from scope through closeout, following district purchasing procedures and state purchasing, public works and prevailing wage laws. Signs contracts only under the superintendent's written delegation; the Director of Business Services handles contract processing and payment.

7. Decides who is issued keys and badge access, keeps the access register, closes access when employees leave, and administers the badge-entry and camera systems under the superintendent's written procedures and the EOP.

8. Keeps the master facilities calendar under the district's priority order (instruction, then school activities, then community use), including athletic schedules from the Athletics Director, and manages facility use agreements, insurance certificates and event custodial coverage. The business office bills and collects fees.

Technology

9. Leads district cybersecurity: sets security standards and account protections, and owns and tests the cyber incident response plan, including notice to affected people within 30 days of discovering a data breach (RCW 42.56.590).

10. Oversees the student information system, learning management system, rostering (loading class lists into programs automatically), single sign-on (one login for many programs), and other instructional and business software, including leading any change of student information system. Reviews new software for student privacy, security and accessibility, keeps data-sharing agreements current, and keeps district websites and apps accessible to people with disabilities.

11. Manages the network, internet filtering, devices, the technology inventory and building technology such as displays, bells, intercoms, phones and radios. Directs IT staff, who carry out device repair and day-to-day support, and handles advanced systems administration when needed.

12. Administers the federal E-Rate program, which discounts internet and network costs, and the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requirements, including competitive bidding, filings and the internet safety policy, and works with the Director of Business Services on invoicing and on keeping E-Rate records for 10 years.

13. Provides technical support for the district's records and communication systems as the superintendent directs, including electronic records searches and preservation holds for the Public Records Officer, and keeps the website, ParentSquare and emergency notification systems secure and working.

3. Other duties

• Supports instructional technology use and staff training with teaching and learning staff.
• Recommends policies and procedures for technology, facilities, facility use and access.
• Serves as the district's technology contact with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), Educational Service District 112 and technology purchasing cooperatives.
• Performs other related duties as assigned that are consistent with the position's classification.

4. Supervisory responsibilities

Supervises custodial staff, maintenance staff, the IT Assistant and temporary technology staff: assigns and schedules work, trains, approves time records, leave and overtime, and evaluates under the applicable collective bargaining agreement or contract. Recommends hiring, discipline and dismissal to the superintendent. Directs the work of contractors and technology vendors. Names a backup for building emergencies and technology outages whenever the Director is away.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, facilities management, education, business or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience: Five years of progressively responsible experience leading facilities operations, technology operations or both, including at least two years supervising staff.
• Education setting: Experience working in a school, school district or college, in operations, technology, administration, teaching or instructional technology.
• Certificate / endorsement / license: Valid Washington driver's license and insurable driving record, or the ability to meet the travel requirements of the position. A Washington educator certificate is not required.
• Legal minimums for the role: Not applicable.

6. Preferred qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Experience leading both facilities and technology, preferably in a K-12 district.
• Experience with Qmlativ or another student information system, E-Rate, or school construction projects.
• AHERA designated-person training or a facilities or technology leadership certification.

7. Required trainings and clearances

• Fingerprint background check (see C5).
• Mandatory reporter and staff sexual misconduct reporting training at orientation and every three years (Policy 3421; RCW 28A.400.317).
• AHERA designated-person training (40 CFR 763.84(g)) before assuming the designation; the superintendent's interim designee holds the designation until then.
• Incident Command System training (ICS-100,ICS-200 and IS-700, or the courses the district EOP requires) within the first year.
• Annual cybersecurity awareness training.

8. Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Strong people skills and professional, courteous communication in person and in writing.
• Ability to explain facilities and technology matters in plain language to students, families, staff and the board.
• A customer-service mindset: responsive to campus needs, follows through, and keeps people informed.
• Working knowledge of building systems, custodial practices and safety regulations, and of network security and student data privacy.
• Ability to supervise and evaluate staff fairly under a collective bargaining agreement.
• Ability to plan, budget and manage projects, and to lead a team calmly during outages and emergencies.

Demand

Never

Occasionally (under 1/3 of the time)

Frequently (1/3 to 2/3)

Constantly (over 2/3)

• Sitting and computer work, keyboard use
• Standing and walking across campus, buildings and grounds
• Lifting and carrying up to 25 pounds
• Bending, stooping, kneeling and reaching overhead
• Pushing or pulling equipment and furniture
• Climbing ladders and entering roofs, crawl spaces, mechanical rooms and network closets for inspections
• Outdoor work in all weather
• Responding to building emergencies, including after hours
• Responding physically to student safety needs
• Driving

10. Work environment

District office, school buildings, grounds, mechanical spaces and network closets on one campus, with exposure to weather, noise and maintenance chemicals. Regular contact with students, staff, families and contractors.

11. Evaluation

Evaluated annually by the superintendent under Policy 5240, against annual goals that include the published service standards, work-order and ticket response times, the facilities inspection calendar and a feedback survey of principals and staff.

PART C: Standard Statements

C1. Nondiscrimination and coordinators.

Kalama School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, neurodivergence, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups.

Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination may be directed to the following employees at Kalama School District, 548 China Garden Road, Kalama, WA 98625:

• Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, [phone]

C2. Mandatory reporting.

All district employees must report suspected child abuse or neglect as Policy 3421 requires. As an administrator, the Director is a mandated reporter under RCW 26.44.030 and must make or cause a report to be made at the first opportunity, and no later than 48 hours after having reasonable cause to believe abuse or neglect occurred. Every employee must report to a school administrator any knowledge or reasonable cause to believe a student has been abused or subjected to sexual misconduct by another school employee or contractor (RCW 28A.400.317).

C3. Accommodation.

The duties and physical demands described here are representative of the job. The district provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and chapter 49.60 RCW.

C4. Scope of this description.

This description lists the major duties of the position. It is not an exhaustive list of every task, and it does not create a contract of employment. The district may assign or change duties consistent with applicable law, board policy, the employee's contract and any applicable collective bargaining agreement.

C5. Background check.

Employment is conditioned on clearing a fingerprint-based background check with the Washington State Patrol and FBI (RCW 28A.400.303). Conditional employment pending results is allowed only as provided in Policy 5005.

PART D: Posting Addendum (fall 2026 opening)

Field Entry

Posting title Director of Operations

Job description used AD-DIR-OPS-01, version 1.0

Location / building District Office, Kalama School District, 548 China Garden Road, Kalama, WA 98625

FTE and schedule 1.0 FTE; twelve months per year, 260 days (includes paid holidays). Salary and leave are prorated for a partial first year.

Start date Late November or December 2026, after board approval of the position, or as agreed

Focus for this opening Leading the district's move to the Qmlativ student information system and the E-Rate application for the 2027-28 funding year, picking up work begun by interim leads

Support for this opening An IT Assistant, a temporary technology employee through June 30, 2027, and the district's custodial and maintenance staff

About this opening The district will review how its operations and technology work is organized in spring 2027, and the duties of this position may be adjusted for 2027-28.

Salary range $108,211 to $122,122 per year, depending on qualifications and experience

Benefits and other compensation School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) medical, dental, vision, basic life and long-term disability coverage; Washington state retirement through the Department of Retirement Systems; 13 paid holidays; paid vacation starting at 15 days a year and increasing with service; 12 days of sick leave, 3 personal days and 5 bereavement days per year; a district-paid life insurance benefit; tuition reimbursement up to $1,200 per year; payment of professional dues; and annual salary increases, all as provided in the District Leader Employment Contract

Opening date / closing date Open until filled; first review of applications on the date HR sets at posting

Required applicant disclosure Applicants must sign a statement authorizing current and past employers to disclose any sexual misconduct and releasing them from liability (RCW 28A.400.301; Policy 5005). The district cannot hire an applicant who does not sign.

Nondiscrimination statement See C1