Director of Operations – GEO Academies

21st Century Charter School at Gary; Gary (IN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

GEO Academies Indiana is seeking a Director of Operations to lead non-instructional systems across Gary-area campuses, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant operations in transportation, food service, facilities, and procurement.

The role reports to the Executive Director and partners with school leaders to align operations with academic goals. The position emphasizes collaboration, budgeting, and vendor management to support GEO’s mission for student success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, or Education Leadership preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in school or district operations, facilities, or business management.
• Proven success managing multi-site operations and leading diverse teams.
• Strong project management, budgeting, and vendor negotiation skills.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to GEO’s mission of expanding access to college and career pathways for all students.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations for all GEO Indiana schools, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant systems for transportation, food service, facilities, maintenance and grounds.
• Continuously seek opportunities to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs by evaluating in-house options.
• Develop and implement standardized operating procedures across campuses to ensure consistency and accountability.
• Support school-based leadership, ensuring alignment with GEO policies, state regulations, and best practices.
• Manage vendor relationships and contracts related to transportation, food service, custodial, and maintenance services.
• Serve as the network liaison with state and local agencies regarding health, safety, and operational compliance matters.
• Coordinate maintenance schedules, repairs, and capital improvements in partnership with school leaders and external contractors.
• Ensure campuses meet safety, ADA, and environmental standards.
• Monitor operational budgets, approve expenditures within policy limits, and recommend cost-saving measures.

Skills

Operations leadership

Vendor management

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, or Education Leadership

Job description

About GEO Academies:

GEO Academies is a national, non-profit network of open-enrollment, public charter schools committed to empowering students to accelerate their academic pathways, advance their social mobility, and achieve their career and lifelong goals. Our innovative and award-winning K-16 GEO Academies Model begins with personalized, competency-based learning and accelerates students into postsecondary immersion as early as 9th grade. GEO Academies students have the opportunity to earn a full college degree or career credential before graduating from high school – at no cost to families.

Position Overview:

The Director of Operations is a key member of the GEO Academies Indiana leadership team responsible for ensuring that all non-instructional systems run efficiently to support high-quality teaching and learning across the network. This position oversees the operational functions of multiple campuses including transportation, food service, facilities, procurement, and compliance while building the infrastructure needed to support GEO’s continued growth in the Gary region. The Director of Operations reports directly to the Executive Director and works closely with regional and school-based leadership to ensure operational excellence and alignment across all campuses.

Reports To:

Executive Director

Location:

Gary, Indiana

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership

• Oversee day-to-day operations for all GEO Indiana schools, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant systems for transportation, food service, facilities, maintenance and grounds.
• Continuously seek opportunities to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs by evaluating the feasibility of bringing services like custodial or transportation in-house so that savings can be redirected to strengthen instructional programs and student outcomes.
• Develop and implement standardized operating procedures across campuses to ensure consistency, accountability, and cost efficiency.
• Support school-based leadership, ensuring alignment with GEO policies, state regulations, and best practices.
• Manage vendor relationships and contracts related to transportation, food service, custodial, and maintenance services.
• Serve as the network liaison with state and local agencies regarding health, safety, and operational compliance matters.

Facilities and Capital Planning

• In cooperation with the facilities team, coordinate maintenance schedules, repairs, and capital improvements in partnership with school leaders and external contractors.
• Support the development of new school sites and facility expansions.
• Ensure that all campuses meet safety, ADA, and environmental standards.

Transportation and Food Service

• Oversee routing, scheduling, and vendor management for student transportation, ensuring efficiency and equity in service, cost effectiveness, and compliance with Indiana law and BESE policy.
• Coordinate with school leaders to ensure all operational systems support student attendance and access to meals.

Finance and Compliance

• Monitor operational budgets, approve expenditures within policy limits, and recommend cost-saving measures.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local operational regulations, including safety codes, child nutrition, and transportation requirements.
• Prepare operational reports and data analysis for the Executive Director.

Team and Culture

• Recruit, train, and manage operations staff across campuses.
• Foster a service-oriented culture focused on supporting principals, teachers, and families.
• Collaborate with instructional and administrative leaders to align operations with academic goals and student needs.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, or Education Leadership preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in school or district operations, facilities, or business management preferred.
• Proven success managing multi-site operations and leading diverse teams.
• Strong project management, budgeting, and vendor negotiation skills.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to GEO’s mission of expanding access to college and career pathways for all students.