Director of Operations - One River School of Art + Design (DFW Launch)

ESB Technologies; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Milestone bonuses

Tiered profit sharing

In-person Plano office

Job summary

One River School of Art + Design in Dallas–Fort Worth is hiring the first Director of Operations to build the market from zero. You'll shepherd the first school from construction through grand opening—hiring the team, driving local pre-opening enrollment, and then running and stabilizing the site.

This build role offers milestone bonuses and tiered profit sharing on top of base, with a Plano-based in-person work arrangement and growth as the region expands.

Qualifications

• Personally opened new physical locations from pre-opening to opening day.
• Run 2–3+ units with P&L ownership, hiring and developing location managers.
• Led grassroots local marketing to generate enrollment before doors open.
• Background in service, hospitality, education, or membership businesses.
• Willing to walk construction sites and review enrollment metrics.

Responsibilities

• Open the first Dallas–Fort Worth school from construction through grand opening.
• Hire the team, drive local pre-opening enrollment, and manage build-out daily.
• Run and stabilize the site, then lead site selection and launches for future locations.

Skills

P&L ownership

Location expansion

Grassroots marketing

Team leadership

Job description

One River School of Art + Design - founded by Matt Ross, the founding CEO of School of Rock, who grew it from 5 to 55 schools before setting out to do the same for visual arts - is launching in Dallas-Fort Worth. One River operates 15 schools across six states on a proven, profitable model; the first DFW school opens in early 2027, with multiple locations planned across the metro. We're hiring the first leader on the ground: a Director of Operations who will build this market from zero.

This is a build role, not a caretaker role. You'll take school one from construction through grand opening - hiring the team, driving local pre-opening enrollment, managing the build-out day to day - then run it, stabilize it, and lead site selection and launches for the schools that follow. You'll work directly with an owner with patient capital and experience scaling companies, who delegates fully once trust is earned. and with a franchisor whose leadership has personally opened many schools. As the region grows, so does your role - and your compensation, through opening-milestone bonuses and tiered profit sharing on top of base.

You're the right person for this if you have:

• Personally opened new physical locations - led the pre-opening through opening-day, not inherited the keys
• Run 2–3+ units simultaneously, with P&L ownership, hiring and developing location managers
• Driven grassroots local marketing for a new location - you know how to make a neighborhood care before doors open
• A service, hospitality, education, or membership-business background - you build customer relationships, not just transactions
• Roll-up-your-sleeves range: comfortable walking a construction site in the morning and reviewing enrollment numbers at night

The practicals: Base $100 -130K + milestone bonuses + profit sharing. Generous, tech-style benefits. Fully in-person: Plano office now, your school daily once open. DFW-local candidates only. Target start: early November.