Director of School Operations

Legacy Traditional Schools; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Retirement plans

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Legacy Traditional Schools is seeking a Director of School Operations to lead campus operations and partner with the Principal to ensure safe, efficient, and high‑performing environments. The role drives Lean improvements, budgeting, procurement, and cross‑functional collaboration to support student achievement.

The DSO will oversee facilities, safety, staffing, enrollment, and grant execution, using data dashboards and daily huddles to monitor KPIs and resolve issues quickly.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Education Leadership, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years in a leadership operations role.
• 2+ years managing cross-functional teams and complex projects.
• 2+ years using data and structured routines to drive process improvement.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day campus operations including facilities, food service, technology, transportation, and front office systems.
• Lead strategic planning and operational excellence with data dashboards, huddles, and KPI reviews.
• Ensure safety, compliance, and emergency preparedness across the campus.
• Hire, train, and coach non-instructional staff with a focus on service culture and accountability.
• Drive enrollment strategies and community engagement to meet targets.

Skills

Leadership

Data analytics

Lean principles

Budget management

Cross-functional teams

Vendor management

Education

MBA or related field

Tools

Excel

Power BI

SQL

MS Office

Job description

Ignite your desire to be the best!

Imagine an energy so positive, so powerful, it ignites your desire to be the best, inspires you to bring out the best in others, and fuels your aspiration to do the best work of your career.

At Legacy Traditional Schools we do things a special way, in a way that ignites our desire to be the best, illuminates our educators' best talents, lights up the minds of our students, and fuels our school spirit. We shine the brightest when we raise our hands and rise to the challenge of changing lives through education, cultivating bright curious minds, achieving award-winning results, upholding our values, and engaging positively with our students, parents and communities.

Position Overview

The Director of School Operations (DSO) plays a mission-critical role in creating a school environment where students and teachers can thrive. As the operational leader of the campus and partner to the Principal, the DSO ensures that every system - from facilities and safety to staffing, enrollment, and budget execution - functions efficiently, strategically, and in alignment with school goals. This role drives continuous improvement through data and Lean practices, fosters a culture of accountability and service across non-instructional teams, and directly supports school growth by enhancing the student and family experience. Through this work, the DSO helps remove barriers to learning and ensures all students have access to safe, welcoming, and high-functioning schools.

Essential Functions

1. Campus Operations & Resource Management

• Oversee day-to-day campus operations across facilities, food service, technology, transportation, and front office systems.
• Ensure safe, clean, and well-maintained physical environments that support learning and comply with all regulatory standards.
• Manage vendor relationships, procurement, and logistics to optimize efficiency and minimize disruptions to instruction.
• Align resources with academic priorities through effective budget management, purchasing, and grant execution.

2. Strategic Planning & Operational Excellence

• Co-lead school-wide strategic planning alongside the Principal, driving operational goals that support student outcomes.
• Use data dashboards, daily huddles, and KPI reviews to track performance and quickly resolve issues.
• Apply Lean principles such as 5S and root-cause analysis to streamline processes and reduce waste.
• Design and maintain systems that promote continuous improvement, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration.

3. Safety, Compliance & Emergency Preparedness

• Ensure full compliance with health, safety, and workplace regulations, including training, reporting, and inspections.
• Oversee campus safety protocols including emergency plans, drills, and arrival/dismissal logistics.
• Maintain compliance with operational audits, state/federal grants, and funding requirements.
• Coordinate with local authorities, first responders, and regulatory agencies as needed.

4. Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Hire, train, and manage non-instructional staff, ensuring role clarity, operational excellence, and a strong service culture.
• Set performance goals, conduct evaluations, and coach team members toward continuous growth and improvement.
• Foster a culture of high expectations, ownership, and customer service across all operations functions.
• Model professional leadership through clear communication, reliability, and solution-oriented problem-solving.

5. Enrollment, Community Engagement & External Relations

• Lead campus-based enrollment strategies in partnership with the Principal and Marketing team to meet or exceed targets.
• Host recruitment events, open houses, and school tours that showcase the school’s mission and culture.
• Build relationships with local partners, businesses, and community groups to support visibility and enrollment growth.
• Oversee and support Parent Volunteer Organization (PVO/PTO) engagement and campus events.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Education Leadership, Public Administration, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years in a leadership role in operations or school administration.
• At least 2 years of experience managing cross-functional teams and overseeing complex projects or systems.
• At least 2 years of experience using data and structured routines to drive process improvement and operational efficiency.

Credentials

• Must be able to obtain and hold a valid IVP Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel locally between campuses as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a charter school or K-12 public school system.
• Formal training or certification in Lean Six Sigma or related continuous improvement frameworks.
• Experience with student recruitment, enrollment growth strategies, or community engagement initiatives.

Enjoy the benefits of being the best!

Education is not a spectator sport,so we encourage you to work hard, learn, have fun, and always do your best. Wethrivewhen cultivating curious minds, achieving award-winning results, upholding our values, and engaging positively with our students, parents, and communities.Every team member, from our support staff to our leadershipteamhas knowledge to share, skills to teach, inspiration to offer, and a passion for helping others learn and perform their best.

Enjoy industry-leading pay, rewards, referral bonuses and paid time-off. Care for your health and your family with comprehensive medical, dental,and vision benefits, discounted onsitechildcareand student enrollment priority. Invest in your future with retirement plansand enhance your growth with promotion opportunities, training, mentoring,and tuition reimbursement.