Executive Director of Operations School Support

Nimble; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Indianapolis Public Schools seeks an Executive Director of Operations School Support to oversee school-facing operational services including Transportation, Food Service, and Athletics. This leadership role requires coordinating with school leaders and central teams to align operations with district priorities and budgets.

The position reports to the Chief Operations Officer and emphasizes strategic planning, data-driven decision making, and strong communication across departments to ensure

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise and develop the Directors of Transportation, Food Service, and Athletics, establishing clear priorities, performance expectations, and accountability for results.
• Lead operational reviews and recommend changes to staffing models, routes, schedules, program structures, vendor arrangements, or service standards when data indicate a need for improvement.

Job description

WELCOME TO INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS!

At IPS, we believe in the transformative power of education. We work collectively every day to prepare our students for success in the classroom and in life by providing equitable, high-quality educational experiences across our family of schools. IPS is a place to make an impact, grow your career, and ensure every student has access to a high quality education, all while earning a good living in a district on the move. While the work is challenging, it is deeply meaningful and impactful. We seek innovators and trailblazers who bring varying experiences and expertise and share our belief that every child deserves access to an exceptional education. As part of TeamIPS, you’ll create lasting connections, find a sense of belonging, and feel supported to make a meaningful difference in students’ lives.

In return, no matter your role here, we expect a commitment to excellence and accountability. You’ll be held to high standards. Resilience and passion are key—you must be adaptable, handling adversity with flexibility while putting students at the heart of everything you do. Ethical conduct, clear communication, and mutual respect are fundamental. Being a dependable, collaborative team player who builds meaningful relationships is essential.

Together, we are Proving What’s Possible by building a community where everyone belongs and each student has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

A Career in IPS Offers…

Purpose and Impact:

Essential Contributions: In every non-teaching and non-leadership role, your work directly supports the success of IPS students and schools. Whether you’re maintaining facilities, providing student services, or managing administrative operations, you play a key part in ensuring an equitable and high-quality educational environment.

Belonging and Community:

IPS is a place where every employee is valued. You’ll join a supportive community that promotes respect, teamwork, and a shared commitment to serving students and families.

Professional and Personal Growth:

Training and Development Opportunities:

IPS offers a variety of training programs to help staff build new skills and grow professionally. This includes access to development opportunities for administrative, technical, and operational roles, as well as pathways to becoming a certified teacher.

Skill Enhancement:

Whether you’re new to your role or seeking to deepen your expertise, IPS provides resources and support for continuous improvement.

Comprehensive Compensation and Benefits:

Fair Compensation:

IPS ensures competitive wages and regularly reviews pay structures to maintain equity.

Extensive Benefits Package:

Employees enjoy comprehensive health coverage, dental and vision plans, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement plans. Additional financial benefits include flexible spending accounts and eligibility for federal loan forgiveness programs.

Work-Life Balance and Well-being:

Generous Leave Policies:

IPS offers vacation, personal, and sick leave, along with paid holidays. Twelve-month employees benefit from floating holidays, and unused personal leave rolls into the sick leave balance.

Wellness Programs:

IPS prioritizes staff well-being with access to wellness initiatives, including health screenings and an employee assistance program for confidential support and counseling.

What We Expect:

Professionalism and Reliability: Every role at IPS is vital to the district’s success. We expect staff to demonstrate professionalism, dependability, and a commitment to providing excellent service to students, educators, and families.

Collaboration and Communication:

IPS values teamwork. Working collaboratively with your colleagues ensures a supportive environment for all. Clear communication and mutual respect are key to maintaining this culture.

Flexibility and Problem-Solving:

As a large, dynamic district, IPS needs staff who are adaptable and proactive in solving problems to meet the ever-changing needs of students and schools.

JOIN US!

Indianapolis Public Schools is more than a workplace; it’s a community where purpose, impact, and belonging come together to help Prove What’s Possible – in your career and in your school. If you’re ready to embrace challenges, strive for excellence, and make a meaningful impact, IPS is the place for you.

SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY:

Under the supervision of the Chief Operations Officer, the Executive Director of Operations School Support leads the district’s school-facing operational support and provides strategic oversight of Transportation, Food Service, and Athletics. The Executive Director ensures that these essential services are responsive to school needs, aligned with district priorities, and managed within approved budgets and operating standards.

As the Operations division’s primary liaison to Learning and academic functions, this leader connects school leaders and academic teams with operational departments, anticipates the implications of district decisions for schools, and ensures that information moves clearly and consistently between schools and central services. The role works in close partnership with the Executive Director of Operations Strategy and the Executive Director of Operations Safety and Infrastructure.

This is a full-time, 12-month position requiring frequent collaboration with principals, academic leaders, Operations directors, the Chief of Police, and district-level stakeholders.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING: SKILLS AND MINDSETS:

We are seeking a strategic and highly collaborative operations leader who understands that excellent school support requires both strong service and disciplined execution. You will be at home here if you can translate school needs into workable operational plans, communicate clearly across functions, manage complex budgets, and hold teams and stakeholders accountable to district protocols.

The Executive Director of Operations School Support will:

• Serve as a senior operational leader who balances responsiveness to schools with responsible stewardship of district resources.
• Build trusted, productive relationships with principals, Learning leaders, and central office partners while maintaining clear expectations and accountability.
• Bring a strong school perspective to operational planning and help colleagues understand how decisions will affect students, families, staff, and daily school operations.
• Use data, financial analysis, and service metrics to identify risks, improve performance, and guide decisions.
• Communicate complex operational requirements in clear, practical language and ensure that important information reaches the right audiences at the right time.
• Anticipate challenges, resolve cross-functional issues, and create systems that reduce confusion, duplication, and preventable cost.
• Lead with sound judgment, discretion, urgency, and a commitment to equitable service across all IPS schools.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Directly supervise and develop the Directors of Transportation, Food Service, and Athletics, establishing clear priorities, performance expectations, and accountability for results.
• Serve as the primary Operations liaison to the Learning division and academic teams, ensuring operational planning is aligned with instructional priorities and school calendars.
• Partner with schools and academic leaders on specialized and extended programming, including summer school, to coordinate transportation, meals, athletics, facilities, safety, staffing implications, and other operational needs.
• Create and maintain clear processes for gathering school input, communicating operational decisions, and escalating issues that require cross-functional resolution.
• Own the Operations division’s use of the principals newsletter and other established communication channels to cascade timely, accurate, and actionable information to school leaders.
• Support Transportation, Food Service, and Athletics in setting service expectations with schools and preventing school requests, schedule changes, special events, or program decisions from creating unplanned costs or pushing departments over budget.
• Review Transportation and Athletics budgets closely and routinely, identify emerging variances, require corrective action plans, and advise the Chief Operations Officer on financial risks and tradeoffs. Provide budget oversight and support to Food Service in coordination with departmental and district financial requirements.
• Review monthly financial reports with assigned directors; analyze spending patterns, staffing and utilization data, budget variances, and service trends; and identify opportunities to improve fiscal and operational performance.
• Collaborate with assigned directors to develop annual operating plans and budgets aligned with district priorities, expected service levels, and realistic demand from schools.
• Develop tools, protocols, and approval pathways that help schools understand the cost and operational consequences of their decisions before commitments are made.
• Review purchasing practices and major service contracts within assigned departments to strengthen compliance, internal controls, cost effectiveness, and service delivery, in partnership with Finance and Procurement.
• Lead operational reviews and recommend changes to staffing models, routes, schedules, program structures, vendor arrangements, or service standards when data indicate a need for improvement.
• Coordinate with the Operations Strategy team on facility rentals and use agreements, ensuring schools follow district protocols, complete required approvals, communicate needs promptly, and avoid unauthorized commitments or costs.
• Serve as a thought partner to the Executive Directors of Operations Strategy and Operations Safety and Infrastructure and to other Operations leaders, bringing a consistent school-centered perspective to policy, planning, and implementation.
• Partner with the Chief of Police and school leaders as needed to support effective communication, planning, and resolution of school-based safety and security matters.
• Monitor service delivery, budget performance, school feedback, and operational data across assigned departments; identify trends and lead continuous improvement efforts.
• Represent the Chief Operations Officer in cross-functional meetings and district initiatives as assigned, and perform other duties necessary to support safe, efficient, and effective school operations.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, public administration, education, operations management, or a related field; a master’s degree is preferred.
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in operations, education leadership, public administration, or a related field, including significant responsibility for budgets and service delivery.
• At least 5 years of successful people management experience, preferably leading multiple departments, senior managers, or directors.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, analyzing financial performance, forecasting risk, and implementing corrective actions.
• Experience working directly with school leaders or other site-based leaders in a large, complex, service-oriented organization.
• A record of leading cross-functional projects that required coordination among operational, academic or programmatic, financial, and executive stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate policy, financial, and operational information into clear guidance for varied audiences.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and respond effectively to urgent issues.
• Knowledge of school district operations, including transportation, food service, athletics, facilities use, or public safety, is strongly preferred.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Executive Director of Operations School Support directly supervises the Directors of Transportation, Food Service, and Athletics and may oversee additional staff, contractors, projects, or functions as assigned by the Chief Operations Officer.

PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

This role works with a wide range of IPS staff, including school leaders, Learning and academic teams, Operations leaders, Finance, Communications, the Chief of Police, and external partners. Successful candidates will demonstrate strong interpersonal judgment, emotional intelligence, credibility, and the ability to navigate competing priorities without losing sight of student and school needs. Discretion, initiative, follow-through, and a solutions-oriented mindset are essential.

PHYSICAL EFFORT:

This position requires