Interim Director of Operations

Hawai'i Association Of Independent Schools; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing stipend

Transportation stipend

Travel reimbursement

Job summary

Carden Academy of Maui seeks a senior operations leader to supervise a high-performing team and maintain smooth school functioning during leadership transition.

You will oversee daily operations, facilities, IT, safety, budgets, and vendor management, while supporting admissions, events, and communications with staff and families. This is a full-time, on-site role in Maui with relocation support for approved candidates.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of progressively responsible operations leadership experience.
• Experience supervising and developing a team of professionals.
• Ability to manage facilities, vendors, and operational budgets.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with staff, families, and Board.
• Ability to ramp quickly in an unfamiliar environment and work independently.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and prioritize work of the operations and administration team.
• Provide day-to-day management and problem-solving guidance.
• Maintain team continuity, morale, and momentum during leadership change.
• Oversee day-to-day school operations, calendars, and logistics.
• Coordinate facilities, IT, and vendor services to support safety and learning.
• Oversee campus safety protocols and emergency planning.
• Provide oversight of the finance manager and business office functions.
• Support admissions, enrollment processes, and parent communications.
• Coordinate housing, transportation, and travel relocation support.

Skills

Leadership

Team supervision

Vendor management

Budget management

Communication

Independent work

Transition management

Education

4 Year Degree

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Direct reports: Finance Manager, Office Manager, Director of Admissions/Advancement/Communications, Director of Facilities & IT, Athletic Coordinator

Compensation: $80,000-$95,000 annualized, prorated for the term of the assignment, commensurate with experience

Primary Responsibilities

Supervise, support, and prioritize the work of the operations and administration team: Finance Manager, Office Manager, Director of Admissions & Advancement, Director of Facilities & IT, and Athletic Coordinator

Provide day-to-day management, problem-solving support, and clear direction to a team of experienced professionals

Maintain team continuity, morale, and momentum through a period of leadership change

Daily School Operations

Oversee the day-to-day functioning of the school, including schedules, calendars, and operational logistics

Ensure smooth coordination of school activities, events, and programs

Serve as the operational point of contact for staff, families, and vendors

Facilities, Technology, and Campus Management

Oversee facilities maintenance, campus operations, and IT support through the Director of Facilities & IT

Coordinate outside vendors and service providers

Ensure the campus environment supports safety and learning

Safety, Risk, and Compliance

Oversee campus safety protocols and emergency preparedness procedures

Coordinate emergency planning and safety drills

Ensure school operations comply with applicable regulations, policies, and accreditation standards, including HAIS requirements

Financial and Administrative Oversight

Provide supervisory oversight of the Finance Manager and the school's business office functions

Monitor operational budgets and expenditures; support budget planning and responsible financial stewardship in coordination with the Head of School and Finance Committee

Provide operational input to Board reporting as requested

Support personnel coordination, hiring logistics , onboarding, and compliance with employment policies

Enrollment and Admissions Support

Supervise and support the Director of Admissions/Advancement/Communications, providing management oversight, prioritization support, and problem-solving during the fall enrollment push

Ensure admissions and enrollment processes have adequate operational and administrative support, including systems, scheduling, and event logistics for tours, open houses, and admissions events

Partner with the Head of School and the Director of Admissions/Advancement/Communications on enrollment reporting and pipeline visibility

Support family communication and coordination in connection with admissions and enrollment activity

Student Life and School Programs

Provide operational support for student activities, athletics, school events, and community programming, including logistics , scheduling, vendor coordination, and facilities readiness

Support faculty and school leadership in executing school traditions and student life initiatives, with programmatic direction and cultural leadership residing with the Head of School and faculty

Ensure school programs have the operational infrastructure they need to run smoothly — space, staffing coordination, materials, and communications support

Anticipate and resolve operational obstacles to programming, particularly around the fall and holiday event calendar

Maintain continuity of administrative systems and processes throughout the leadership transition

Prepare a written transition brief and handoff for the incoming Head of School and any permanent operations hire

Support the Head of School on operational matters as needed

Qualifications

Required

Five or more years of progressively responsible operations leadership experience; school-specific experience is not required

Demonstrated experience supervising and developing a team of professional staff

Demonstrated ability to manage facilities, vendors, and operational budgets

Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with staff, families, and Board members

Ability to work independently, ramp quickly in an unfamiliar environment, and operate without an established playbook

Comfort with a defined, short-term engagement and a transition-focused mandate

Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience

Preferred

Prior experience in a school, nonprofit, or mission-driven organization

Experience leading a team through a leadership transition

Familiarity with independent school operations, accreditation, or regulatory compliance

Existing ties to Maui or the Hawai?i independent school community

Engagement Structure

This position is offered as a full-time W-2 employee role. The school may consider alternative engagement structures for candidates operating as established independent consultants.

Relocation Support

For candidates relocating from outside Hawai?i, the school offers the following support for the duration of the assignment, subject to Board approval and finalized at offer:

Housing: $2,000-$3,000 per month toward furnished housing in the upcountry Maui area

Transportation: $750-$1,200 per month toward a vehicle, or mileage reimbursement for candidates providing their own

Travel: Up to $1,800 toward round-trip airfare depending on candidate location

Relocation and travel support are provided in addition to the salary range above and administered as reimbursement of documented expenses under the school's accountable plan. Candidates should consult their own tax advisor regarding treatment of temporary-assignment living expenses.

Candidates should note the school calendar: the school is closed to students October 1- 2 for conferences and October 5-9 for fall break; the last day of school is December 17.

Education

4 Year Degree

Non-discriminatory Statement:

Carden Academy of Maui does not discriminate in the employment of personnel on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, or handicapped status, in accordance with applicable state and federal law. Carden Academy admits students of any race to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities accorded or made available to students at the school.