Manager, Talent Data & Operations

KIPP SoCal Public Schools; Newark (NJ); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

403b retirement plan with matching

Generous time-off policy

Parental leave (up to 12 weeks)

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Job summary

KIPP TEAM & Family Schools in Newark, NJ seeks a Talent Data & Operations Manager to keep the Talent team running with accurate data, a clear calendar, and a budget aligned to priorities. This role owns the full Talent budget, maintains the TLT scoreboard, and leads communications about Talent’s progress across the network.

The ideal candidate will forecast, automate, and simplify processes, support Talent meetings and retreats, and partner with Finance and HR.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• 5+ years in operations, analytics, or similar roles.
• Direct experience managing a department-level budget with forecasting.
• Experience influencing peers without formal authority.
• Experience in K-12, nonprofit, or HR/talent settings (preferred).
• Experience planning large retreats or convenings (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Own the Talent budget and forecasting, and reallocation planning.
• Maintain the TLT scoreboard end-to-end and automate data feeds.
• Prepare weekly data summaries and drive data clarity across teams.
• Coordinate communications on Talent’s progress within the network.
• Support meetings, retreats, and cascade days with logistics.
• Collaborate with Finance and HR on budgeting and year-end close.

Skills

Advanced Google Sheets

Budget management

Process automation

Data visualization

Strong writing

Familiarity with talent systems

Strategic thinking

Communication with stakeholders

AI tools (advantage)

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

ADP

SmartRecruiters

Lattice

Coupa

Job description

Company Description

KIPP TEAM & Family Schools

• Newark, Camden, Paterson, South Florida

KIPP TEAM & Family (KTAF) is our network office that includes support teams - such as Leadership Development, Recruitment, Advocacy, Facilities, Finance, HR, and more - dedicated to empowering our schools and ensuring the success of KIPP students throughout New Jersey and South Florida. Our schools are part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life in our schools located in Newark, NJ, Camden,NJ, Paterson, NJ, and Miami, FL.

Job Description

The Talent Data & Operations Manager keeps the Talent team running on accurate information, a clear calendar, and a budget that follows our priorities. This role owns the full Talent budget, builds and maintains the Talent Leadership Team (TLT) scoreboard, runs the Talent arc of the year, and leads communications about Talent’s progress across the network. The right person sees problems coming, shows up with options, and builds systems so the work no longer depends on anyone’s memory or spare time — so that our schools have the people they need to serve students well.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Budget and Resources (~40%)

• Manage the full Talent budget: forecasting, monthly budget-to-actuals, and proactive reallocation recommendations
• Own Talent purchasing in Coupa, including requisitions and vendor requests, and keep spending within network guidelines
• Complete monthly credit card reconciliation for the Talent team
• Manage certification charges and reconcile related invoices
• Partner with Finance and Accounting on planning, reconciliation, and year-end close
• Review and approval of travel requests ensuring requests are within policy and budget.
• Every line projected to overspend is flagged at least 30 days ahead; no line ends the year over budget without an approved plan
• Review and approve travel requests ensuring within policy and budget
• Year-end Talent spend lands within ±3% of the approved budget
• Create systems and processes to streamline budget management and create greater efficiencies.

Data and Scoreboards (~40%)

• Own the TLT scoreboard end to end: automate feeds from source systems (Lattice, ADP, SmartRecruiters, Gallup), build a historical record, and make trends easy to see
• Maintain a metric dictionary so we work from one version of the truth
• Write a short weekly summary of what moved, and follow up with teams on missing or unclear data
• Build a scoreboard template and coach each Talent department through setting up and running its own
• Partner with the Data team, and serve as Talent’s lead user as we integrate our talent systems

Operations and Communications (~20%)

• Own and maintain the Talent arc of the year and keep the team ahead of it
• Support prep and follow-through for TLT meetings, retreats, and cascade days: agendas, materials, slides, logistics, and commitments
• Build and run a communications plan for sharing Talent’s progress within Talent and with schools, regions, and other teams

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above essential duties and responsibilities.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5+ years in operations, business operations, analytics, chief-of-staff-type, or similar roles
• Direct experience managing a department-level budget, including forecasting and reallocation
• Experience influencing people senior to you without formal authority
• Experience in K-12, nonprofit, or HR/talent settings (preferred)
• Experience planning retreats or large convenings (preferred)

Skills And Abilities

• Brings options, not problems. Sees trouble coming and shows up with a recommendation.
• Gets it right. Numbers are accurate before anyone else sees them.
• Closes loops. Owns a calendar and follows through without being chased.
• Builds, not just maintains. If something is done manually three times, looks for a way to automate it.
• Knows where the line is. Knows what is theirs to decide and what to bring to leadership.
• Influences people senior to them without formal authority
• Believes all children can learn and thrive, and wants their work to serve that
• Advanced Google Sheets skills, with a track record of automating manual processes
• Comfort building with AI tools (strong plus)
• Department-level budget management, including forecasting and reallocation
• Clear, concise writing, including for senior and organization-wide audiences
• Familiarity with ADP, SmartRecruiters, Lattice, or Coupa (preferred)
• Experience with 4DX, OKRs, or other goal and scoreboard frameworks (preferred)

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer
• Occasional travel to schools and regional sites in Newark, Camden, Miami, and Paterson, including for retreats and cascade days
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds (e.g., materials for meetings and retreats)

Additional Information

This is a hybrid role. Currently, most KTAF teams work on-site 2 days per week and work remotely 3 days per week. Therefore, this role requires teammates to live within commuting distance of one of our three cities where we have regional offices: Newark, NJ, Camden, NJ, or Miami, FL.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this role is $90,000 - $105,000. Salary ranges at KTAF are set based upon the role level and function using benchmarks in the education and non-profit sector, and allow for growth within the role. Individual compensation will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to: relevant professional experience and qualifications; education, skills, and training; and market conditions.

In addition to a competitive salary, KTAF offers a generous benefits package including, but not limited to, the following:

• Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision
• KTAF 403b retirement plan, including matching contributions
• Generous Time-Off Policy
• Up to 12 weeks 100% parental leave for primary caregivers
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Extensive optional ancillary benefits including short-term and long-term disability and accident and hospital indemnity

Our organization is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, national origin, citizen status, marital status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organization will make a reasonable accommodation to known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the organization. No questions on this application are asked for any unlawful purpose.