Managing Director of Strategy & Operations

ReNEW Schools; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 94,500 - 115,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary schedule

Merit pay opportunities

Employer-paid short/long-term disability

Health, Dental, Vision Insurance

Retirement benefits

Professional development opportunities

Free staff breakfast and lunch

Job summary

A public charter school district in St. Louis seeks a Managing Director of Strategy & Operations to translate organizational vision into effective, scalable systems. This senior leader will oversee strategic planning, operational performance, and continuous improvement while ensuring alignment across departments. Ideal candidates have significant experience in operations management, preferably in K-12 education. Compensation starts at $105,000, reflecting the candidate's experience and qualifications.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in senior operations, strategy, or general management roles.
• 1-3 years experience working in K-12 schools.
• Strong ability to translate vision into actionable plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic plan development and execution.
• Oversee core operational functions for high-quality execution.
• Serve as a connective leader to improve collaboration across departments.
• Analyze data to identify inefficiencies and improvement opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Project management

Microsoft Excel

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in operations management, business administration, strategy, or educational leadership

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Managing Director of Strategy & Operations

About Momentum Academy

Momentum Academy is a PK-8 public charter school district in St. Louis City committed to fostering love, wellness, growth, and academic excellence. We build character, confidence, and community by supporting scholars, families, and staff to thrive together.

Thrive At Momentum

Momentum is committed to acting with integrity and joy. We provide robust benefits, professional development, wellness supports, and a culture rooted in love, integrity, collaboration, solutions‑driven mindsets, and joy. Staff thrive through research‑based coaching, highly rated instructional materials, restorative practices, dedicated wellness spaces, and significant employer‑paid benefits.

Why Choose Momentum?

• Competitive salary schedule with transparent pay equity
• Merit Pay opportunities for high performance
• Over 5 weeks of breaks (Fall, Winter, Spring, Care Break)
• Paid Time Off and PTO rollover
• Employer‑paid short/long‑term disability
• Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance (including dependent insurance contributions)
• Retirement benefits through PSRS‑STL (Momentum contributes ~14%)
• Research‑based coaching & professional development
• Intellectual Preparation & Learning Communities
• Certification and continuing education assistance
• Staff wellness budget and dedicated wellness spaces
• Free staff breakfast and lunch
• Enrollment preference for staff children

Role Overview

The Managing Director of Strategy & Operations (MDSO) is a senior leader responsible for translating organizational vision and strategy into effective, scalable systems and day‑to‑day execution. This role ensures that strategy, operations, and cross‑functional work are tightly aligned so our organization can deliver strong outcomes while operating efficiently and sustainably.

Working in close partnership with the Executive Director and senior leadership team, the Managing Director of Strategy & Operations owns district‑wide planning, operational performance, and continuous improvement. This leader brings clarity to priorities, strengthens systems, and ensures that people, processes, and resources are aligned to support organizational goals.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategy & Organizational Planning

• Lead the development, execution, and monitoring of the organization’s strategic plan.
• Translate long‑term goals into annual priorities, milestones, and measurable outcomes.
• Establish systems for tracking progress toward strategic objectives and driving accountability.
• Partner with senior leaders to assess organizational opportunities, risks, and tradeoffs.

Operations & Systems Leadership

• Oversee core operational functions to ensure efficient, compliant, and high‑quality execution (e.g., operations, facilities, systems, schedules, vendor management).
• Design and refine systems, processes, and workflows that support scale and sustainability.
• Drive operational consistency while allowing for flexibility where mission impact requires it.
• Ensure operational decisions are data‑informed and aligned with strategic priorities.

Cross‑Functional Alignment

• Serve as a connective leader across departments, breaking down silos and improving collaboration.
• Coordinate cross‑functional initiatives and lead complex, multi‑department projects.
• Clarify roles, responsibilities, and decision‑making structures across teams.
• Support leaders in translating strategy into actionable team‑level plans.

Data, Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Build and maintain systems for tracking operational and organizational performance.
• Analyze data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts focused on effectiveness, service quality, and staff experience.
• Present clear, actionable insights to the executive team and board as needed.

People & Culture

• Model strong leadership, communication, and change‑management practices.
• Support a culture of accountability, clarity, and continuous learning.
• Coach leaders and managers to strengthen execution, planning, and operational problem‑solving.
• Ensure systems and processes reinforce equity, transparency, and staff well‑being.

Financial Management

• Provide executive oversight of district financial operations, including budget development, forecasting, fund balance management, and financial reporting to ensure fiscal responsibility and long‑term sustainability.
• Partner with the Executive Director, Board of Education, and third party financial manager to align financial resources with district priorities, instructional goals, and strategic initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local funding requirements, grants, audits, and internal controls, safeguarding public funds and maintaining transparency.
• Optimize resource allocation and operational efficiency, evaluating programs, staffing models, and capital investments to maximize student impact while maintaining cost effectiveness.

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in operations management, business administration, strategy, educational leadership or another relevant field

Qualifications

• Proven experience in senior operations, strategy, or general management roles.
• 1-3 years experience working in K-12 schools.
• Strong ability to translate vision into actionable plans and operational systems.
• Demonstrated success leading cross‑functional initiatives and managing complexity.
• Strong skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• A tireless work ethic, entrepreneurial spirit, and innovative solution finder.
• Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to build trust, influence without authority, and communicate clearly at all levels.
• Comfort working in fast‑paced, mission‑driven, or growth‑oriented environments.
• Open to feedback and committed to continuously improving.

Compensation

The salary for this position begins at $105,000 and increases based on years of experience and education.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.