Director of Academic Operations at KIPP New Jersey

Company Description

About Us

KIPP TEAM & Family 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 Miami. 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. The first KIPP New Jersey school opened in Newark in 2002 and since then our school network has expanded to educate 8,684 students in grades K-12. By 2027, KIPP New Jersey will provide a world-class education to over 10,300 students across Newark and Camden. To learn more, visit www.kippnj.org.

In 2018, we grew our KIPP community in response to a need for high-quality school options for students in Greater Miami’s Urban Core communities. That led to the creation of KIPP Miami, which currently educates more than 1,200 students in 2 schools, with plans to reach 5,800 students by 2026. By offering highly effective educators with strong bonds to families, more time in school learning, services that support a variety of student needs, and a culture focused on achievement, our students in New Jersey and Miami are on the path to and through college, career, and choice-filled lives.

Job Description

Role Summary

The Director of Academic Operations is responsible for ensuring that all KIPP New Jersey and KIPP Miami schools execute academic operations with excellence and consistency. Reporting to the Deputy Chief Academic Officer (CAO), this leader manages the systems, policies, and processes that enable effective teaching and learning across the network.

The Director oversees the implementation of academic policies, state testing, instructional technology, curriculum purchasing, and school scheduling. They partner closely with regional operations, school leaders, and the academic team to ensure that all schools have the tools, guidance, and support needed to drive strong student outcomes and uphold compliance standards.

The Director sits on the CAO Command Center Team. This team works to integrate the work of our teaching and learning teams, special education teams and school management teams throughout the organization. These strands of our organization report up through the CAO, and are complex and high touch. The CAO Command Center team works to ensure all teams under the CAO umbrella are high performing and driving outcomes for students. The CAO Command Center team works to integrate these teams with central office functions such as operations, data, finance and talent.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Policy Leadership

• Lead the communication, and implementation of all academic policies, including grading, promotion, and retention.
• Partner with the CAO, achievement directors, and school leaders to ensure consistent and equitable policy execution across schools.
• Provide ongoing training and resources to school-based teams to ensure policies are clearly understood and effectively applied.
• Monitor compliance with academic policies and support schools in resolving edge cases or unique student situations.
  
  

ES and MS State Testing & Assessment Operations

• Serve as the network’s organizational lead for all state and national testing programs.
• Oversee test coordination, logistics, and compliance for KIPP NJ and KIPP Miami, and any prospective future sites for growth, ensuring accuracy and adherence to state regulations.
• Manage relationships with testing vendors and state agencies to ensure smooth administration and timely data reporting.
• Partner with the Data and Technology teams to ensure test systems integrate effectively with student information platforms.
  
  

Curriculum Purchasing & Resource Management

• Manage curriculum purchasing and distribution in partnership with network and regional operations teams.
• Oversee vendor relationships, contracts, and renewals for all curriculum and instructional resources.
• Support in the maintenance of accurate records of orders, inventory, and school-level needs to ensure on-time delivery and equitable access.
• Coordinate with DSOs and the network finance team around curriculum purchasing.
  
  

Scheduling & School Support for ES and MS

• Partner with school leaders and regional operations teams to support master scheduling. Ensure all master schedules met and upheld federal, state and local requirements.
• Provide guidance on scheduling systems, course setups, and structures that optimize instructional time.
• Develop tools, templates, and best practices to help schools streamline academic operations.
  
  

Calendar Development and Support

• Partner with school leaders and regional operations teams to support master scheduling and academic calendar development.
• Develop calendar templates, design and format in partnership with academics and operational teams at the network and in each region
• Ensure calendar alignment with local, state and federal requirements.
  
  

Special Projects

• Support with special projects related to yearly academic strategy including building trackers, implementation plans and engaging with stakeholders.
• Support with special projects related to growth in new regions such as research, program design, etc
  
  

Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as the network’s subject matter expert on academic operations, ensuring alignment between academics, operations, and compliance.
• Collaborate across departments—including Academics, Operations, Data, and Technology—to ensure cohesive execution of priorities.
• Analyze operational data and feedback to drive continuous improvement in academic systems and support structures.
  
  

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in education, operations, or a related field strongly preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in academic operations, instructional management, or school systems leadership.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale academic initiatives across multiple schools or regions.
• Deep understanding of academic policy, assessment administration, instructional technology, and curriculum management.
• Exceptional project management, organization, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage complex cross-functional projects and meet tight deadlines.
• Commitment to educational equity and the mission of KIPP Team and Family.
  
  

Preferred Skills

• Experience with Clever or similar rostering systems for platform integration.
• Proficiency with Google Sheets and data analysis tools for reporting and decision-making.
• Familiarity with Illuminate, PowerSchool, or comparable assessment and SIS platforms.
• Experience leading or supporting state testing operations and academic scheduling.
  
  

Additional Information

KIPP Team & Family offers a market-competitive salary range of $125,000-$140,000 based on experience. Salary ranges at KIPP are set based upon the role level and function, using benchmarks in the education and non-profit sectors, and allow for growth within the role. Individual compensation within this range 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, we offer a generous benefits package including, but not limited to, the following:

• Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision
• Optional participation in the KIPP NJ 403b retirement plan, including matching contributions
• A school-issued laptop
• Transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into Newark from the New York City area
• Generous Time-Off including 3.5-4 school vacation weeks (depending on the year), allocated sick and personal days, and an extended summer break
• 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.