Senior Director, Operations and Technology

Summary

Join Teaching Lab as their Senior Director, Operations and Technology! This remote, full-time position offers a competitive salary ($125,000-$189,074 annually) and the opportunity to co-create the strategic direction of internal operations for a growing non-profit. You will lead the Operations and Technology department, overseeing project management, information technology, contracting, and internal controls. The ideal candidate possesses a Bachelor's degree, 10+ years of relevant experience, and strong leadership and communication skills. This role is crucial in ensuring Teaching Lab's continued success and impact on K-12 education.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or relevant field
• Thorough understanding of practices, theories, and policies involved in business operations
• Ten or more years combined experience directing operational projects and leading teams
• Experience creating the strategy for a team or business function
• Five or more years combined experience planning and implementing projects
• Track record of effective people management aligned to equity values
• Five or more years combined experience working with partners outside of their organization to manage workflow or deliver services
• Experience setting goals, creating the systems and processes for meeting the goals for increasing organizational effectiveness and risk management
• Highly skilled in data analysis and performance/operation metrics
• Experience managing relationships with clients and stakeholders in an educational context
• Outstanding communication and people skills

Responsibilities

• Set, evolve, and execute on a comprehensive vision and strategy for the Operations and Technology department
• Translate long-term strategies into operational plans that drive growth and impact
• Promote a culture of continuous learning and accountability within the Operations and Technology department
• Create a vision and implementation plan for providing operational and/or project management support across the organization
• Engage in and lead staff to engage in user-centered design processes in all Operations and Technology initiatives
• Provide vision, direction, and oversight of staff to ensure excellent internal operations in the following areas: project management, information technology, contracting and internal controls
• Provide coaching and support to direct reports on their projects and/or assignments, including identifying and addressing development needs and supports
• Monitor workloads and capacity to ensure effectiveness and productivity while promoting time management and prioritization of assignments
• Provide frequent values-based feedback and recognition to direct reports
• Ensure the successful completion of direct reports’ goals as well as those of their direct reports
• Conduct annual evaluations for direct reports
• Complete internal tasks related to people management in a timely manner
• Source, recruit, and hire for open Operations and Technology department roles
• Review day-to-day Operations and Technology department processes, and make recommendations for improvements as well as service changes/enhancements
• Ensure management and oversight of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Operations and Technology department
• In collaboration with the Senior Director, People and Culture and the COO, lead efforts to manage organizational risk and comply with federal, state, and local legal requirements for a multi-state workforce of employees and contractors
• Guide management and employee actions by researching, developing, writing, and updating legally compliant policies, procedures, guidelines, and documents (e.g., handbooks, contracts, offer letters, etc.)
• Collaborate with the COO and Managing Director, Finance & Strategic Growth (MDSGF) to create the Operations and Technology department budget
• With the COO, MDSGF, Executive Team, and/or legal counsel, use good judgment that is aligned with Teaching Lab’s policies and practices and the law to lead the organization’s risk management framework, tracking high-level risks and ensuring mitigation strategies are in place
• In collaboration with other department leads, identify operational and/or project management needs across the organization
• In collaboration with other department leads, establish quantitative and qualitative metrics, guidelines, and standards by which the organization’s efficiency and effectiveness can be evaluated; identify opportunities for improvement
• Propose, build buy-in for, and implement or oversee the implementation of policies and procedures to improve customer service and satisfaction through policy and procedural changes
• Create, build buy-in for, and implement or oversee the implementation of policies and procedures that will improve day-to-day operations to increase efficiency and equity
• Responsible for strengthening internal control and data governance
• Identify operational and control risks and develop strategies to address potential bottlenecks
• Ensure regulatory compliance and maintain operational consistency
• Research and maintain insurance policies and certificates
• Ensure that the organization runs with legality and compliance with established regulations to minimize risks
• Review, approve and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) development across all Teaching Lab departments to ensure operational alignment and compliance
• Ensure that SOPs are documented, up-to-date, easily accessible, and regularly utilized
• Monitor organizational SOP implementation and effectiveness, using data and insights to implement continuous improvements across workflows
• Facilitate SOP training sessions for staff to ensure clear understanding and consistent execution of operational processes
• Provide strategic direction on contracting and procurement management processes with school system clients and business partners/vendors to ensure smooth operations, compliance, and risk management
• Manage client contracting processes and procedures
• Lead contract negotiations and ensure that agreements align with organizational policies and goals
• With the COO and Chief Program Officer, and the Project Management Team, design and oversee the implementation of an efficient, effective, and equitable approach to project planning and project management as a key component in launching and executing timely and high-quality client-facing and internal projects
• Oversee the creation of templates and responsive/flexible project plan templates
• Oversee and set direction for Project Management team members to support client-facing project teams to create, maintain, and use project plans
• Oversee and engage in the development of project management skills across the organization, including consistent and thoughtful usage of monday.com as the org-wide project management platform
• Provide guidance for the initiation of a client project upon closing a contract to ensure a successful project launch
• Act as the Senior Project Lead for centralized staffing, ensuring the equitable assignment of team members to client and internal project teams to maximize project impact and success in alignment with organizational priorities and financial health
• With the fractional contractor CIO/CISO, design and oversee the implementation of Teaching Lab’s information technology and information security strategy, policies, guidelines, practices, and operations to support communication, drive innovations, and mitigate risks
• Oversee technology platforms and systems, ensuring they meet operational needs and align with strategic priorities
• Ensure technology platforms (monday.com, Canvas, Slack, Paylocity, Intacct, Lever) are optimized for functionality, data flow, performance, security, and interoperability, including maintain accurate access to all platforms, tools, and subscriptions
• Drive innovation by evaluating and recommending new technologies that will enhance operational efficiency
• Manage vendor relationships and negotiate contracts for technology systems and services
• Ensure data security and privacy through the establishment and monitoring of policies, training, and practices
• Collaborate with the Executive Team, with department leaders, and with team members at every level of the organization to generate ideas, strategies, and systems to meet organizational goals in operations and continuous improvement
• Provide Operations and Technology written updates through various avenues of reporting (e.g., internal newsletter, quarterly progress monitoring, Executive Team reports)
• Serve as the primary point of contact for Operations and Technology matters relating to organizational initiatives, policies, practices, and procedures
• Supports racial equity initiatives by ensuring that diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) is embedded in all offered Operations and Technology activities and events
• Through informal and formal structures and opportunities, “keep an ear on the ground” to proactively and strategically analyze trends to identify and clarify Operations and Technology issues and priorities
• Solicit input and feedback from staff members on existing and new operational policies or procedures to ensure inclusiveness in our operations
• Communicate and explain new operational policies or procedures to Home Managers and/or all staff
• Engage in additional work as needed to meet organizational business needs and priorities
• Stay abreast of key research and guidance in the field, attend learning experiences to build skills and competencies in strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, and nonprofit management
• Engage in personal and organized learning opportunities as a team member at an organization that aspires to be antiracist and champions racial justice
• Create and deliver training to other team members on core skills and/or competencies within the Senior Director, Operations and Technology role which are transferable and critical for other roles
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Operating Officer and/or Executive Team

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or a related field
• Senior level professional HR certifications and/or credentials
• Multi-state HR experience, with knowledge of compliance across varied jurisdictions
• Experience with Paylocity or similar HRIS platforms

Benefits

• Salary range: $125,000 - $189,074 annually
• Remote work