ABOUT THE POSITION

The Partnership is seeking an inaugural Director of Operations. The Director of Operations is a strategic and hands-on leader who ensures that office management, knowledge management, event systems, contract procurement, and all accompanying policies are systematized and equitable. The Director supports the development of a holistic operations strategy at the Partnership and is ultimately responsible for effective and cross-functional implementation. The Director will lead key org-wide initiatives and will create processes for new bodies of work, such as centralizing event systems and supports, and procurement management and protocols. The Director will oversee the newly-formed Operations Team and reports directly to the Chief People & Operations Officer. The ideal candidate brings strong systems thinking, can manage and coach a team effectively, delegates with clarity and trust, and works independently while remaining deeply collaborative and resourceful.

The Director of Operations has a direct impact on the 2030 strategic plan through their work of modeling best nonprofit practices and creating a culture where all staff can thrive and bring their full selves to work.

The Partnership is committed to continuously building an anti-racist culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in classrooms and in our home office. The Director of Operations will be someone who is committed to implementing these values in creative ways when executing day-to-day tasks and responsibilities, and will model a healthy organizational culture.

As this is a new role, the job description is a representation of our current and best thinking. The team member in this role will help shape what the role looks like in practice, and while the priorities may evolve over time, the position will remain at the director job level.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Position responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Office & Hybrid Policy Management

• Manage and implement policies and procedures that support hybrid work and organizational operations, updating as necessary in line with industry best practices
• Ensure the Partnership Home Office and satellite offices remain safe, well-stocked, and welcoming, and partner with building management as necessary
• Coordinate with Finance & Business Administration and technology partners to ensure staff have the infrastructure, tools, and tech resources to work productively across office and remote settings
• Oversee org-wide Knowledge Management practices, upkeep, and training, and ensure that Partnership documents are current, organized, and accessible
• Convene and facilitate appropriate cross-functional spaces in service of home office space and policy management

Program & Events Management

• Create and lead rollout of org-wide practices for events, programs, and logistics, in partnership with CPOO
• Liaise with and advise functional teams on the planning and execution of internal and external-facing programs and events, ensuring consistent, high-quality, and mission-focused experiences for community members
• Collaborate across teams to design and implement workflows that support efficient and mission-aligned programming
• Build strong relationships with external stakeholders, vendors, and partners, with an eye toward those who are local and aligned with Partnership’s DEI initiatives and values
• Manage org-wide system that determines which goods and services Partnership invests in or to outsource, ensuring consistency and accessibility across teams
• Provide proactive problem-solving and risk mitigation

Procurement & Contract Management

• Develop and implement a contract and procurement management system that ensures compliance, transparency, and efficiency
• Partner with internal teams and Finance & Business Affairs to review and manage vendor contracts and procurement requests
• Draft and refine organizational policies related to procurement thresholds, vendor approval processes, and contract lifecycle management

Leadership & Team Management

• Manage and coach Operations Team members according to the Partnership supervisor expectations, which includes an expectation of 25% or more of time dedicated to team and individual management
• Manage team members through coaching and a growth mindset, engaging in identity-based learning and management practices, and community-building
• Model effective cross-functional collaboration, project management, and alignment to organizational values and priorities
• Serve as a member on the CPOO leadership team and provide thought partnership and collaboration to CPOO, E-team, and other team members
• Lead initiatives with a balance of strategic foresight and operational execution

POSITION FIRST-YEAR PRIORITIES

A successful first year in this role will look like:

• Set a strategic vision for the newly formed Operations Team in line with the 2030 strategic plan
• Effectively lead, coach, and support team members as the Operations Team establishes new systems and ways of working
• Lead the cross-functional effort to centralize event management, including an org-wide inventory of assets, budget analysis, and systemization of roles and responsibilities
• Communicate updates regarding the new team and relevant workstreams with key stakeholders and throughout the organization, raise awareness, and cultivate buy-in

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

• 7-10 years of relevant experience
• 3+ years of management experience
• Excellent organization and coordination skills with high attention to detail
• Proven ability to consistently apply a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion to operational systems and processes
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas in an accessible way
• Experience leading and managing multiple complex projects through systems thinking 
• Experience building processes, systems, and protocols based on best practices and available data
• Ability to cast a clear and mission-aligned strategy and vision, and bring others along through goal-setting, progress monitoring, and executing day-to-day work
• Adaptable to shifting priorities and competing demands while keeping organizational and team goals in mind
• Ability to work collaboratively across differences in work styles and skill sets while building authentic relationships and cultivating trust
• Ability to build diverse and inclusive teams, including promoting transparent decision making, navigating conflict, and fostering psychological safety
• The ability to travel between school sites and Partnership home office
• Working understanding of K-12 public education sector, preferred
• A deep belief in the power of our communities, as well as the Partnership’s mission, approach, and core values
• A commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment for all team members
• A willingness to learn, grow, and model the Partnership competencies: Anti-racism, root cause analysis, long-term thinking, teaming and collaboration, psychological safety, and learning and growth

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The starting salary range for internal candidates is $129,733-$157,534. The Partnership’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends to our compensation practices. Our goal is to ensure that salaries are fair for all staff members who hold many intersectional identities, and we set salaries based on a robust compensation model grounded in consistency and transparency. The exact salary for this position is set through the Partnership’s compensation policy and is dependent on the candidate’s relevant skills, experiences, and organizational tenure. In support of our vision for pay equity, candidate salaries are determined by a formula and we do not negotiate. 

The Partnership also offers a robust benefits package including employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents; a 403(b) retirement program with employee match and vesting; parental and sabbatical leaves; a professional development allowance; and generous paid time off.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

To be considered for this role, please submit your resume via this link by July 18, 2025. For technical assistance or support for applying with a disability, please contact the Home Office Talent Team.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Partnership for Los Angeles Schools is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to – and actively pursues – diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. The Partnership prohibits discrimination based on race (including traits historically associated with race such as hairstyle), creed, color, religion, registered domestic partner status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship status, age, military and veteran status, medical condition, genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy or childbirth, physical disability or mental disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance or regulation. The Partnership also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of these characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, training, transfer, wages, benefits, termination, and all other privileges, terms, and conditions of employment.