Director of Operations, Systems & Standards

Job description

Director of Operations, Systems & Standards

New York

Thanks for your interest in Success Academy! Running a large, fast-growing, and high-performing network of public charter schools takes a village - families, children, teachers, staff and faculty, advocates, and supporters alike. We are growing fast in New York and expanding to Florida, and we would love to welcome you to our community! We work tirelessly every day to ensure children have access to a fun, rigorous, whole-child education regardless of zip code or economic status. When you join SA, you play a part in giving every student who walks through our doors a fair shot at reaching his or her potential.

About the Role

The Director of Operations, Systems & Standards (internally known as Leader of CAP Operations, Systems & Standards) is the operational backbone of the College Access & Preparedness team, responsible for owning program operations, systems, quality standards, data, reporting, and process improvement across all high school campuses.

This role is accountable for ensuring that CAP’s infrastructure supports accurate, efficient, and consistent execution at scale. The leader owns CAP’s KPIs and executive reporting, uses data to identify gaps and manage performance, and continuously strengthens systems to drive excellent scholar outcomes as volume and program complexity increase.

While the Leader of CAP Team Management & Operations drives performance through people and day-to-day execution, this role drives outcomes through program design, standards, data, and AI-enabled processes. This leader is CAP’s ultimate arbiter of quality for college application materials. They must be an exceptional writer and editor with the judgment to evaluate highly nuanced essays and narratives, define what excellence looks like, and provide direct editorial guidance to staff. The Leader of CAP Team Management & Operations serves as the first line of quality assurance and holds employees accountable for incorporating feedback.

The role also partners closely with the AI team to translate CAP’s editorial standards into scalable products and workflows and leads the CAP Analyst to ensure strong data integrity, reporting, and operational support.

Key Responsibilities

Ownership of Program, Systems & Operations

Own CAP’s overall program operations, systems, and operational infrastructure across the full college access lifecycle (Grades 9-12).

Translate strategy into clear, scalable processes that support accurate, consistent, and reliable execution.

Maintain clear ownership, workflows, and dependencies across CAP workstreams.

Develop and refine playbooks, documentation, and standard operating procedures.

Partner with the CAP Project Manager to ensure systems support the integrated calendar and cross-workstream handoffs.

Ensure CAP’s operating model evolves to meet increasing scholar volume and program complexity.

Standards, Quality & Consistency

Serve as the ultimate arbiter of quality across essays, application narratives, activity descriptions, recommendation content, and other nuanced materials.

Define and codify CAP’s quality standards through clear guidance, exemplars, rubrics, and review protocols.

Evaluate whether materials demonstrate strong ideas, structure, evidence, voice, intellectual depth, and writing quality.

Provide direct editorial guidance and feedback to CAP Associates and Financial Aid Managers.

Conduct final or escalated reviews and resolve questions regarding whether work meets the established standard.

Identify recurring gaps and determine whether they require clearer guidance, staff development, process changes, or improved tools.

Advise the Leader of CAP Team Management & Operations on patterns that require training or performance intervention.

Data, Reporting & Performance Management

Own CAP’s data systems and ensure accuracy, integrity, and visibility across reporting.

Lead and develop the CAP Analyst to ensure strong data quality and analytical support.

Define and track KPIs across CAP workstreams.

Own executive reporting, translating data into actionable insights for senior leadership.

Monitor trends to identify gaps, inform strategy, and guide resource allocation.

Distinguish individual execution issues from broader programmatic or systemic patterns.

AI Integration & Workflow Redesign

Partner with the AI team to translate CAP’s standards and editorial judgment into scalable products, workflows, and quality controls.

Identify manual or error-prone processes and redesign them for greater accuracy and efficiency.

Evaluate AI-supported outputs and provide clear direction on where they meet or fall short of CAP’s standards.

Ensure tools preserve scholar voice, authenticity, intellectual substance, and writing quality.

Establish protocols for piloting, evaluating, and introducing new tools.

Monitor the impact of AI and automation on quality, capacity, accuracy, and scalability.

Cross-Functional Partnership

Partner with the Head of CAP & External Programs and senior leaders to translate strategy into strong program operations.

Work closely with the Leader of CAP Team Management & Operations to ensure systems and standards support day-to-day execution.

Collaborate with the CAP Project Manager and internal partners across technology, data, finance, compliance, and Schooling.

Manage cross-functional requests and ensure timely, accurate delivery.

Lead through influence, build alignment, and drive adoption of new processes and tools.

Identify inefficiencies and redesign processes to improve performance and scalability

Lead continuous improvement efforts to strengthen CAP’s operational infrastructure

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

5–8 years of experience in program management, operations, systems design, process improvement, or related work in fast-paced, high-expectation environments.

Proven ability to translate strategy into scalable processes, systems, and measurable outcomes.

Exceptional writing and editing ability, with sophisticated judgment in evaluating nuanced, high-stakes materials.

Experience defining quality standards and translating them into clear guidance, exemplars, and review protocols.

Demonstrated analytical ability, including experience owning KPIs and using data to inform decisions and improve performance.

Experience with data systems, dashboards, and AI-enabled or technology-driven workflows.

Track record of identifying inefficiencies, diagnosing root causes, and leading meaningful process improvements.

Highly organized and process-driven, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and cross-functional dependencies.

Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to explain nuanced judgments and lead through influence.

Experience leading and developing an analyst or comparable operational staff member.

Mission-driven, with a commitment to improving scholar outcomes through strong operations, systems, and standards.

At Success Academy, we invest boldly in our Network team with a comprehensive package designed to support your health, financial future, and overall well-being:

Day-One Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, and vision coverage starting your first day (SA covers 82% of our core medical plan), plus a free One Medical membership and confidential mental health support via EAP/Talkspace.

Financial Security: 403(b) retirement plan with a 3% employer match, up to $2,400/year in employer HSA contributions, employer-paid life/disability insurance, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility.

Time to Recharge: Generous paid time off, paid holidays, and paid parental leave.

Perks & Stipends: A $50/month cellphone stipend ($600/year), pre-tax commuter benefits, backup family care, and performance-based earning incentives.

This is a hybrid position based in our NYC Financial District office, requiring on-site work Tuesday through Thursday and remote work on Monday and Friday.

Exact compensation may vary based on skills and experience.

Compensation Range

$175,000 - $200,000 USD

Success Academy Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. Success Academy offers a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We actively seek applications from people of all backgrounds to strengthen our community and the perspectives needed to flourish in a multicultural world. Success Academy offers a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.

Success Academy Charter Schools does not offer employment-based immigration sponsorship.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Success Academy Charter Schools’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

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Worksite address

new york, NY, 10261, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.