Chief Operating Officer

About the position

Forte Prep is looking for a Chief Operating Officer. As COO, she/he/they will be inspired by and excited to set a vision for organizational excellence, develop sustainable systems, manage organizational resources, and build capacity for teams and current and future schools to operate at their full potential. The Chief Operating Officer will ensure that every operational function - facilities management, compliance, school operations, enrollment management, transportation, banking, risk assessment and risk management, procurement, student information systems, IT, safety, benefits and payroll - is performed with a high level of thoughtfulness and excellence, so that student learning, curiosity and optimism can flourish. The COO position is a part of our Central Office team that was established in 2023, and will require the person assuming the role to take an entrepreneurial approach to building and defining the role.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic vision and drive excellence across all finance and operations including school operations, finance, human resources, procurement, student transportation, facilities, student information systems, compliance and reporting, and student openings.
• Provides strategic leadership and work collaboratively with schools, vendors, the Board and external stakeholders to strengthen and implement Forte Prep's mission and vision.
• Leads the operations team, including direct management of four staff members and 2 off site vendors (IT & HR).
• Responsible for translating Forte Prep's strategic vision into the development of short-term and long-term operational plans, with systematized processes, procedures, and metrics.
• In partnership with the Executive Director and the Board, sets and manages the annual operating budgets, oversees financial systems and ensures sound financial practices.
• Oversees scaling and alignment of operations systems across current and future campuses.
• In partnership with the executive team, oversees the creation and management of standardized operating procedures for school-based operations (facilities, facilities maintenance, safety, procurement, student information, food services, and transportation) in order to maximize the organization's economy of scale and student educational outcomes while operating with a strong customer service orientation.
• Works with Human Resource vendor to manage and oversee the compliance-related human resource functions including recruitment, hiring, and compensation; race equity and inclusion; benefits administration; professional training and development; talent management and retention strategies; organizational policies; and employee relations.
• Lead IT vendor team in installing and maintaining high-quality technology infrastructure, integrating technology into instruction and operations, and providing end-user technical support. Ensures network security and mitigates cyber risk.
• Oversees charter renewal, audits, compliance and yearly authorizer visits.
• Maintains best practices for risk management and safety. Oversees key systems including: annual safety planning, mass notification system, visitor management system.
• Maintains oversight of letters of agreement, contracts, leases, and other legal documents and agreements, and serves as liaison with outside counsel of legal issues as needed.

Requirements

• BA required, advanced degree (MBA, MPA, JD) preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years professional experience required, with a minimum of five years leading and supervising an identity diverse group of people.
• Experience leading operational management in the context of a growing organization or business strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting network-wide operations, talent and finance in the education space strongly preferred.
• Finance experience required in addition to broad experience with the full range of business functions and systems, including strategic development and planning, business analysis, technology, information systems and data management.
• Experience in human resources, strongly preferred; PHR/SHRM certification a plus.
• Project management, and/or consulting a plus.
• Strong proficiency in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint as well as other web-based applications like Box, Google Drive, and NetSuite.

Benefits

• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance