Founding Director of Operations

Founding Director of Operations

Start Date: January 2027
Location: Stamford, CT
Salary Range: $75,000 - $90,000
Website: www.hebrewpublic.org

About Hebrew Public

Hebrew Public: Charter Schools for Global Citizens is a small and growing network of public charter schools. We are a secular organization that welcomes candidates of all backgrounds into a supportive and inclusive community. 

Our schools serve children from all backgrounds and help them become global citizens who are strong problem solvers, aware communicators, and lifelong learners committed to making a positive difference in the world. Our schools are models of racial and economic integration, academic excellence, and world language learning.

Why OLAM Stamford?

A new school is an opportunity to help shape what students and families experience from their very first day. At OLAM Stamford, you will help build a community where children are known, families are welcomed as partners, and strong systems make a joyful, academically ambitious school possible.

OLAM Stamford is a tuition-free public charter school that will grow to serve students in preK–grade 8, with rigorous academics, daily Modern Hebrew instruction, and a focus on global citizenship. Students will build relationships across racial, cultural, and economic differences and study Modern Hebrew and Israel as a window into other languages, cultures, and experiences. Our OLAM values: Outstanding Problem Solving, Lifelong Learning, Aware Communication, and Making a Difference will guide our community.

For a leader who enjoys turning ideas into action, this is a chance to shape a school’s systems and culture from the beginning, work closely with the Head of School, and build a team over time, with the expertise and support of the Hebrew Public network. You don’t need to speak Hebrew to apply.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Founding Director of Operations to partner closely with the Head of School in bringing Olam to life. Beginning in January 2027, you will turn our vision into the systems, relationships, and day-to-day practices needed to welcome students in the 2027–28 school year.

This is a hands-on startup leadership role. In the early years, you and the Head of School will do much of the work directly: engaging families, preparing the building, coordinating vendors, creating routines, and solving the unexpected challenges of opening a school. As Olam grows, you will hire, coach, and lead an operations team, delegating increasing responsibility as its capacity develops.

Reporting to the Head of School, with dotted-line reporting to and support from the Network Operations team, you will be an integral member of the school’s leadership team. You will pair independent ownership and sound judgment with close collaboration, creating the conditions students, families, and educators need to thrive.

What you’ll do

Build the School and Its Systems

• Partner with the Head of School and Network Team to translate the school’s vision into an actionable startup plan, with clear milestones, responsibilities, and timelines for opening and the early years of growth.
• Design, launch, and directly manage systems for transportation, meals, facilities, safety, student records, attendance, data reporting, and family communications.
• Develop and implement school safety and emergency preparedness procedures, including emergency response plans, drills, staff training, and coordination with local emergency services. 
• Think across systems: anticipate how decisions affect students, families, staff, budgets, and other priorities. Identify gaps early, propose practical solutions, and follow through without repeated direction or reminders.
• Manage complex projects with sound judgment, distinguishing what is urgent from what is important, sequencing dependencies, and communicating progress, risks, and tradeoffs proactively.
• Partner with the Network Ops team to ensure technology infrastructure, student and staff devices, communication systems, and operational platforms are fully implemented and ready for opening.
• Oversee school-level compliance and accurate records in partnership with network specialists, including health and safety requirements, charter obligations, education mandates, certification tracking, and workplace regulations.

Partner with Students, Families, and the Community

• Work side by side with the Head of School to build a welcoming community and a coordinated approach to student and family engagement, from a family’s first inquiry through its ongoing experience at OLAM Stamford.
• Lead student recruitment and enrollment operations, including outreach, applications, the lottery, waitlists, registration, transfers, withdrawals, and onboarding. Help families navigate each step with clarity and care.
• Bring a customer service mindset to everyday interactions: listen closely, anticipate questions, respond promptly, and follow through so families feel heard, respected, and supported.
• Partner with the Head of School and school staff to strengthen attendance, identify barriers to participation, and work with families on practical solutions.
• Build relationships with community organizations and leaders, coordinate welcoming events and clear communications, and use family feedback to improve the school experience.

Lead People and Build Team Capacity

• Take direct ownership of operational work during the startup phase, balancing immediate needs with building systems that will support a larger school.
• Equip school staff to use operational systems confidently, explain the purpose behind procedures, and improve systems when they are not meeting the community’s needs.
• Serve as the school’s liaison to network Human Resources on hiring, personnel processes, benefits, leave tracking, and local records; coordinate staff PTO and coverage needs.

Steward Resources and Create a Ready-to-Learn Environment

• Partner with the Head of School and network Finance team to develop and monitor the budget, track spending, and align resources with student needs and launch milestones.
• Manage purchasing, vendors, contracts, and service providers in accordance with network policies, balancing quality, cost, and reliability.
• Coordinate facilities readiness, repairs, building appearance, technology, and asset tracking to create a safe, welcoming, functional environment.
• Partner with network Finance, Human Resources, Technology, and Operations colleagues, drawing on centralized network systems and expertise while owning school-level implementation. 

Who you are

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Connecticut School Business Administrator Endorsement (#085) preferred, or immediate eligibility to obtain a Durational Shortage Area Permit (DSAP). 
• A minimum of 3-5 years of related experience, including operational leadership in schools or youth-serving organizations.A
• Strong preference for candidates with startup experience, particularly launching a school or youth-serving organization, and/or charter school operations experience.
• You believe deeply in the potential of all students and in Hebrew Public’s commitment to global citizenship, academic excellence, and diverse school communities.
• You enjoy building. You move forward when systems are still taking shape and bring structure and clarity to unfamiliar challenges.
• You combine attention to detail with an understanding of the bigger picture, creating practical systems that work for the people using them.
• You take ownership, anticipate needs, and deliver on commitments. You know when to act independently, seek input, or bring a decision to the Head of School.
• You exercise sound professional judgment, balancing immediate demands with the work that will matter most over time.
• You build trusting relationships, lead people with care and accountability, and view family partnership as central to a successful school.

Leadership and Support

You will work closely with the Head of School and collaborate with Hebrew Public’s Network Operations, Finance, Human Resources, and Technology teams. As the school grows, you will have the opportunity to build and develop an operations team and contribute lessons from Olam’s launch to the broader network.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary and benefits will be highly competitive and commensurate with experience. 

Our Commitment

Hebrew Public is committed to building a diverse staff team that reflects the communities we serve. Candidates of color and those from backgrounds that are underrepresented in school leadership roles are strongly encouraged to apply.

If you need accommodations or assistance due to a disability, please reach out to us at [email protected]. This information will be treated as confidential and used only for the purpose of determining an appropriate accommodation for the interview process.

For more information please visit our websites below. 

• CMO Website: www.hebrewpublic.org
• School Website: https://hebrewpublic.org/olamstamford/

Apply

Apply today at our careers page and join OLAM Stamford, where you can make a lasting impact on students while growing your practice and your career. 

Questions or requests for application assistance: [email protected]