Chief Operations Officer

Chief Operations Officer

The i3 Academy Chief Operations Officer will be responsible for systems, processes, and procedures to enable educators/leaders at i3 Academy to pursue the mission of the school: "To empower learners to be agents of change for the problems they see in their world." This position will manage all aspects of network operations. The Chief Operations Officer leads the overall efficiency of i3 Academy, anticipating problems before they occur and responding to problems as they arise to create an environment where leaders, educators, and learners can do their best work. i3 Academy is a startup school and will require highly flexible problem-solvers who are willing to go above and beyond.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Finance and Business Operations
• • Oversee financial operations in coordination with the Head of Schools, CSFO, financial service providers, and school leaders.
  • Support budgeting, procurement, purchasing procedures, financial workflows, internal controls, and operational decision-making to ensure responsible stewardship of school resources.
• Safety and Emergency Management
• • Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of network-wide safety and emergency management procedures, policies, drills, and training.
  • Coordinate security services, safety contracts, emergency response systems, and required school safety routines.
  • Support and train principals, assistant principals, and staff to ensure consistent implementation of safety expectations across all campuses.
  • Coordinate with the Lead Nurse on operational systems related to student health, emergency care, and health-related compliance.
• School Facilities, Materials, and Capital Projects
• • Oversee all aspects of school facilities and campus operations, including building access, preventive maintenance, aesthetics, landscaping, custodial coordination, security equipment, building use, supply ordering, and facility-related vendor management.
  • Lead site-level procurement systems for supplies, materials, equipment, and inventory management.
  • Support long-term facility planning, capital improvements, and campus readiness across the network.
• Compliance Management
• • Lead operational compliance with the Alabama Public Charter School Commission, state requirements, federal programs, and applicable authorizers or agencies.
  • Oversee compliance monitoring cycles, accreditation processes, re-accreditation efforts, and required reporting.
  • Ensure compliance systems are in place for Federal Programs, including Title I, Title II, Title III, Special Education, and other awarded funds.
• Food Service
• • Serve as the primary operational liaison with food service vendors and internal school teams to ensure smooth, efficient, and compliant food service operations.
  • Support systems related to meal service, reimbursement, health and safety compliance, vendor performance, and campus-level implementation.
• Student Transportation
• • Manage the network transportation program, including bus routes, hub assignments, student safety procedures, vendor coordination, parent communication systems, and transportation-related problem solving.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for transportation contractors and support the design and implementation of carpool systems, traffic flow, and arrival/dismissal procedures across campuses.
• Enrollment and Registration Logistics
• • Develop and oversee efficient systems for enrollment, registration, student records workflows, and related PowerSchool processes.
  • Support office managers, registrars, and school leaders to ensure enrollment and registration procedures are accurate, timely, family-friendly, and compliant.
• Instructional Operations
• • Lead operational systems that support instructional programming, including field trip procedures, school calendars, annual schedules, and special event logistics.
  • Coordinate with instructional leaders and principals to support operational planning for school visits, professional development days, Meet the Teacher events, Open Houses, after-school care, summer learning programs, and other school-wide activities.
• Staff Development and Human Resource Operations
• • Oversee operational workflows related to human resources, including candidate tracking, onboarding systems, employee records processes, absence management, substitute teacher coordination, and non-instructional hiring support.
  • Assist in the hiring and selection of designated non-instructional staff, contractors, and operational vendors.
  • Lead professional development and staff training on operational procedures, including safety plans, transportation procedures, carpool systems, schedules, and other network-wide systems.
• Vendor and Contract Management
• • Coordinate operational contracts and vendor relationships to ensure high-quality service, compliance with expectations, and alignment with school needs.
  • Monitor vendor performance, support contract implementation, and assist with procurement processes for major operational services.
• Strategic Operations Leadership
• • Develop, refine, and implement network-wide operational systems that improve efficiency, consistency, communication, and service across campuses.
  • Use data, feedback, and continuous improvement practices to strengthen operational performance and support the long-term growth of i3 Academy.
• Other Duties
• • Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of Schools. i3 Academy is a growing, start-up environment that requires flexibility, initiative, and a willingness to accept responsibilities not specifically outlined in this job description.

Qualifications and Competencies:

The Chief Operating Officer should demonstrate strong leadership, sound judgment, excellent communication, and the ability to manage complex systems across multiple campuses. The COO must be highly organized, solutions-oriented, collaborative, and able to balance strategic planning with day-to-day operational execution.

• Education: Master's degree preferred.
• Preferred Skills and Work Experience
• • Demonstrated success leading complex operations across multiple departments or campuses
  • Experience working in K-12 education, public charter schools, nonprofit organizations, or other mission-driven organizations
  • Experience overseeing financial operations, budgeting processes, procurement, purchasing, and internal controls
  • Experience with human resource operations, staffing workflows, onboarding systems, and employee management processes
  • Experience managing facilities, capital projects, maintenance systems, transportation, food service, safety, and other school operational functions
  • Experience managing vendors, contracts, outsourced services, and service-level expectations
  • Demonstrated ability to lead, supervise, coach, and hold teams accountable
  • Experience developing and implementing organizational systems, procedures, and workflows
  • Knowledge of school compliance requirements, federal programs, accreditation, and state reporting preferred
  • K-12 school or district leadership experience preferred
• Ideal Candidate Characteristics and Expertise
• • Able to lead multiple departments, priorities, projects, and timelines simultaneously
  • Thinks strategically while also managing day-to-day operational execution
  • Identifies problems quickly and develops practical, effective solutions in a fast-paced environment
  • Possesses strong technical, analytical, and systems-thinking skills
  • Works effectively within established systems, standards, policies, and procedures while improving them as needed
  • Makes sound decisions using facts, context, data, and organizational priorities
  • Provides clear, direct, and confident leadership to individuals and teams
  • Communicates expectations clearly and follows through with accountability
  • Maintains a focus on efficient, accurate, high-quality work output
  • Demonstrates strong judgment, professionalism, discretion, and integrity
  • Builds trust and collaborates effectively with school leaders, staff, families, vendors, and external partners
  • Delegates effectively while maintaining appropriate oversight and quality control
  • Demonstrates initiative, urgency, adaptability, and a strong commitment to organizational success
  • Remains approachable, self-motivated, organized, and solutions-oriented in a growing school environment