| Location | Costa Mesa, CA |
Director, Charter Schools at Orange County Department of Education
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Application Deadline
9/11/2026 11:55 PM Pacific
Date Posted
8/31/2026
Contact
Stephanie Thomas
Number of Openings
1
Salary
Pay Range
14,773 - 17,999 Monthly
Length of Work Year
225 Days
Employment Type
Full Time
About the Employer
The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) serves some of Orange County's most vulnerable student populations and provides support and mandated fiscal oversight to 28 school districts serving more than 600 schools and approximately 475,000 students. In addition to providing direct instruction to students through its own alternative and special education programs, OCDE administers an array of programs and services that are critical to the operations of local school districts and community colleges, facilitating professional development, legal guidance, payroll, career and technical education support, high-speed internet access, Local Control and Accountability Plan assistance and approval, resources for families, and student enrichment. OCDE's vision is that "Orange County students will lead the nation in college and career readiness and success." Department staff are working to achieve this goal in collaboration with educators at all levels of student development, from early childhood through higher education, and in partnership with families, businesses and community organizations.
Job Summary
Job Summary
The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) is seeking an experienced, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as our next Director, Charter Schools within the Governance, Leadership, and Community Partnership Division. The Director provides strategic leadership for OCDE's charter school authorization and oversight responsibilities. This position leads personnel, resources, operations, charter petition reviews, compliance activities, and internal systems while ensuring services remain responsive to evolving legal, policy, and organizational needs. Serving as a key resource on charter school matters, the Director works closely with charter school leaders and petitioners, school districts, community partners, legal counsel, OCDE leadership, and the Orange County Board of Education. The ideal candidate will be a thoughtful, strategic, and collaborative leader with strong knowledge of charter school authorization, oversight, legislation, and compliance. They will bring sound judgment to complex and sensitive matters, communicate complicated legal, fiscal, academic, and operational information clearly, and develop well-supported recommendations. This individual will build trusting relationships with people and organizations representing diverse perspectives while balancing responsive service and collaboration with OCDE's responsibility for objective and effective oversight. Above all, the successful candidate will lead with integrity, discretion, accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement. This is an exciting opportunity to provide countywide leadership, strengthen educational partnerships, and help shape the future of charter school oversight and support throughout Orange County.
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Requirements / Qualifications
Education, Training and Experience: A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities outlined above is: Education: Master's degree in Education, Public Administration, or related field from an accredited institution. Experience: Six Years Experience increasingly responsible experience in the areas of school budgets and curriculum and program development and implementation in public or government entities.
Requirements for Consideration Completed Edjoin application - Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the completed online application. Notice to Applicants: If you require accommodation in the application process, please inform us.
Requirements / Qualifications
Education, Training and Experience: A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities outlined above is: Education: Master's degree in Education, Public Administration, or related field from an accredited institution. Experience: Six Years Experience increasingly responsible experience in the areas of school budgets and curriculum and program development and implementation in public or government entities.
Requirements for Consideration Completed Edjoin application - Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the completed online application. Notice to Applicants: If you require accommodation in the application process, please inform us.
Comments and Other Information
BENEFITS: We provide a safe, caring, courteous, and professional environment that fosters collaborative work and individual development for our employees. OCDE offers generous, comprehensive, tax-free insurance benefits options to full-time members of the staff. Benefits may be prorated for employees working fewer than 12 months per year or less than full-time. Benefits packages include medical, dental, and vision care insurance for employees and their eligible dependents, and life insurance for employees. Before receiving authorization to work in this position, the individual selected will be required to provide a current negative TB authorization, within the last 60 days, and submit fingerprints for the purpose of conducting a confidential background investigation and record check. The tests are arranged and paid for by OCDE. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires employers to verify the employability of all new employees. Before the Department will finalize an offer of employment, the candidate selected will be required to show original documents which establish both the individual's identity and employment authorization. The candidate must also sign a statement under penalty of perjury regarding his/her employability. We reserve the right to reopen, readvertise, or delay filling this position. The Orange County Department of Education's employment practices shall be free from discrimination based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, physical or mental disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, or on the basis of a person s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. AA/EOE/ADA
Comments and Other Information
BENEFITS: We provide a safe, caring, courteous, and professional environment that fosters collaborative work and individual development for our employees. OCDE offers generous, comprehensive, tax-free insurance benefits options to full-time members of the staff. Benefits may be prorated for employees working fewer than 12 months per year or less than full-time. Benefits packages include medical, dental, and vision care insurance for employees and their eligible dependents, and life insurance for employees. Before receiving authorization to work in this position, the individual selected will be required to provide a current negative TB authorization, within the last 60 days, and submit fingerprints for the purpose of conducting a confidential background investigation and record check. The tests are arranged and paid for by OCDE. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires employers to verify the employability of all new employees. Before the Department will finalize an offer of employment, the candidate selected will be required to show original documents which establish both the individual's identity and employment authorization. The candidate must also sign a statement under penalty of perjury regarding his/her employability. We reserve the right to reopen, readvertise, or delay filling this position. The Orange County Department of Education's employment practices shall be free from discrimination based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, physical or mental disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, or on the basis of a person s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. AA/EOE/ADA
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