Director - Operations_

New York

Educational Alliance brings together and partners with diverse communities in Lower Manhattan, offering individuals and families high-quality, multi-generational programs and services that enhance their well-being and socioeconomic opportunities. We are a place where everyone is welcome and where progress is powered one relationship at a time. We are proud of our legacy as a Jewish organization and we provide high-quality, transformational services and programs to all New Yorkers through our network of community centers on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and East Village. As we have for 130 years, we offer best-in-class programming–now across 15 sites—focusing on a mix of education, health and wellness, arts and culture, and civic engagement.

Early Childhood at Manny Cantor Center is an inspired, responsive and progressive preschool serving children ages 0-5 years old, built on the following principles: all children are competent, capable, and curious; all families have something to contribute; we are stronger together. Our pioneering blended-funding model incorporates Head Start, Early Head Start, Universal Pre-K, and tuition funding to serve all families on the Lower East Side and beyond.

Inspired by the schools of Reggio Emilia, our classrooms are joyful and nurturing learning environments that foster inquiry, exploration, and reflection. With the support and supervision of our Associate Directors of Education, our teachers work collaboratively with children to co-construct a curriculum that draws inspiration from children’s interests and the world around us.

JOB PURPOSE

Early Childhood at Manny Cantor Center is helping to build a vision for progressive education on the Lower East Side. We believe that all children make meaning through inquiry, exploration, and play in the context of strong relationships and a sense of belonging. Working within an inspired and dynamic team, the Director of Operations is in charge of the department that handles all school operations, including but not limited to Head Start CACFP, ordering and working with finance departments, reviewing and managing all required documentation for incident reporting, medications, allergies, immunizations, asthma and student files, daily staff coverage schedules, interfaces with the compliance department and facilities and other necessary tasks to ensure the seamless running of the program.

We are looking for someone who can thrive in a fast paced environment, is detail oriented, can pivot quickly and has a sense of humor.

SCOPE OF INFLUENCE Supervision

+ Manages the operations team

+ Has regular check ins with all direct reports

+ Runs department meetings

+ Ensures that disciplinary action is followed if needed

+ Conducts annual performance reviews for all direct reports

Compliance

+ Tracks immunizations with the assistance of 3 program coordinators to ensure DOH compliance. The DO communicates with families about upcoming exclusions to program.

+ Tracks and regularly updates allergy lists bi-weekly

+ Ensures and tracks that new asthma plans from the doctor are received from families every 6 months

+ Tracks and ensures medication lists are reviewed bi-weekly, MAFs are current and accurate

+ Daily review and categorization of incident reports as major or minor

+ Follows up with the compliance team in regard to the monthly facilities review and any other related compliance items and completes actions as needed

CACFP

+ Collaborates regularly with the kitchen to ensure that menus are following CACFP guidelines, reviews/spot checks production lists to look for alignment with menus

+ Keeps accurate and transparent files of all required CACFP documentation

+ Ensures that the Data Manager is entering CACFP info as necessary monthly

+ Stays current with all necessary CACFP trainings and ensures that staff is continuing to be trained as necessary for CACFP

Ordering/Budget

+ Manages the Operations Coordinator to support all ordering for program in a timely manner, takes over ordering if OC is out

+ Works cross-functionally with vendor management and finance as necessary

Coverage

+ Manages daily coverage for the classrooms and aftercare

Events

+ Collaborates with OC and Senior Director to complete all ordering for events

+ Runs point for all logistics for school events

Facilities/Safety

+ Works with facilities team to make sure logistics are taken care of for events

+ Works with facilities team to schedule and record monthly fire drills and lock down drills

+ Works with facilities team to make sure that all tickets for repairs, etc. are executed

+ Works with Senior Director to maintain emergency preparedness plans and systems

PTO tracking/staff timesheet approval

+ Ensures that direct reports are not exceeding their allotted PTO per year

+ Approves timesheets for all reports

Communication

+ Communicates with regularity and clarity around all operations issues with relevant parties

+ Communicates clearly and professionally with families around immunizations, medications, allergies and asthma plans

All other tasks relevant and necessary to school operations

JOB REQUIREMENTS

+ Bachelor’s Degree and/or extensive experience managing school operations

+ Experience with DOH, DOE, and Head Start reporting and compliance systems

+ Detail oriented with excellent organizational skills and the ability to approach tasks that are complex and urgent in a systematic, deliberate, and efficient manner

+ Experience working with young children, either formal or informal environments preferred

+ Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and manage multiple priorities and projects effectively

+ Demonstrated ability to handle stressful situations in a professional, courteous and friendly manner

+ Excellent interpersonal, organizational, verbal, and written communication skills

+ Ability to maintain the confidentiality of records and information

+ Strong knowledge of MS Office Suite, expertise in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word

+ Bilingual in Mandarin/Spanish preferred

Preferred Attributes

+ The ideal candidate will be a passionate and warm collaborator, an excellent communicator with proven success in connecting and relating with students, parents, staff, and the community.

+ Team player with a passion for building relationships and fostering partnerships, both internal and external to Manny Cantor Center

+ Self-motivated, highly efficient, and able to problem-solve

+ Demonstrated ability to handle stressful situations in a professional, warm and friendly manner

Role Key Competencies

+ Team Player

+ Ability to multi-task

+ Analytical Skills

+ Communication Skills

+ Planning and Organizing Initiative

+ Technical and Professional Knowledge

+ Stress Tolerance

+ Adaptability

Benefits

+ Generous PTO Policy

+ Competitive Salary

+ Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

+ Pension Plan

+ 403b Retirement Plans

+ Discount Perks for Movies, Broadway Shows, Amusement Parks, etc.

+ Free Gym Membership to our Manny Cantor Center Gym & 14TH ST Y Gym

+ Discounts to programs at Educational Alliance

+ Tuition Reimbursement

+ Employee Referral Reward

Limitations & Disclaimer

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position

EEO Info

Educational Alliance is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Educational Alliance takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Educational Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For further information about Educational Alliance, please visit rg.

Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

40 hours per week