School Operations Manager | Elementary School

Position Title: School Operations Manager | Elementary School

Location: New Haven, CT

Reports To: School Principal

Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt

Start Date: Immediate Hire (SY26-27)

Salary Range: $50,000 - $70,000, commensurate with experience.

ABOUT BOOKER T. WASHINGTON ACADEMY

Booker T. Washington Academies (BTWA) in New Haven, CT, serves K–4 scholars at its Elementary campus and grades 5–8 at its Middle School campus. Founded in 2014 around Booker T. Washington’s credo—“Excellence is doing common things in uncommon ways”—BTWA balances a rigorous academic program with the cultivation of morals, character, self-discipline, responsibility for one’s actions, lifestyle, work ethic, and educational uplift.

Scholars develop proficiency in reading, writing, critical thinking, discussion, and problem-solving to meet college and career goals, while embracing and demonstrating the morals, character, self-discipline, and work ethic to be leaders in life and community.

About the Opportunity

Booker T. Washington Academy (BTWA) is seeking an Operations Manager who brings steadiness, care, and a strong systems‑building mindset to our Elementary School campus. The Operations Manager ensures that our K–4 building runs smoothly each day — creating the organized, welcoming, and predictable environment that allows excellent teaching and joyful learning to flourish.

As a key member of the BTWA ES team, the Operations Manager oversees the daily operational, administrative, and logistical systems that make a high‑functioning school possible. Reporting to the Elementary School Principal, and working very closely with both the school leadership and Elevate executive leadership teams, this operations leader manages front‑office operations, facilities coordination, student data systems, compliance, vendor relationships, and family communications. The role is central to maintaining a warm, efficient, and values‑aligned school environment that supports students, staff, and families.

The ideal candidate is a thoughtful operator who anticipates needs, solves problems before they escalate, and takes pride in creating a school experience where children feel safe and cared for and teachers can focus fully on instruction. This role is perfect for someone who understands how much the “unseen” work of operations shapes the daily experience of a K–4 campus — and who is energized by making complex logistics feel seamless.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced operational professional who wants to contribute to a high‑performing, mission‑driven school community and make a lasting impact on the lives of children and families in New Haven.

~ ~ ~

Key Responsibilities of the Role

As the next Operations Manager at BTWA ES, you will be primarily responsible for:

School Operations & Logistics

• Oversee day‑to‑day school operations to ensure all systems, materials, and facilities are prepared for smooth school functioning.
• Manage procurement, inventory, and vendor coordination, including food service, transportation, custodial, and technology providers.
• Coordinate arrival, dismissal, and bus logistics in partnership with the district transportation office, ensuring safe and efficient routines for K–4 students.
• Maintain student records and school data systems (attendance, registration, compliance reporting) with accuracy, confidentiality, and timeliness.

Administrative Support & Scheduling

• Serve as a key administrative partner to the Elementary School Principal, coordinating calendars, meetings, logistics, and communications.
• Draft and distribute clear, accessible communications to staff and families; support translation and outreach needs to ensure inclusivity.
• Provide exceptional frontline service for families and visitors, ensuring the front office is welcoming, professional, and aligned to BTWA’s values.
• Supervise and support front‑office staff, delegating tasks to ensure efficient and high‑quality office operations.

Facilities, Safety, and Compliance

• Ensure the school building is clean, safe, and functional each day; coordinate maintenance needs and track work orders with vendors and district partners.
• Implement and maintain operational systems that support school safety, emergency procedures, and compliance requirements.
• Manage supply requests and ensure instructional and office spaces are fully stocked and equipped to support teaching and learning.

Culture of Excellence

• Model exceptional customer service, professionalism, and problem‑solving in all interactions with students, staff, families, and external partners.
• Proactively identify and improve operational inefficiencies to better support student learning and staff effectiveness.
• Support planning and logistics for school events, professional development sessions, and family engagement activities.

Campus‑Based Leadership Responsibilities

As a core member of the BTWA ES leadership team, the Operations Manager contributes to sustaining a high‑functioning, student‑centered school environment. This includes:

• Supporting the refinement and continuous improvement of BTWA’s operational systems, culture routines, and school‑wide logistics to ensure they reflect the school’s mission and values.
• Providing operational leadership across school‑wide priorities, including scheduling, compliance, and community engagement needs.
• Navigating ambiguity, embracing feedback, and modeling a growth mindset as the school evolves and strengthens its systems.
• Taking initiative and ownership across operational domains, stepping into areas beyond the job description when needed to ensure student and staff success.
• Supporting enrollment‑related administrative tasks for the ES campus, including family outreach, coordination of school tours, and management of enrollment documentation and compliance.

~ ~ ~

Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate

While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

Required Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• At least 3–5 years of experience in school operations, office management, or administrative support required
• Demonstrated experience managing complex systems, logistics, and workflows with a high degree of organization and follow-through.
• Comfort using data systems and technology platforms (i.e., PowerSchool, Excel, Google Workspace); able to quickly learn new tools.
• Commitment to educational equity and deep alignment with the mission and values of ECS and BTWA, including a resolute and unshakable belief in the potential of every student to learn, grow and achieve at a high level.
• A strong sense of reflection and personal accountability for student and stakeholder growth, achievement and overall experience.
• Deep understanding of, and genuine excitement for, working in both a founding school and a single-gender/all-boys school community

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’ degree is preferred
• Experience in an urban, high-expectations and charter school setting is a plus
• Experience working with a single-gender and/or founding school start-up environment is highly preferred

Core Competencies

• Operational Excellence – You can build and manage systems that are accurate, efficient, and scalable in a school environment.
• Service Orientation – You’re energized by helping others, solving problems, and supporting a strong adult and student culture.
• Flexibility & Initiative – You thrive in fast-changing environments and take initiative to solve problems before they escalate.
• Attention to Detail – You take pride in accuracy, quality, and consistency in everything you manage.
• Discretion & Confidentiality – You are professional, respectful, and trustworthy with sensitive student and school data.

~~~

Mindsets We Value

Our team is passionately committed to the vision and values of Elevate Charter Schools and Booker T. Washington Academy. The ideal candidate will have a positive mindset, a very strong work ethic, an inner drive for excellence and will thrive working in an entrepreneurial and results-driven environment

Additionally, we deeply value, and are actively seeking candidates who demonstrate, the following mindsets and beliefs:

• Mission-Driven: In addition to deeply aligning and embodying the mission and values of ECS and BTWA, you believe in the brilliance and promise of all students, particularly students of color, and want to be part of their success story.
• Growth-Oriented: You welcome feedback, are deeply reflective on your personal practices, and are constantly seeking to improve your craft.
• Entrepreneurial: You are flexible, solutions-focused, and energized by the opportunity to build something from the ground up.
• Collaborative: You thrive in a team-based culture and believe that collective effort drives school success.
• Commitment to Excellence: You hold yourself, and others, to the highest of standards and have a student-centric, “whatever it takes” mentality to create a learning community where all students and stakeholders can grow and thrive.

~ ~ ~

Compensation and Benefits

At Elevate Charter Schools, we are committed to ensuring fair and equitable compensation based on the skills and qualifications required for the role. Our salaries are set through a lens of equity, and based on an individual’s skills, education, and years of experience relevant to the role.

The salary range for the Operations Manager position is $50,000 to $70,000, commensurate with experience and qualification, and reflective of the responsibilities and expertise needed to succeed in this position. Final salary may be adjusted based on experience and qualifications.

In addition to competitive compensation, Elevate offers a range of comprehensive benefits packages to all regular, full-time employees at a competitive value.

~~~

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The School Operations Manager position requires the ability to perform the following physical activities with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Mobility: Ability to move around the office and school buildings, attend meetings, visit classrooms, and participate in professional development activities.
• Vision: Clear vision to read documents, view computer screens for extended periods, and present information to groups.
• Hearing: Ability to hear conversations and presentations in various settings.
• Communication: Clear speech to effectively communicate with teachers, staff, administrators, and parents.
• Occasional Physical Demands: Ability to lift and carry light materials (such as books and documents), bend or reach to access files or materials, and stand for extended periods during meetings or presentations.

Elevate Charter Schools and all of our campuses – and the campuses we support – are committed to providing a supportive work environment and will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Elevate Charter Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Elevate is a non‑profit charter management organization serving public charter schools in Connecticut’s urban communities. Our scholars are 99% Black and Brown, and Elevate deeply values inclusion, representation, and diversity across our staff.

Elevate Charter Schools is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment for all stakeholders. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds and experiences to apply, especially those who share a similar background to the communities we serve.

If you have questions about the application process, experience any challenges, or need support completing your application, please reach out to our talent team at talent@elevatecharters.org. We are committed to ensuring an accessible and welcoming experience for all candidates.