Senior Director of Education & Operational Excellence

Description

Role: Sr. Director of Education & Operational Excellence

Location: New York City, primarily on-site across our schools and in office
Salary: $130,000-$150,000/year
Reports to:  VP of Education Innovation 

Elevate education. Strengthen operations. Empower schools. 

About Us

New York Preschool is more than just a neighborhood preschool. It’s a year-round early childhood education program built for NYC families with children ages one to five. Every school shares one philosophy and an emergent curriculum across three core programs: NY Preschool, Afternoon Club, and Camp Kids Club.

We put the child first, give working parents the flexibility they need, and treats New York City as an extension of the classroom. This is how we prepare city kids and families to thrive at the next level.

With 12 campuses across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, and over 20 years of serving the NYC community, families get the depth and support of an established network, delivered with the warmth of a neighborhood school tuned to the block it serves.

We are building an Education organization grounded in purpose, people, presence, and passion, and we are looking for a leader who believes deeply in that approach.

About the Role

The Sr. Director of Education & Operational Excellence is a hands-on, education-centered operational leader responsible for strengthening the day-to-day execution, consistency, and performance of all schools.

Reporting to the VP of Education Innovation, this leader partners closely with the Directors of Education and 

Heads of School to ensure that operational excellence supports, rather than competes with, exceptional teaching, learning, programming, and family experience.

This leader will bring together the many elements that make a school successful: people, programming, enrollment, staffing, facilities, safety, compliance, communication, planning, and execution.

The Senior Director will serve as a trusted resource to school leaders and teachers, helping translate organizational expectations into clear standards, practical systems, and consistent execution. This includes strengthening training, observation and feedback, communication and planning, and creating an environment where school leaders and teams can learn from one another and continuously improve.

This is an opportunity for an entrepreneurial and pragmatic education leader who can operate with both strategic perspective and sleeves-rolled-up execution, someone who sees what needs to be done, brings people together, and gets it done.

How This Role Fits Into the Organization

The Sr. Director of Education & Operational Excellence reports directly to the VP of Education Innovation and is part of NY Preschool’s Education leadership team. This leader works hand in hand with the Education Director and Heads of School across all 12 campuses to make sure each school runs smoothly and delivers on the NY Preschool experience every day.

The role also serves as the schools’ primary partner to central teams, including People, Finance, Enrollment, Marketing, and Facilities. That means making sure central initiatives work for the schools, and making sure the schools get what they need to succeed.

This role will be a critical connector between the organization’s strategic priorities and what happens every day inside our schools.

What You’ll Do

Lead School Operations

• Partner with Heads of School to ensure clear expectations, consistent execution, and strong day-to-day operations across all schools. 
• Establish and reinforce operating standards that support high-quality schools and exceptional family experiences, while respecting the unique needs of each school community. 
• Maintain a forward-looking view of the school calendar, staffing cycles, enrollment patterns, and operational needs so schools are prepared well in advance and challenges are caught early. 

Champion Education, Brand & School Excellence

• Partner closely with the VP of Education Innovation and school leadership to ensure operations support strong educational outcomes, exceptional programming, and NY Preschool’s brand promise.
• Translate NY Preschool’s educational philosophy and brand promise into clear expectations and standards for school performance.
• Bring a working understanding of emergent curriculum, classroom environments, developmentally appropriate practice, and inclusive support for children with special needs.
• Serve as a champion and advocate for the schools, making sure school leaders have what they need while balancing broader organizational priorities.

Strengthen Training, Observation & Feedback

• Partner with Education and school leadership to strengthen training and professional development for school leaders and teams.
• Support meaningful observation and feedback practices that help leaders and teams grow.
• Create ways for school leaders and teams to share what’s working, learn from one another, and keep improving.

Enrollment & Family Experience

• Partner with Enrollment, Marketing, and school leadership to support enrollment performance and school readiness.
• Ensure operational processes support a seamless family experience, from first inquiry and enrollment through the child’s time at NY Preschool.
• Help schools understand and respond to enrollment, capacity, retention, and family experience trends.

Compliance, Safety & Risk Management

• Champion a culture where safety, compliance, and operational readiness are non-negotiable.
• Ensure schools consistently meet or exceed licensing, regulatory, health, safety, and organizational requirements.
• Establish clear processes, accountability, and follow-through around compliance, inspections, and incident response.
• Partner with Facilities and school leaders so every environment is safe, functional, welcoming, and well maintained.

Build Clear Systems, Processes & Accountability

• Develop practical operating systems, processes, standards, and tools that make it easier for schools to execute well.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability across operational areas.
• Use data and reporting to spot trends, simplify what’s overly complex, and drive action.

Lead Through Communication & Collaboration

• Build trust and strong partnerships across Education, Operations, People, Finance, Enrollment, and Marketing.
• Create strong feedback loops between school leaders, teachers, and central teams; listen first and turn what you hear into practical solutions.
• Communicate clearly, directly, and thoughtfully, especially when addressing challenges or difficult issues.

Lead School Excellence, Develop Leaders & Drive Performance

• Lead, coach, and develop Heads of School to become strong, accountable, and inspiring education and operational leaders who bring NYPKC’s philosophy and brand promise to life every day.
• Establish clear expectations and standards of performance, while empowering Heads of School to lead their schools with ownership and judgment.
• Partner with Finance and school leadership to manage and optimize staffing and labor costs, aligning schedules, ratios, and classroom capacity with enrollment while protecting quality and compliance. 
• Lead cross-functional initiatives such as new school openings, acquisitions, and program launches.

The statements in this job description are intended to describe the essential nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be all responsibilities or qualifications of the job.

What Success Looks Like

• Schools operate with clear expectations, strong standards, and consistent execution while maintaining the flexibility to respond to the unique needs of each school community.
• Heads of School are stronger, more confident, and more accountable leaders, with the coaching, resources, and support they need to lead their schools successfully.
• Safety, compliance, and operational readiness are deeply embedded in the culture and consistently meet or exceed organizational and regulatory expectations.
• Training, observation, feedback, and communication become meaningful drivers of leadership and team development.
• Enrollment, staffing, facilities, planning, and other operational needs are anticipated and proactively managed, rather than addressed reactively.
• Schools and central teams communicate and collaborate more effectively, with stronger planning, feedback loops, and shared accountability.
• Staffing is planned ahead of enrollment and the calendar, labor costs are well managed, and schools are fully covered with certified staff without sacrificing quality.   
• Operational systems and processes become simpler, clearer, and more effective, enabling schools to focus on delivering exceptional educational experiences.
• NY Preschool has the operational discipline, leadership strength, and educational foundation to grow while preserving what makes its schools exceptional.

Requirements

What We’re Looking For

• Minimum of 8 years experience in education, including at least 5 years in school or multi-site leadership, ideally in private school, early childhood education, preschool, or a similarly high-quality educational environment.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in education, business, leadership, or a related field preferred. 
• A NYS Early Childhood Initial or Professional Certification (B-2 or 1-6) 
• Experience leading school or multi-site education operations.
• Experience managing staffing and labor costs, including scheduling, ratios, coverage, and aligning staffing with enrollment. 
• Strong understanding of curriculum, teaching and learning, teacher support, training, educational programming and developmentally appropriate educational practices.
• Experience supporting or working with children with special needs and understanding the importance of inclusive practices.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, compliance, and regulatory excellence.
• Experience with enrollment, staffing, facilities, family experience, and other operational components of running a school.
• Track record of improving operations through practical systems, communication, planning, and continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams and leaders.
• Exceptional communicator with strong presence, sound judgment, and the ability to address complex matters with clarity and confidence.
• Entrepreneurial, resourceful, and pragmatic, with a roll-up-your-sleeves approach and a strong bias toward action.
• Highly accountable, results-oriented leader who sets clear expectations, follows through, and holds themselves and others to a high standard.
• Passionate, curious, and energized by the opportunity to build, improve, and make a meaningful impact, even in an environment where resources may be limited.
• Collaborative and approachable, with a genuine willingness to listen, learn, adapt, and do what the organization needs to succeed.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy 15 PTO days to start, 7 sick days, paid company holidays, and a full week off during winter break, because supporting educators starts with supporting balance.
• Career Investment: Tuition Reimbursement Program up to $5,000 annually to help you reach your next educational goal.
• Comprehensive Care: Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage, plus a 401(k) Plan with Company Contribution
• The Extras: Commuter programs, discounted fitness memberships, and more!

Physical Demands: The role involves standing, walking, sitting, constant movement, and occasional climbing. The ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds is required. Specific sensory abilities include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and adjustment of focus.

Inclusivity and Diversity: NY Preschool & Kids Club is committed to an inclusive and diverse community. We celebrate differences, leading with kindness and respect. We are an equal opportunity employer, prohibiting discrimination based on various factors.

Accommodations: The NY Preschool & Kids Club complies with ADA requirements. If you need accommodation in completing the application, please contact [email protected].