Senior Director, Operations and Technology for a 100+ employee (and growing) remote education non-profit providing professional learning to K-12 educators nationally

Type of Vacancy: Salaried, full-time

Start date: March-April 2025

Location: Remote/home office anywhere in the continental United States

Report to: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Supervises: Director, Project Management Support; Senior Specialist, Information Technology; Contractor Technology Consultant; Manager, Contracting

Compensation: The full salary range for this position is $125,000 - $189,074 annually. There are two types of experience being considered for this role: Experience that is directly relevant to the role and Total Working Experience, in all fields. This includes: internships and consulting work. In collaboration with the hiring manager, the People and Culture team calculates experience based on the candidate’s most current resume. When calculating the offer, consideration is given to candidates that possess additional qualifications (i.e., desired qualifications). Teaching Lab will generally cap salaries for new employees at 105% of the midpoint to allow for continued growth in the role over time.

Teaching Lab is an equal-opportunity employer committed to reflecting the diversity of the students we serve. We pursue equity as both a means and an end and enthusiastically welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply for this role.

WHO WE ARE

Teaching Lab is a nonprofit organization with a mission to fundamentally shift the paradigm of teacher professional learning to achieve educational equity. We envision a world where teachers and students thrive together in communities that enable life-long learning and meaningful lives. In partnership with teachers, we transform professional learning from the ground up to dramatically improve student outcomes. We also work with school, district, and state leaders to create the instructional systems necessary to support these changes. To learn more about Teaching Lab, explore our website at www.teachinglab.org .

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Senior Director, Operations and Technology co-creates and articulates the strategic direction of Teaching Lab’s internal operations alongside the COO, the executive leadership team, and members of the Teaching Lab community. The Senior Director, Operations and Technology is responsible for designing, developing, maintaining, and updating the structure, systems, strategies, tools, and processes to increase the effectiveness of internal operations and contribute to our mission; training, supporting, and providing guidance to team members to implement these systems, strategies, tools, and processes to meet the organizational goals. This role is critical in ensuring that Teaching Lab embraces an inclusive and equitable approach to supporting every team member to do their best work every day.

• Primary responsibilities for the Senior Director, Operations and Technology include:

• Department leadership: Set, evolve, and execute on a comprehensive vision and strategy for the Operations and Technology department in alignment with strategic priorities and values to ensure that Teaching Lab’s workforce of 130+ employees and 200+ annual contractors have what they need to do their best work every day.
• With the COO, translate long-term strategies into operational plans that drive growth and impact while increasing student learning in school system partners
• Promote a culture of continuous learning and accountability within the Operations and Technology department, encouraging innovative solutions and operational improvements
• Create a vision and implementation plan for providing operational and/or project management support across the organization to increase efficiency and equity
• Engage in and lead staff to engage in user-centered design processes in all Operations and Technology initiatives
• Provide vision, direction, and oversight of staff to ensure excellent internal operations in the following areas: project management, information technology, contracting and internal controls
• Provide coaching and support to direct reports on their projects and/or assignments, including identifying and addressing development needs and supports
• Monitor workloads and capacity to ensure effectiveness and productivity while promoting time management and prioritization of assignments
• Provide frequent values-based feedback and recognition to direct reports
• Ensure the successful completion of direct reports’ goals as well as those of their direct reports
• Conduct annual evaluations for direct reports
• Complete internal tasks related to people management in a timely manner
• Source, recruit, and hire for open Operations and Technology department roles
• Review day-to-day Operations and Technology department processes, and make recommendations for improvements as well as service changes/enhancements
• Ensure management and oversight of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Operations and Technology department
• In collaboration with the Senior Director, People and Culture and the COO, lead efforts to manage organizational risk and comply with federal, state, and local legal requirements for a multi-state workforce of employees and contractors. Includes: studying existing and new legislations, collaborating with legal counsel to identify, assess, and mitigate personnel or policy risks, advising the Executive Team on needed actions, and enforcing adherence to legal requirements
• Guide management and employee actions by researching, developing, writing, and updating legally compliant policies, procedures, guidelines, and documents (e.g., handbooks, contracts, offer letters, etc.) to communicate and enforce organizational values
• Collaborate with the COO and Managing Director, Finance & Strategic Growth (MDSGF) to create the Operations and Technology department budget

• Operational Leadership: With the COO, MDSGF, Executive Team, and/or legal counsel, use good judgment that is aligned with Teaching Lab’s policies and practices and the law to lead the organization’s risk management framework, tracking high-level risks and ensuring mitigation strategies are in place.
• Internal operations
• In collaboration with other department leads, identify operational and/or project management needs across the organization
• In collaboration with other department leads, establish quantitative and qualitative metrics, guidelines, and standards by which the organization’s efficiency and effectiveness can be evaluated; identify opportunities for improvement
• Propose, build buy-in for, and implement or oversee the implementation of policies and procedures to improve customer service and satisfaction through policy and procedural changes
• Create, build buy-in for, and implement or oversee the implementation of policies and procedures that will improve day-to-day operations to increase efficiency and equity
• Controls
• Responsible for strengthening internal control and data governance
• Identify operational and control risks and develop strategies to address potential bottlenecks
• Ensure regulatory compliance and maintain operational consistency
• Research and maintain insurance policies and certificates
• Ensure that the organization runs with legality and compliance with established regulations to minimize risks
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Review, approve and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) development across all Teaching Lab departments to ensure operational alignment and compliance.
• Ensure that SOPs are documented, up-to-date, easily accessible, and regularly utilized
• Monitor organizational SOP implementation and effectiveness, using data and insights to implement continuous improvements across workflows
• Facilitate SOP training sessions for staff to ensure clear understanding and consistent execution of operational processes.
• Contracting
• Provide strategic direction on contracting and procurement management processes with school system clients and business partners/vendors to ensure smooth operations, compliance, and risk management
• Manage client contracting processes and procedures
• Lead contract negotiations and ensure that agreements align with organizational policies and goals.

• Project Management: With the COO and Chief Program Officer, and the Project Management Team, design and oversee the implementation of an efficient, effective, and equitable approach to project planning and project management as a key component in launching and executing timely and high-quality client-facing and internal projects
• Oversee the creation of templates and responsive/flexible project plan templates
• Oversee and set direction for Project Management team members to support client-facing project teams to create, maintain, and use project plans
• Oversee and engage in the development of project management skills across the organization, including consistent and thoughtful usage of monday.com as the org-wide project management platform
• Provide guidance for the initiation of a client project upon closing a contract to ensure a successful project launch
• Act as the Senior Project Lead for centralized staffing, ensuring the equitable assignment of team members to client and internal project teams to maximize project impact and success in alignment with organizational priorities and financial health

• Information Technology: With the fractional contractor CIO/CISO, design and oversee the implementation of Teaching Lab’s information technology and information security strategy, policies, guidelines, practices, and operations to support communication, drive innovations, and mitigate risks
• Oversee technology platforms and systems, ensuring they meet operational needs and align with strategic priorities
• Ensure technology platforms (monday.com, Canvas, Slack, Paylocity, Intacct, Lever) are optimized for functionality, data flow, performance, security, and interoperability, including maintain accurate access to all platforms, tools, and subscriptions
• Drive innovation by evaluating and recommending new technologies that will enhance operational efficiency
• Manage vendor relationships and negotiate contracts for technology systems and services
• Ensure data security and privacy through the establishment and monitoring of policies, training, and practices

• Cross-functional Collaboration
• Collaborate with the Executive Team, with department leaders, and with team members at every level of the organization to generate ideas, strategies, and systems to meet organizational goals in operations and continuous improvement
• Provide Operations and Technology written updates through various avenues of reporting (e.g internal newsletter, quarterly progress monitoring, Executive Team reports)
• Serve as the primary point of contact for Operations and Technology matters relating to organizational initiatives, policies, practices, and procedures
• Supports racial equity initiatives by ensuring that diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) is embedded in all offered Operations and Technology activities and events
• Through informal and formal structures and opportunities, “keep an ear on the ground” to proactively and strategically analyze trends to identify and clarify Operations and Technology issues and priorities
• Solicit input and feedback from staff members on existing and new operational policies or procedures to ensure inclusiveness in our operations
• Communicate and explain new operational policies or procedures to Home Managers and/or all staff
• Engage in additional work as needed to meet organizational business needs and priorities

• Continuous Learning
• Stay abreast of key research and guidance in the field, attend learning experiences to build skills and competencies in strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, and nonprofit management
• Engage in personal and organized learning opportunities as a team member at an organization that aspires to be antiracist and champions racial justice
• Create and deliver training to other team members on core skills and/or competencies within the Senior Director, Operations and Technology role which are transferable and critical for other roles.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Operating Officer and/or Executive Team.

• The Senior Director, Operations and Technology is accountable for achieving goals set in collaboration with their manager, aligned with annual goals, and especially, Key Success Indicators (KSI). Below are examples of measured outcomes for Key Success Indicators (KSI). Additional information will be shared with candidates during the recruitment and selection process.

• As applicable, within the role, model the radical commitments for our values.

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or relevant field
• Thorough understanding of practices, theories, and policies involved in business operations
• Ten or more years combined experience directing operational projects and leading teams
• Experience creating the strategy for a team or business function
• Five or more years combined experience planning and implementing projects
• Track record of effective people management aligned to equity values
• Five or more years combined experience working with partners outside of their organization to manage workflow or deliver services
• Experience setting goals, creating the systems and processes for meeting the goals for increasing organizational effectiveness and risk management
• Highly skilled in data analysis and performance/operation metrics
• Experience managing relationships with clients and stakeholders in an educational context
• Outstanding communication and people skills

• Advanced degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or a related field
• Senior level professional HR certifications and/or credentials
• Multi-state HR experience, with knowledge of compliance across varied jurisdictions
• Experience with Paylocity or similar HRIS platforms

• Ability to work a flexible schedule to support operational needs
• Ability to perform the essential project, duties and responsibilities with or without accommodation
• All team members are expected to support program/project needs which could mean that you play multiple roles at Teaching Lab (i.e., project lead, support, subject matter expert, etc.).
• Travel could be required for the role. Travel is determined based on business needs and can vary depending on partnership/contract requirements.

• Teaching Lab seeks to fundamentally shift the paradigm of teacher professional learning by reaching more educators every year with the highest impact programming.

• Educators learn more than they would without us
• Students learn more than they would without us, in a way that cannot be predicted by race, gender, or family income
• Educators we serve say they love our approach, and they want to keep doing it to advance educational equity

• Collaboration & Responsive Service
• Resilient Solution-Finding
• Research & Learning With Humility
• Accountable Excellence
• Equity & Justice

• This position opened on January 24, 2025 and will close on February 7, 2025. All applications received between January 24, 2025 and February 7, 2025 will be reviewed by the hiring team.

Application Terms & Conditions :

I understand that any falsification or omission of information from this Employment Application can disqualify me from employment (includes rescinding an offer of employment or if hired, employment termination).

I understand that this Employment Application is not an offer of employment. If employed, employment is at will, and either party can terminate the employment relationship at any time.

I understand that if I am offered a conditional offer of employment, it would be contingent upon successful pre-work checks, which include references and verifications/checks for a social security number, education, employment, criminal records search (national and county), global watch list, and sex offender status. Depending on a specific partnership/contract requirement, the criminal background check process could include fingerprinting. At Teaching Lab’s discretion and with an individual’s signed consent, other checks could be completed based on the nature of the position. Moreover, I understand that Teaching Lab participates in a background monitoring service that provides updates for criminal records and sex offender status.

I understand that if I am offered and accept an offer of employment, I will be required to complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9), and provide supporting documents within three days of my hire date. Non-compliance will result in termination of employment. Teaching Lab participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Teaching Lab is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before any action is taken against you, including terminating your employment. Teaching Lab can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. EVerify and Right to Work posters.

I understand that if I am offered and accept an offer of employment, if I have a need for an accommodation related to a disabling (medical) condition that the request must be communicated to People & Culture for review and approval. All requests will be considered as part of the Americans with Disabilities Interactive Process.

I understand that if I am offered and accept an offer of employment, Teaching Lab has an expectation to be the primary employer for all employees. Specifically, having another full-time employer in addition to full-time employment at Teaching Lab is not permitted, and no other employment or outside contracting relationship of any kind is permitted unless otherwise disclosed on the Outside Work Disclosure form and approved by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Employees who are found in violation of this expectation will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including separation from employment.

I understand that if I am offered and accept an offer of employment, I must undergo a 90 day introductory period. During this time, appropriateness for the role and performance are evaluated. At the end of the 90 day introductory period, Teaching Lab and/or the employee can end the employment relationship at will.

Teaching Lab has a payroll direct deposit program. I understand that if I am employed, I am not required to enroll in Teaching Lab’s payroll direct deposit program, and I would be paid via a paper check.

I understand that if I am employed, all work materials/resources that are provided by Teaching Lab are considered property of Teaching Lab, and are solely for the use of work for Teaching Lab.

I understand that if I am employed, I will be required to sign acknowledgment of receipt and abide by all policies and procedures, requirements, and expectations as outlined in the Employee Handbook.

In relation to the position that I am applying for, I voluntarily give Teaching Lab consent to make a thorough investigation of my background, and release from liability all parties in connection with the supply and use of such information.

The submission of my application serves as acknowledgment and agreement to the above terms and conditions.