Associate Director/Director of Safety and Operational Excellence - Zetaschools : Job Details

Associate Director/Director of Safety and Operational Excellence

Are you looking to make a BIG impact? At Zeta, we pursue an unprecedented combination of high academic achievement and social-emotional development for our students. We insist that every student receives a world-class education while fostering a love for learning. We are passionate about changing the landscape of public education in New York City and beyond, and we are uncompromising in our mission.

Currently, we operate multiple elementary and middle schools in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan, and are opening new elementary schools in Queens for the 2025-26 school year. We plan to grow and open the equivalent of 1-2 schools each year because children in every community deserve excellent, equitable education. Join our growing team today, and be a change agent for children.

Our Network office is located at 401 W. 218th St., New York, NY 10034. Our Network team follows a hybrid work schedule: in-person work is required Tuesdays and Thursdays. School-facing roles such as this one may also require physical presence on other days, as required. It is projected for this role that on a regular basis, 3 in-person days per week will be required on average. In the first 2-3 months, more in person days may be required for you to get up to speed.

Deliver powerful results

To achieve our vision, we are searching for a stellar Associate Director or Director of Safety and Operational Excellence with a Bachelor's Degree and 4-6+ years of experience leading operations in schools and/or managing large-scale safety initiatives. The position title will be commensurate with candidate experience. This role spans four primary areas of work as indicated below:

1. Build Safety Systems, Skills, and Culture

• Lead the design, implementation, and scaling of safety systems across Zeta campuses (including enhancing and codifying our emergency procedures, optimizing use of our security technology and staff).
• Develop and deliver the training and training cadence that builds school teams' fluency with best practices in school safety, de-escalation, and crisis prevention.
• Partner with schools and central teams to build strong routines and tools that promote physical, emotional, and psychological safety for students and staff.
• Build strong relationships with NYPD precincts in the communities we serve, ensuring excellent service and response time for all Zeta schools.

2. Project Manage Emergency Response to Safety Incidents

• Serve as the project manager for Zeta's response to major safety incidents (mainly incidents that involve external parties. E.g., NYPD).
• Coordinate incident debriefs, documentation, and learnings.
• Support cross-functional follow-up and accountability to ensure long-term preventative measures are adopted.

3. Coach a Subset of Operations Directors

• Directly coach, support and hold accountable a portfolio of school-based Operations Directors (ODs).
• Help ODs troubleshoot and problem-solve challenges across the full range of school operations (e.g., arrival/dismissal, food service, inventory, event planning).

4. Lead Strategic Operational Excellence Projects

• Lead and/or support network-wide initiatives. Representative examples of initiatives currently ongoing are:
• Crafting a professional development strategy for school-based operations roles.
• Developing and maintaining Zeta's operational excellence dashboard (ZOE), including scoring methodology and school performance data.
• Identifying scalable best practices and codifying them into tools and resources for school teams.

Zeta teammates are lifelong learners who live with child-like joy and a deep sense of purpose. We disrupt the status quo and tackle problems together. Our team stands united by our commitment to a limitless future for every child. Our Zeta team is comprised of top talent with incredible schooling and private sector experience. At Zeta:

• We are passionate about our mission of providing world-class education to all students
• We bring a mindset of growth, flexibility, and openness to feedback
• We are hungry and determined to not only meet our goals, but surpass them
• We are humble, willing to put the team's needs ahead of our own, and committed to contributing to a collaborative work environment
• We have a high bar for excellence and sweat over the details
• We are caring and put team over individual at all times

We are hiring for an immediate opening. The salary range for this position is between $105,000 and $140,000. New hires can expect to be brought into the organization at a salary at or near the start of the range, depending on relevant experience and internal equity. Compensation is based on our salary scale . This position is eligible to receive an annual discretionary, merit-based performance bonus.

How does Zeta invest in you?

We offer great benefits:

• Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, and vision plans
• Flexible spending accounts for eligible medical purchases and commuter expenses
• 403(b) retirement plan; Zeta offers matching contributions toward your savings
• Competitive compensation

We provide awesome perks:

• Monthly stipend for wellness and lifestyle expenses (Gym memberships, salon appointments, concerts – it's up to you!)
• 4 live therapy sessions per month through Talkspace, and a free Headspace subscription
• MacBook Air, and specified monthly reimbursement for use of mobile phone
• Fully stocked teacher workrooms with favorite snacks and Nespresso machine
• Zeta swag, team outings, and NYC's finest sweet treats

We care deeply about your personal and professional growth:

• Clear pathway to professional growth
• Consistent feedback and support from managers and teammates
• Community Circle practice to build and strengthen our sense of team
• Interactive Mindfulness and DEIJ programming

Apply Now!

Equity is at the heart of our mission. We have a deep commitment to pursuing diversity and striving for equity. Zeta is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Work authorization is required (candidate must have permanent authorization to work in the U.S.).

Thank you for your interest in Zeta Schools! Please fill out and submit the application below to kick start your career. Please note that all fields are required unless noted as optional.

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