Director of Finance and Operations 

Job Description

Full Time

Educators for Quality Alternatives

EQA is a New Orleans nonprofit with the mission of providing struggling students with the skills, confidence, and experiences to succeed in the education and career paths of their choice. The organization runs three alternative high schools: The NET: Central City, The NET: Gentilly, and The NET: East.  EQA also operates a therapeutic middle school program (The Bridge), a virtual program (The NET: Virtual) and a HiSET program (EQA HiSET @ YEP).  

Our goal is to serve students who dropped out, been expelled, or who have otherwise struggled in a traditional school setting.  EQA programs are built on the belief that alternative schools should not punish or “fix” young people; they should be vibrant, flexible, and restorative environments that support students in being their best selves.

Position Summary

The Director of Operations will work closely with the CEO, COO and School Leaders to ensure that students and staff have the operational resources they need to succeed - including functional facilities, access to the materials needed to complete their jobs, and effective contracted services.  This position is a critical component of the organization’s leadership team and will develop and refine network-level policies and procedures.

School Operations

• Develop, implement, and refine systems and procedures to support execution of all school operations each day, including
  • Asset management
  • Risk management
  • Health & Public safety
• Management of contracted vendors, including
  • IT
  • Food service
  • Transportation
  • Security 
• Develop, implement, and refine systems for improving the operational health of schools

Detailed Responsibilities

Excursion Management: 

• Coordinate with school level teams to successfully implement out of school excursions 
• Working with transportation and food service vendor  
• Effectively communicate with school  staff and vendors 

Food Service Management:

• Coordinate with school level teams to successfully implement student meals 
• Working with food service vendor  

Asset Management

• Track and manage all purchased assets
• Ensure budget compliance and support school leaders in purchasing decisions

Risk Management

• Manage contract security vendors (NOPD, private security)
• Proactively identify and address safety and security issues
• Actively monitor financial health of organization

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Support all high-stakes state testing
• Coordinate student health services
• Support student recruiting and enrollment
• Other special projects as needed

Position Requirements:

• BA or BS required
• 5+ years experience in operations 
• Experience working in public school environment preferred
  • Experience managing and coaching diverse staff
• Demonstrated record of strong organizational and communication skills
• Skilled at prioritizing, effective work planning, and execution of a variety of tasks
• Flexible, open to change, quick-learning, self-directed, and able to manage in a highly dynamic and fast paced environment
• Commitment to EQA’s mission, vision and values
• Ability to complete basic IT support and troubleshooting
• Ability to lift 50 pounds
• Personal vehicle required (frequent travel between school sites)

Position Details

• Start Date: Immediate
• Salary: $65-$75K, competitive and based on relevant experience
• Benefits: Comprehensive benefits and generous 403(b) retirement plan
• Reports to: COO