We are looking for a rockstar operations leader. The inaugural MESA MDO will report directly to
MESA’s Executive Director and will be the most senior level Operations person in the
organization, and a core member of MESA’s senior leadership team. Our MDO is somebody
who will step in and step up quickly. A true owner of operations oversight across the network,
and driver of operational excellence through the support, development, and leadership of
each school’s Director of Operations (DOO).

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The MDO will start before MESA’s second school opens in order to learn the MESA culture and
our leadership style. Simultaneously, the MDO will have responsibility for several major tasks
related to launching MESA 2, including working closely with the Executive Director on finalizing
our facility, hiring a Director of Operations for MESA 2, and getting our central office set up.

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Leadership and Strategic Operations
● Work closely with school-based DOOs to ensure that each campus’s operational
systems are running effectively, identifying opportunities for efficiencies.
● Develop and implement network-wide policies and procedures that support the
organization’s goals and compliance requirements.

● Serve as the key escalation point for complex operational and organizational
challenges, working with school-based teams and external vendors to effectively
resolve issues.
● Ensure consistent communication and alignment between the central office and
individual school campuses, facilitating collaboration across departments and
ensuring that school-level operations are supported.
Human Resources and Staff Support
● Provide oversight and guidance on HR-related matters, including onboarding,
offboarding, staff benefits, and policies (e.g. Staff Handbook) at the school and
network levels.
● Collaborate with the Director of Operations at each campus to support difficult
conversations and manage performance-related challenges.
Finance and Procurement
● Lead and oversee the budgeting process across the organization.
● Oversee and manage all major vendor relationships, including contract
negotiations, quality assurance, and challenge escalation.
● Own and manage the relationship with MESA’s back-office payroll and
accounting service provider, CSBM.
● Ensure effective levels of communication and support between the network,
school campuses, and external vendors.
Facilities and Technology
● Help set up the network office infrastructure and oversee maintenance of the
office once established.
● Work closely with school DOOs to ensure that facilities and technology systems
support the learning environment, addressing operational challenges as needed.
● Own and manage the relationship with MESA’s tech services provider, Charter
Technology Solutions (CTS).

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Governance and Compliance
● Ensure the network adheres to all local, state, and federal compliance
requirements, overseeing the submission of required reports and maintenance of
accurate records across the schools and office.
● Own Board administration, managing logistics, minutes, trustee paperwork, and
overall compliance.

● Set and oversee organizational policies (e.g. Student/ Family Handbooks,
Enrollment) and where required, lead the charter revision process with SUNY.

Student Enrollment, Academic Operations, and School Systems
● Provide strategic oversight and guidance on the student enrollment life cycle at
both schools.
● Work closely with campus DOOs and school leadership to support the
development and execution of student recruitment strategies, ensuring alignment
with enrollment targets and budgets.
● Provide leadership and guidance, and collaborate with school leaders to ensure
that academic operations (e.g. testing, scheduling, report cards), daily school
systems (e.g. attendance, arrival, lunch, recess, dismissal), and safety (e.g.
emergency procedures, drills) are responsive to each school’s needs and aligned
with network goals, while maintaining day-to-day accountability at the campus
level.

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● Minimum Bachelor’s degree, Master’s Degree or other advanced degree
preferred.
● Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in operations leadership roles (i.e. school level
Director of Operations or above), with direct experience in NYC school operations.
● Self-starter with unparalleled sense of initiative. You welcome the opportunity to
solve thorny problems that have bedeviled others.
● Deep sense of personal accountability and willingness to foster accountability in
others. Eagerness to “own” all of MESA’s operations across all domains.
● Strong ability to communicate and develop relationships.
● Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work
collaboratively across multiple campuses and teams.
● Proven track-record of leading and developing employees and teams.
● Proven track-record of high achievement across operational functions (e.g. HR,
finance, compliance) and commitment to accountability.
● Belief in and alignment with MESA’s core beliefs and educational philosophy.
● Spanish- and/ or Chinese-speakers are a strong plus.

MESA is committed to attracting, hiring and retaining a diverse and inclusive staff. It is
MESA’s policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or
harassment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or
related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,
age, disability, national origin, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic
information, citizenship status, uniformed service member or veteran status, or any
other characteristic protected by law.

Please email your resume and cover letter explaining specifically why you would
be a good fit for MESA to Arthur Samuels, Executive Director, at hiring@mesacharter.org with
the subject heading “Managing Director of Operations” APPLY BY EMAIL ONLY. Due to the

nature of the position and the volume of applications received, MESA will not be able to
reply to all submissions. MESA will contact candidates with next steps.