Senior Director of Executive Operations

Application Deadline:

The priority deadline for applications is April 25, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET. After this date, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

About Ascend

Ascend is a network of high-performing public charter schools serving students across Brooklyn. Our mission is to ensure that all students, regardless of background, have access to an education that empowers them to unlock their full potential, achieve academic excellence, and pursue a future of boundless opportunity. We cultivate rigorous learning environments where students develop critical thinking skills, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.

At Ascend, educational equity is a driving force. We are committed to closing the achievement gap by delivering high-quality instruction, fostering a culture of high expectations, and equipping every student with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in college and beyond. Through this unwavering commitment, we prepare students not only to succeed academically but to seize every opportunity that lies ahead.

About the Role

Ascend seeks a strategic, analytical, and highly organized Senior Director of Executive Operations to play a pivotal role in aligning and advancing executive priorities across the organization. This individual will drive operational excellence, lead high-impact planning cycles, and manage cross-functional initiatives that support Ascend's executive office. The ideal candidate will thrive at the intersection of strategy and execution, ensuring clarity, coordination, and communication at the highest levels of leadership. This role also involves overseeing progress monitoring systems, supporting governance routines, and enhancing executive workflows.

This Senior Director of Executive Operations role requires someone who can move fluidly between high-level strategic thinking and detailed execution, facilitating collaboration and efficiency across Ascend's executive office.
Competencies

Strategic Operations Leadership

• Demonstrated ability to partner closely with senior leaders, serving as a trusted thought partner and operational strategist who drives clarity, alignment, and execution on the executive office's organizational priorities.
• Ability to make connections between daily execution and what's needed next, connecting executive-level goals to on-the-ground implementation.
• Adept at monitoring workflows, resolving bottlenecks, and troubleshooting urgent issues to minimize interruptions to daily operations.
• Recognizes the importance of ensuring executive leaders are well-prepared for meetings, key decisions, and high-stakes engagements through strong pre-reads, talking points, and briefing support.

Project Management and Systems Building

• Ability to assess and enhance operational processes to improve effectiveness, equity, and user experience; implement solutions that streamline work across executive and central teams.
• Excels at managing complex, cross-functional initiatives on behalf of the executive team, driving progress through timelines, workflows, and accountability structures.
• Proactively monitors competing priorities and executive workflows, keeping leaders focused and aligned on what matters most.

Data Analysis and Progress Monitoring:

• Strong ability to track key operational and strategic metrics, analyze performance data, and prepare actionable reports that guide executive decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Proficient in using dashboards, data systems, and progress-monitoring tools to track and communicate performance against strategic goals.

Proactive Problem-Solving and Decision-Making:

• Makes data-informed recommendations for best allocating time, staff capacity, and systems to maximize impact in alignment with Ascend's Executive Office priorities.
• Collaborates with leaders to support change initiatives, tracking implementation progress, aligning messaging, and building momentum across teams.
• Identifies operational challenges early and leads collaborative efforts to resolve them.

Responsibilities

• Lead cycles of executive planning and execution, including annual planning, meeting facilitation, and cross-team alignment.
• Provide executive leaders with project and time management support by anticipating challenges and delivering tactical solutions.
• Manage logistics for executive and extended leadership meetings, including agenda setting, documentation, and follow-up.
• Oversee cross-functional initiatives that require collaboration across network teams and the executive office.
• Act as a knowledge hub for executive initiatives, identifying opportunities to improve collaboration and efficiency.
• Represent the executive office in translating vision into action with clear timelines, stakeholder engagement, and execution.
• Monitor progress on strategic priorities using KPIs and dashboards; surface risks and recommend course corrections.
• Collaborate with legal counsel to prepare materials for board meetings, aligning content with strategic milestones.
• Lead special projects and high-stakes meetings, ensuring decisions are captured, tracked, and implemented.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred (MPA, MBA, or related)
• Minimum of five years of experience leading and managing complex, cross-functional initiatives in a mission-driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence while keeping long-term strategy front of mind.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple high-impact projects simultaneously.
• Skilled in influence and relationship-building, with a track record of motivating teams and holding others accountable without direct authority.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to craft compelling narratives and executive-level presentations.
• Comfortable shifting between macro-level vision and micro-level execution in a fast-paced, dynamic setting.
• Experience managing executive planning routines and cross-functional operations in support of leadership.

About Ascend

Ascend is a network of high-performing public charter schools serving students across Brooklyn. Our mission is to ensure that all students, regardless of background, have access to an education that empowers them to unlock their full potential, achieve academic excellence, and pursue a future of boundless opportunity. We cultivate rigorous learning environments where students develop critical thinking skills, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.

At Ascend, educational equity is a driving force. We are committed to closing the achievement gap by delivering high-quality instruction, fostering a culture of high expectations, and equipping every student with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in college and beyond. Through this unwavering commitment, we prepare students not only to succeed academically but to seize every opportunity that lies ahead.

About the Role

Ascend seeks a strategic, analytical, and highly organized Senior Director of Executive Operations to play a pivotal role in aligning and advancing executive priorities across the organization. This individual will drive operational excellence, lead high-impact planning cycles, and manage cross-functional initiatives that support Ascend's executive office. The ideal candidate will thrive at the intersection of strategy and execution, ensuring clarity, coordination, and communication at the highest levels of leadership. This role also involves overseeing progress monitoring systems, supporting governance routines, and enhancing executive workflows.

This Senior Director of Executive Operations role requires someone who can move fluidly between high-level strategic thinking and detailed execution, facilitating collaboration and efficiency across Ascend's executive office.

Competencies

Strategic Operations Leadership

• Demonstrated ability to partner closely with senior leaders, serving as a trusted thought partner and operational strategist who drives clarity, alignment, and execution on the executive office's organizational priorities.
• Ability to make connections between daily execution and what's needed next, connecting executive-level goals to on-the-ground implementation.
• Adept at monitoring workflows, resolving bottlenecks, and troubleshooting urgent issues to minimize interruptions to daily operations.
• Recognizes the importance of ensuring executive leaders are well-prepared for meetings, key decisions, and high-stakes engagements through strong pre-reads, talking points, and briefing support.

Project Management and Systems Building

• Ability to assess and enhance operational processes to improve effectiveness, equity, and user experience; implement solutions that streamline work across executive and central teams.
• Excels at managing complex, cross-functional initiatives on behalf of the executive team, driving progress through timelines, workflows, and accountability structures.
• Proactively monitors competing priorities and executive workflows, keeping leaders focused and aligned on what matters most.

Data Analysis and Progress Monitoring:

• Strong ability to track key operational and strategic metrics, analyze performance data, and prepare actionable reports that guide executive decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Proficient in using dashboards, data systems, and progress-monitoring tools to track and communicate performance against strategic goals.

Proactive Problem-Solving and Decision-Making:

• Makes data-informed recommendations for best allocating time, staff capacity, and systems to maximize impact in alignment with Ascend's Executive Office priorities.
• Collaborates with leaders to support change initiatives, tracking implementation progress, aligning messaging, and building momentum across teams.
• Identifies operational challenges early and leads collaborative efforts to resolve them.

Responsibilities

• Lead cycles of executive planning and execution, including annual planning, meeting facilitation, and cross-team alignment.
• Provide executive leaders with project and time management support by anticipating challenges and delivering tactical solutions.
• Manage logistics for executive and extended leadership meetings, including agenda setting, documentation, and follow-up.
• Oversee cross-functional initiatives that require collaboration across network teams and the executive office.
• Act as a knowledge hub for executive initiatives, identifying opportunities to improve collaboration and efficiency.
• Represent the executive office in translating vision into action with clear timelines, stakeholder engagement, and execution.
• Monitor progress on strategic priorities using KPIs and dashboards; surface risks and recommend course corrections.
• Collaborate with legal counsel to prepare materials for board meetings, aligning content with strategic milestones.
• Lead special projects and high-stakes meetings, ensuring decisions are captured, tracked, and implemented.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred (MPA, MBA, or related).
• Minimum of five years of experience leading and managing complex, cross-functional initiatives in a mission-driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence while keeping long-term strategy front of mind.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple high-impact projects simultaneously.
• Skilled in influence and relationship-building, with a track record of motivating teams and holding others accountable without direct authority.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to craft compelling narratives and executive-level presentations.
• Comfortable shifting between macro-level vision and micro-level execution in a fast-paced, dynamic setting.
• Experience managing executive planning routines and cross-functional operations in support of leadership.