Director of Operations

About the Organization:


DreamCatchers is working to close the opportunity gap for Palo Alto Middle School Students. Palo Alto is home to one of the highest-performing school districts in California. However, for two decades, there has been a persistent gap in resources and opportunities available to lower-income families from Palo Alto and East Palo Alto. Over 1,100 low-income students attend our Palo Alto schools, many of whom are from Spanish-speaking households without a college-educated parent. At DreamCatchers, we pair middle school students with mentors from nearby schools who support their peers with homework, math, language, and arts, as well as social and emotional learning. Our goal is to support middle schoolers in being ‘High School Ready!’


DreamCatchers' afterschool program operates from a central office and runs on-site at three middle schools in PAUSD. In addition to the afterschool program, DreamCatchers offers a summer school enrichment program, community events, and other programming.


Overview:

We are seeking a dedicated Operations Director to play a pivotal role in the DreamCatchers program. The position encompasses a diverse set of responsibilities and requires a candidate who is passionate about educational equity, detail-oriented, and adept at managing various tasks simultaneously. The successful candidate will have the chance to contribute to the development of meaningful programming that positively impacts youth and families in our community.


Job Duties:


DreamCatchers Operations

  • Work with the Executive Director and provide operational and administrative support for all program activities including communication

  • Meet with the Executive Director to discern ad hoc operational needs related to projects and partnerships, such as i-Ready, engaging curriculum consultants, alumni programs, etc.

  • Collaborate with Site Directors to ensure that each location is equipped to support the afterschool program effectively. This includes defining and documenting standard operating procedures for various core/standard functions such as managing and tracking student and staff attendance, procuring and distributing snacks, procuring and distributing program supplies, etc.


Admin, Planning and Communications:

  • Communicate, meet, and coordinate with relevant stakeholders to plan and schedule program events and activities across different schools and in partnership with the district and other organizations, taking into account logistical considerations and program objectives

  • Lead planning for summer program in partnership with Site Directors and Executive Director

  • Create and manage a comprehensive program calendar, in collaboration with other DC staff, that incorporates afterschool program activities, summer program, outreach and advocacy initiatives, and community events

  • Create and manage a comprehensive internal DC operations calendar, in collaboration with other DC staff, that incorporates staff coverage, feedback cycles, holidays, team meetings, fundraising, program initiatives and partnerships, and events

  • Conduct surveys, collect and enter data to understand our student population and improve system-wide programs

  • Develop and implement a consistent communication schedule to keep families and donors informed about program activities, achievements, and opportunities.

  • Utilize channels such as newsletters, social media, website updates, and email announcements to effectively reach different audiences.


Program  Enrollment:

  • Build and maintain relationships with key/relevant school district and site-level staff 

  • Manage, update and revise (as needed) student application process  

  • Support Site Directors in the application review, acceptance, and placement process

  • Manage student recruitment program with elementary schools and the school district

  • Provide support to Site Directors  to ensure a smooth student recruitment and enrollment process


Recruit and Onboard Tutors:

  • Define, manage and execute successful outreach efforts to secure the sufficient number of volunteer tutors needed for each site

  • Manage the application, interview and onboarding processes of volunteer tutors in collaboration with Site Directors

  • Facilitate and plan orientation and other events for tutors, including attending & facilitating meetings (virtual and in-person)


Event Planning for Program and Community Building

  • Organize events and initiatives aimed at both enhancing the afterschool program experience and fostering community engagement

  • Manage all aspects of event planning, including logistics, budgeting, volunteers, and programming

  • Oversee event promotion and communication strategies to maximize participation and impact, including sending emails and creating flyers

  • Ensure that events align with the program’s goals and contribute to a positive and inclusive atmosphere for participants and attendees

  • Communicate with elementary school administration and teachers to coordinate tabling, events, and info sessions on-site for rising 6th grader student  recruitment

  • Support Site Directors with these student recruitment events at their Middle School sites.


Ideal Skills:

  • Proven experience in program management or a related role, with a focus on event planning, communication and community engagement

  • Strong organizational and multitasking skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple activities and stakeholders

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with a passion for building relationships within the community

  • Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment and adapt to changing priorities

  • Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability in problem-solving, with the ability to navigate challenges and find creative solutions.

  • High level of computer skills in an array of software areas 

  • Proficiency in Spanish a plus


Work Schedule:

This is a full time position, based  at our central office, with regular travel to various program locations.  Program runs Monday - Friday as late as 6pm and availability to participate onsite at program may be required.  Summer Program runs approximately 4 weeks and participation at Summer Program is expected. Community Events and other activities will require monthly weeknight and occasional weekend events. Hours and schedule may vary week to week. 



Compensation & Benefits: The salary range for this job is $80,000-$100,000. The starting salary will be determined by an open and transparent negotiation that considers current staff salaries, experience, cost of living, and DC financial capacity.


Benefits: 

  • DreamCatchers covers 100% of full-time employees' medical, dental, and vision premiums. Coverage available for spouse/domestic partner and dependents of full-time staff.

  • Extremely generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO) Policy:  includes federal holidays, four weeks off during PAUSD academic year & personal PTO days.

  • Communication stipend to cover the use of personal device.


Accessibility: This job requires being at a computer 4-8 hours/day 4-5 days/week. It routinely requires being able to drive from site to site, as well as errands related to events and recruitment. You may sometimes need to lift 5-10 lb boxes.