Director of Operations

Overview

At Chicago Jesuit Academy, students are nurtured to become influential leaders within Chicago, grounded in academic excellence and the Jesuit principle of serving others. Candidates aspiring to join the Academy must show dedication to educational quality, professional advancement, and compassionate service to the community. They should be diligent workers, empathetic listeners, and committed advocates for the students.

The Director of Operations, reporting to the Vice President of Operations & Finance and working closely with the IT Team and school leaders, oversees campus facilities and safety. This role involves managing a three-member Facilities Team and addressing all campus safety concerns. The Director fosters an institutional culture rooted in intellectual excellence, growth, love, spirituality, and justice, while maintaining a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Facilities Team in managing day-to-day operations of HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
• Develop and manage preventative maintenance and emergency response plans.
• Utilize the FMX Facilities Management system to organize data and work tickets effectively.
• Maintain transparent communication with school leadership and staff to minimize operational disruptions from facilities projects and responses.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA standards, building codes, environmental rules, and related regulations.
• Prepare and oversee annual operational and capital budgets.
• Set and track performance metrics to ensure effective service delivery by the team.
• Engage with neighbors, vendors, and community partners to support student success.
• Partner with law enforcement to secure the campus and surrounding neighborhood.
• Coordinate all student arrival and dismissal processes for safety.
• Manage planning and execution of safety drills including fire, tornado, lockdown, and reunification.
• Monitor and respond to unsafe events near the campus.
• Inform faculty and staff about safety concerns affecting the area.
• Recruit and nurture talented individuals on the Operations Team.

Ideal Candidate Attributes

• Genuine commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion with a belief in equitable access to quality education for all children.
• Proven operational leadership with a record of management success.
• Strong communication abilities, facilitating effective collaboration with the school community and external partners.
• A vocation-driven approach to serving students, staff, and community.
• Open to acknowledging mistakes, seeking assistance, and receiving constructive feedback.
• Professional, resourceful, capable of working independently and collaboratively, managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Active engagement in school life beyond regular duties.
• Committed to overcoming challenges that impede resources for students and families, willingly working beyond typical hours including weekends and evenings.

Mission Statement

Chicago Jesuit Academy offers tuition-free, academically rigorous Catholic education focused on nurturing students and alumni from historically underserved and resilient communities. Our mission includes providing small class sizes, extended days, year-round programs, and comprehensive support through high school, postsecondary education, and career entry. We emphasize partnership, equity, and inclusive excellence aligned with Jesuit values.

Equity and Inclusion Statement

The Academy is devoted to cultivating a diverse and outstanding community of faculty, staff, and students, ensuring equal opportunity and inclusive access regardless of race, color, origin, religion, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or military status, among others. Harassment or retaliation based on protected identities is strictly prohibited.