Director of Academic Operations

Job description:

Puzzle Box Academy is a private school dedicated to serving children from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade who are impacted by Autism and other developmental delays such as ADD/ADHD. The Academy offers a comprehensive, research-based educational and therapeutic program, emphasizing individualized learning plans, year-round schooling, and a low student-to-teacher ratio to foster optimal growth and development.

Position Overview:

The Director of Academic Operations provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure the academic integrity, instructional quality, and regulatory compliance of Puzzle Box Academy schools. This role bridges educational leadership and operational execution; partnering closely with school leadership, instructional teams, and central operations to ensure academic programs are delivered with consistency, fidelity, and measurable impact.

The Director is responsible for aligning curriculum, instructional practices, assessment systems, and academic support across campuses while ensuring compliance with state and local education requirements. This role plays a critical part in scaling excellence, supporting school leaders, and driving continuous academic improvement. He or she works to ensure the operational success of the organization, ensure contractual and regulatory requirements are met, and that resources are managed effectively.

Responsibilities:

Academic Leadership & Program Oversight

Provide oversight of academic programming across all Puzzle Box Academy campuses.

Ensure curriculum alignment, instructional consistency, and adherence to Puzzle Box Academy’s educational philosophy and standards.

Partner with school leaders to monitor academic performance, student progress, and instructional effectiveness.

Support implementation of evidence-based instructional practices and intervention models.

Operational Alignment & Execution

Collaborate with the COO to align academic initiatives with organizational operations, staffing models, scheduling, and resource allocation.

Develop and refine academic operational systems, procedures, and workflows to support scalability and consistency.

Support campus leaders with academic scheduling, staffing structures, and program implementation.

Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

Ensure compliance with Florida Department of Education requirements, district regulations, accreditation standards, and internal policies.

Oversee academic documentation, reporting, audits, and required submissions.

Monitor and support compliance related to special populations, assessments, attendance, and instructional minutes as applicable.

Data, Assessment & Continuous Improvement

Oversee academic data systems, assessments, and progress monitoring practices.

Analyze academic data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.

Partner with leadership to develop action plans based on performance data.

Support a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data-informed decision-making.

Leadership Development & Collaboration

Coach and support school leaders, instructional leaders, and academic coordinators.

Collaborate with professional development teams to identify training needs and support instructional growth.

Serve as a cross-functional partner to Operations, HR, Student Services, and Clinical/Support teams as applicable.

Strategic Planning

Contribute to long-term academic strategy, expansion planning, and program development.

Support new school launches, program expansions, and academic onboarding processes.

Participate in organizational leadership meetings and strategic initiatives.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements:

Master’s degree in Business Administration, Education, Educational Leadership, or related field.

Background in systems design, operational improvement, or change management.

Demonstrated success in providing high-quality clinical services.

Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

Commitment to teamwork, mentorship, and family-centered care.

Preferred Qualifications:

Familiarity with autism services, behavioral health, special education, or insurance reimbursement processes.

Bilingual skills are a plus.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and student information systems.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a dynamic educational setting.

Strong organizational and communication skills.

Experience in private schools, charter schools, or specialized education settings.

Experience working in growth-oriented or scaling organizations.

Benefits:

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Vision insurance

Work Location: In person