About Ascend

Ascend is Brooklyn’s premier K–12 public charter network, committed to graduating high‑achieving students who have access to boundless choice in their futures—not only through college acceptance, but through meaningful preparation for career readiness and thriving adult lives.

Across our schools, we pair rigorous academics with strong systems, supportive adult culture, and disciplined execution at every level of the organization. Our work is grounded in the understanding that preparing students for long‑term success requires excellence in instruction, intentional culture‑building, and disciplined execution.

At Ascend, adults are held to high standards because our students deserve nothing less. How we lead, collaborate, and make decisions every day directly shapes the opportunities our students will have tomorrow.

To learn more about Ascend, visit: https://www.ascendlearning.org/about/

About the Role

The High School Assistant Principal of Operations (HS APO) is a school-based leader responsible for designing, executing, and continuously improving operational systems in a complex high school environment. In close partnership with the Principal, the HS APO ensures that the school operates smoothly day-to-day while remaining responsive to the variability and nuance inherent in high school settings.

High school operations require a leader who can balance structure with flexibility. Students follow individualized schedules, with programming shifts throughout the year; priorities can change quickly. The HS APO is expected to bring clarity, calm, and strong execution to this environment, anticipating needs, solving problems in real time, and ensuring that systems ultimately serve students, staff, and families well.

This role also requires strong judgment and presence when working with high school students, recognizing developmental differences between them and younger learners. The HS APO helps maintain a professional, respectful school environment grounded in clear expectations, consistency, and strong relationships.

Key Responsibilities

High School Operational Management & Systems

• Lead and continuously refine operational systems specific to a high school environment, including bell schedules, course schedules, departmental structures, and rotating student and staff schedules.
• Manage the complexity of individualized student schedules while maintaining a coherent, student-centered operational experience.
• Own and execute day-to-day operational workflows to ensure smooth, predictable, and high-quality school functioning.

People Leadership & Team Development

• Manage, coach, and develop high school operations staff responsible for executing complex workflows.
• Set clear expectations, provide actionable feedback, and hold team members accountable for results.
• Build a collaborative operations team grounded in trust, clarity, and continuous improvement.

Facilities, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, emergency preparedness, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee facilities usage for extended programming, after-school activities, athletics, and community events.
• Maintain operational readiness for high-volume days, including testing, major events, and emergency drills.

Assessment & Testing Operations

• Support planning and execution for major assessments (e.g., PSAT/SAT/ACT, AP exams, Regents, and other standardized testing as required) as one component of broader school operations.
• Partner with school leadership, testing coordinators, and network teams to ensure testing logistics are organized, compliant, and clearly communicated.
• Ensure operational readiness for testing days, including staffing, space usage, materials, and accommodations.

School Culture, Student Experience & Community

• Help foster a professional, student-centered environment that supports adolescent development and young adult culture.
• Partner with the Principal and school leadership team to ensure consistent expectations, clear systems, and a positive school experience for students.
• Support family engagement systems that reflect the realities of high school scheduling and communication needs.

Strategic Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Use operational and culture data to identify inefficiencies, anticipate risks, and improve systems.
• Partner with the Principal to plan for enrollment shifts, program changes, graduation-related milestones, and other high school priorities.
• Operate with urgency, adaptability, and sound judgment in a less-structured, frequently changing environment.

Staff and Reporting Relationships

• Reports directly to the High School Principal.
• Receives coaching support from the Senior Director of Operations.
• Supervises high school operations staff.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree, with an advanced degree (MPA, MBA, or equivalent experience), is preferred
• Three to five years of professional experience, preferably in an educational organization or a school
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple systems simultaneously and leading through ambiguity.
• Experience supporting large-scale events or compliance-driven processes (e.g., assessments, major school events) is a plus.
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and execute with consistency and precision.
• Strong alignment with Ascend’s mission, values, and commitment to equity.

Compensation

Salary Range: $90,000 - $115,000, determined based on experience and education level using an equitable compensation scale.

This is a full-time, exempt position that offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching
• Generous paid time off and additional employee benefits