OUR MISSION

Movement Schools is a growing network of free, public charter schools.  We exist to love and value scholars and communities by leading a movement of excellence in education. In partnership with our families, we equip our scholars with the tools to close generational gaps through self-efficacy, access to world-class instruction, and financial education.

About This Role

Build the Systems That Power Growth. Scale with Excellence. Transform Communities.

Movement Schools is seeking a visionary and execution-oriented Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead the operational strategy that will scale our network from 4 to 20 schools in the next three years—and to 100 schools nationwide over the next decade.

The COO is a senior executive leader responsible for building and leading the operational infrastructure that supports exceptional academic outcomes, organizational growth, and long-term sustainability. This role ensures that systems, people, and processes are aligned so school leaders can focus on what matters most: serving scholars and families.

Location: Flexible (Charlotte, Atlanta, or Southeast preferred)

About Movement Schools

Movement Schools is a rapidly growing network of free, public charter schools serving students in pre-K through 5th grade. We exist to love and value students, emphasize academics and virtue, and build amazing schools with our students, teachers, and families.

Founded in Charlotte, North Carolina, we currently serve over 1,200 students across four schools and three pre-K sites. In 2022, Movement Schools averaged 22% academic growth—more than three times the state average.

Movement Schools are built in partnership with the Movement Foundation, which has committed over $300 million to support our expansion over the next three years. During that time, we will scale from 4 to 20 schools across the Southeast. Over the next 10 years, we plan to open 100 schools nationwide.

About this Role

The COO leads all operational functions across the organization and oversees a comprehensive portfolio including:

• Finance & Accounting
  
  
• Human Resources (HR) & Talent Operations
  
  
• Facilities & Real Estate Development
  
  
• School Operations
  
  
• School Nutrition Services
  
  
• Transportation & Logistics
  
  
• Technology & Data Systems
  
  
• Procurement & Vendor Management
  
  
• Student Information Systems
  
  
• Risk Management, Safety & Compliance
  
  
• New School Launches & Expansion
  
  

The COO partners closely with the CEO and executive leadership team to drive operational excellence, regional scaling, and long-term sustainability.

What You’ll Do

You’ll design, build, and scale the operational backbone of a high-growth charter school network.

Strategic Planning & Organizational Leadership

• Facilitate development, refinement, and execution of Movement’s strategic growth plan
  
  
• Lead operational strategy to support rapid expansion and regional scaling
  
  
• Develop and manage planning around Movement’s multi-year financial model, including staffing plans, revenue analysis, expense drivers, and school-level budgets
  
  
• Ensure operational infrastructure aligns with expansion timelines and organizational priorities
  
  
• Build scalable systems that reduce operational burden on school leaders
  
  

Operations & Organizational Infrastructure

• Define standards for operational excellence and establish measurable performance dashboards
  
  
• Lead and develop regional and school-based operations teams
  
  
• Ensure high-quality internal service delivery across departments
  
  
• Drive continuous improvement through performance data and stakeholder feedback
  
  

Human Resources (HR) & Talent Operations

• Provide executive oversight of HR strategy, systems, and organizational design
  
  
• Oversee recruitment operations, onboarding systems, retention strategy, and workforce planning aligned with growth goals
  
  
• Ensure compliance with employment laws, policies, and HR best practices
  
  
• Support leadership development and talent pipeline strategy
  
  
• Partner with senior leaders to build a strong, mission-aligned organizational culture
  
  

Finance & Accounting

• Ensure Movement achieves annual and multi-year financial sustainability goals
• Oversee accounting, reporting, banking, budgeting, procurement, compliance, and financial planning functions
  
  
• Provide accurate financial reporting to staff and Board
  
  
• Lead purchasing and vendor procurement systems
  
  

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance systems, staffing, and tools support reporting requirements and charter cycles
  
  
• Maintain adherence to federal, state, and local regulations
  
  

Facilities & Real Estate Development

• Manage Movement’s real estate portfolio and expansion strategy
  
  
• Oversee facility development, construction readiness, and operational launch timelines
  
  
• Integrate mission, finance, development, and facilities priorities
  
  

Legal Affairs & Risk Management

• Lead organization-wide legal strategy, insurance oversight, safety protocols, and risk mitigation
  
  

Technology & Systems

• Oversee planning and implementation of technology infrastructure
  
  
• Ensure effective implementation of student information systems and enterprise platforms
  
  

School Nutrition Services

• Provide executive oversight of school meal programs
  
  
• Ensure compliance with USDA and state nutrition regulations
  
  
• Manage vendor partnerships and drive operational efficiency
  
  
• Ensure equitable, high-quality meal services aligned with student needs
  
  

Transportation & Logistics

• Oversee transportation strategy including routing, scheduling, vendor management, and logistics
  
  
• Ensure services are safe, reliable, cost-effective, and compliant with regulatory standards
  
  
• Develop scalable transportation systems to support network growth
  
  

New School Launches & Expansion

• Lead cross-functional readiness planning for new school openings
  
  
• Ensure operational systems are in place prior to launch
  
  
• Coordinate expansion efforts across facilities, HR, finance, compliance, and operations
  
  
• Build repeatable launch playbooks to support rapid scaling

Who We’re Looking For

We are seeking an entrepreneurial, systems-oriented leader excited to scale a fast-growing organization.

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Have demonstrated success building infrastructure in a multi-site environment
  
  
• Can hire, develop, and coach high-performing senior leaders
  
  
• Are a data-driven decision-maker with strong strategic thinking skills
  
  
• Thrive in complexity and rapid growth environments
  
  
• Build systems that are both scalable and people-centered
  
  
• Bring executive presence and strong cross-functional collaboration skills
  
  
• Are deeply aligned with the mission and vision of Movement Schools
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Proven track record of achieving ambitious operational goals
  
  
• At least five years of progressively increasing operational leadership experience in a growing organization
  
  
• Experience overseeing multiple operational departments (including HR, finance, or facilities strongly preferred)
  
  
• Bachelor’s degree required
  
  
• MBA or related Master’s degree preferred
  
  

Why You’ll Love Working at Movement

• Lead operational strategy for a network scaling across the Southeast and beyond
  
  
• Build systems that directly enable academic excellence
  
  
• Partner with mission-driven executive leaders and school teams
  
  
• Shape the infrastructure for a 100-school national organization
  
  
• Make a tangible difference for scholars, families, and communities
  
  

Compensation & Schedule

This full-time role aligns with the academic calendar and provides meaningful growth in a purpose-driven environment.

• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package available for eligible employees
• Schedule: Monday - Friday.  Evenings and weekends as needed
• Travel is Required

Our Commitment

Movement Schools is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming school community. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of required background checks.

Ready to Build What Makes Growth Possible?

If you are ready to design the operational engine that powers exceptional schools at scale, we encourage you to apply.