ORGANIZATION WEBSITE: RICARDO FLORES MAGÓN ACADEMY

ROLE: Director of Special Projects

LOCATION: Denver, CO

SALARY RANGE: $92,500

PRIORITY DEADLINE: November 9, 2026 at 8 A.M. Central Time

Job Description

RICARDO FLORES MAGÓN ACADEMY

Position: Director of Special Projects

Our Mission

Why You’ll Love Us“Since kindergarten, my daughter has grown at RFMA not just as a student but as a person. Here they know her, challenge her, and love her, and they have never asked her to leave her language or culture at the door.” – RFMA Parent

• Academics. Academic excellence for every child sits at the center of our work. Magonistas deserve rigorous, grade-level content along with the instruction, support, and encouragement to master it. Every child grows when they are equally challenged, supported, and loved.
• Conciencia Social. Inspired by Ricardo Flores Magón, we grow good students and good people: young people who think critically, speak up for their communities, and see themselves as agents of change.
• Compensation & Benefits

  • Salary for position: $92,500

  • Relocation support (up to $3,000)

  • Comprehensive benefits including a $0-premium Kaiser medical option, $0 employee-only dental, vision, company-paid life and short-term disability insurance, and a free Employee Assistance Program, with coverage starting the first of the month after hire.

  • PERA Retirement

  • Direct mentorship and weekly 1:1 coaching with the Head of School and Executive Director

  • Ten hours of one-on-one onboarding coaching with an experienced former school Chief Operating Officer across your first six months, covering entry planning, your first 90 days, and sequencing early operational and compliance priorities

  • Summer training and ongoing professional development focused on the technical and adaptive skills of operational leadership

  • Membership on the RFMA leadership team, with weekly leadership meetings and time to step back and plan for the long-term health of the school

Why We’ll Love You

Do the following “must haves” resonate with how you’re wired? If so, we invite you to apply and can’t wait to learn more about you!

• You’re mission- and values-driven. You are committed to educational equity and justice for all children, with a laser focus on academic achievement, and you are deeply aligned with the values of our colectivo.
• You love kids and families. You believe love for a child is best shown by delivering on the promise of a consistent, high-quality education. You build and keep meaningful relationships with families, in English and Spanish, because genuine partnership between home and school is essential to Magonistas thriving.
• You love working with people. You proactively build authentic relationships, which positions you to support and motivate your colleagues and those you manage. You push people to achieve more than they could on their own because you care about them.
• You carry deep humility while remaining results-oriented. You bring hard skills and experience, and you still approach every Magonista, adult, project, and challenge with a learner’s disposition, open to new ideas while keeping the end goal in sight.
• You never give up. When things feel impossible, you roll up your sleeves. You are calm, levelheaded, and optimistic, and you motivate others to do what it takes.
• You communicate effectively. You always share the “why” along with the “what,” translate unfamiliar information into something easy to act on, and listen as well as you speak.
• You bring problems forward early. You operate as an extension of the Head of School and Executive Director, surfacing issues while they are still small and arriving with clear, reliable information and a recommended path.

What You’ll Do

The Director of Special Projects is RFMA’s senior operations leader. The role holds operations, finance, federal programs, authorizer compliance, and vendor management, and it supervises the front office, health, custodial, and food service teams that shape every Magonista’s day from arrival through dismissal. You will be evaluated on, and grow in, six core competencies: operations and daily school systems; team coaching and supervision; finance, payroll, and grant management; federal programs and authorizer compliance; vendors, facilities, and technology; and bilingual partnership with families and the Head of School and Executive Director.

Leadership & Strategic Operations

• Lead as a servant leader, recognizing that the role of operations is to make sure Magonistas, families, and staff have what they need to achieve our mission.
• Serve as a key member of the RFMA leadership team and as an extension of the Head of School and Executive Director.
• Build strong operational systems that support academic success and a consistent, warm, and predictable school culture across our K–5 and middle school (6–8) programs.
• Ensure operational systems keep teachers focused on teaching and Magonistas focused on learning.
• Anticipate problems before they reach Magonistas and families, and keep operations steady as needs change.
• Partner closely with the Head of School and Executive Director to implement strategic priorities, improve systems, and stay aligned with school goals, bringing problems forward early.
• Model professionalism, adaptability, urgency, and accountability in every part of the role.
• Lead operational professional development for staff as needed.
• Continuously improve systems, procedures, and efficiency through feedback and data analysis.

Daily School Systems & Staff Duty Schedules

• Run the systems that make the school day work, including arrival, breakfast, lunch, recess, transitions, and dismissal across K–5 and middle school.
• Build, publish, and maintain staff duty schedules, and make sure every duty post is covered daily, including adjusting coverage for staff absences, PD days, testing windows, and special events.
• Set clear expectations for each duty post and monitor that supervision is consistent, active, and safe.
• Review and refine duty schedules regularly using feedback from staff and leadership and data on student behavior and safety.

Front Office & Office Management

• Directly supervise the Front Office Manager and oversee all front office operations to ensure a welcoming, organized, professional, and bilingual environment for Magonistas, families, staff, and visitors.
• Manage day-to-day office operations and respond directly to campus needs as they arise.
• Ensure strong customer-service systems so every stakeholder receives timely, solution-oriented support.
• Supervise office systems including attendance, records management, communication systems, and operational workflows.
• Maintain accurate, confidential student files, operational records, and compliance documentation, including the secure handling of special education and other protected records.
• Manage the campus-wide calendar, scheduling systems, and major operational timelines.

Health Services

• Directly supervise the school nurse and oversee health services, including health office procedures, student health records, and medication and care plans.
• Make sure dietary restrictions, allergy information, and relevant health plans are communicated to food service and duty staff.
• Coordinate health-related compliance, including immunization records and required health reporting.

Custodial Staff & Facilities

• Directly supervise RFMA’s in-house custodial staff, including work schedules, daily and weekly cleaning checklists, task assignments, and performance.
• Set and hold clear standards for cleanliness so classrooms, bathrooms, common spaces, and outdoor areas are clean, safe, and welcoming every day.
• Coordinate custodial coverage for evening and weekend events, deep cleans, and school breaks.
• Manage custodial supply inventory and ordering.

Food Services

• Directly supervise RFMA’s in-house food services staff and oversee daily breakfast and lunch operations so every Magonista is fed on time in a calm, orderly setting.
• Manage meal service logistics, including menus, ordering and deliveries, meal counts, point-of-sale or roster systems, lunch schedules, and cafeteria setup and cleanup.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state school meal program requirements, including free and reduced-price meal applications, documentation, and reporting.
• Communicate meal information to families in English and Spanish.

Finance, Payroll & Grant Management

• Manage financial and payroll data and grant budgets with accuracy and on schedule.
• Work closely with RFMA’s financial services partner on budgeting, payroll, purchasing, and reporting.
• Bring the Head of School and Executive Director clear, reliable financial information for decisions.
• Manage purchasing systems, inventory, vendor orders, and supply coordination, protecting the school’s resources.

Federal Programs & Authorizer Compliance

• Administer federal programs and meet every authorizer and state requirement on time.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison to the Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI) and other partners on operational reporting, deadlines, and compliance.
• Build compliance calendars and systems so that compliance is routine work rather than a deadline scramble.
• Ensure timely completion of operational reports, deadlines, audits, and administrative responsibilities.

Vendors, Facilities, Technology & Safety

• Manage relationships with external vendors and contracted providers, including [transportation, facilities, and other contracted services], and hold vendors to their commitments.
• Monitor vendor performance, resolve operational concerns, and escalate issues when necessary.
• Coordinate maintenance requests, campus improvements, and facility needs with [the facility owner / facilities vendor], and manage school assets.
• Lead the technology team and manage operational technology systems across campus.
• Ensure the campus is safe, clean, organized, and reflective of RFMA’s identity and standards.
• Lead campus safety systems, including emergency preparedness plans, drills, crisis-response procedures, and operational compliance.

Family Engagement & Community Partnerships

• Communicate fluently in Spanish and English with families, staff, and partners, and carry RFMA’s mission of culture, language, and community into operations.
• Build strong relationships with families through proactive, bilingual communication and responsive support.
• Coordinate school-wide events, including family nights, Cafecitos, orientations, cultural celebrations, and the 8th grade promotion ceremony.
• Ensure families receive clear, timely, and professional communication, in English and Spanish, about school operations and events.
• Support enrollment, registration, and onboarding for new Magonistas and families.

Team Coaching & Supervision

• Supervise and coach a team of four across the front office, health, custodial, and food service functions: the Front Office Manager, the school nurse, custodial staff, and food services staff. As the team’s leader you will oversee:
  • Clear expectations for every role, and coaching and development of core skills through co-doing the work together
  • Observation of the work and direct, timely feedback
  • Accountability systems that ensure a high level of execution
  • Weekly 1:1s with each team member to ensure ongoing alignment

• Oversee staff PTO systems, tracking, approvals, and communication to ensure coverage and continuity.
• Support hiring and onboarding of operations team members.
• Ensure all staff are trained on operational procedures, emergency protocols, and compliance expectations.
• Foster a collaborative, positive team culture focused on service, efficiency, and student-centered operations.

Logistics & Special Projects

• Oversee logistics and planning for field trips, state testing, after-school programming, special events, and school-wide initiatives.
• Jump in wherever needed to keep daily operations smooth and the school experience positive for all stakeholders.

Position Requirements / Preferences

• Full commitment to, belief in, and alignment with the mission and vision of Ricardo Flores Magón Academy.
• Full commitment to our values and to intentionally building a diverse, inclusive, and culturally affirming work and learning environment for all.
• Unyielding optimism that every child can perform at or above grade level regardless of where they start their educational journey.
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree.
• Ideally, a minimum of three years working in a public education setting. Candidates from outside education are welcome to apply if coming from similar operational leadership roles in the nonprofit or for-profit sector.
• Experience supervising and coaching a team, and leading school or organizational operations.
• Experience managing budgets, payroll data, or grants; experience with federal programs or authorizer/state compliance strongly preferred.
• Strong track record of building positive relationships with staff, students, and families.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated cultural competence and a humble commitment to continued growth in this area.
• Strong organizational skills, evidenced by exceptional time and task management.
• Openness to feedback and a strong desire for continual professional growth.
• Willingness to take responsibility for outcomes without excuse.
• Ability to work full-time, including some evenings and weekends, with a “whatever it takes” disposition.
• Ability to work in person in the school building. This is not a remote role.
• Bilingual required (English / Spanish).

Apply Today

Priority application deadline: week of October 26, 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Anticipated start date: January 2027.

As an equal opportunity employer, Ricardo Flores Magón Academy hires without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.