Career Center

Founded in 1961, Sandy Spring Friends School is a progressive, coed, academically-rigorous day and boarding school serving approximately 600 students from age three through 12th grade. The campus is located on 140 acres in the historic Sandy Spring area of Montgomery County, Maryland, and the School is approved by the Maryland State Board of Education and accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools.

Our school’s culture, rooted in the idea that collaboration engenders achievement, can be traced to our Quaker heritage and abiding belief in the Quaker values of simplicity, equality, honesty, stewardship of the environment, and peaceful resolution of conflict.

Summary: The Director of Operations is responsible for providing tactical and strategic oversight, management, and planning of all aspects of the daily physical operation and maintenance of the school’s campus and programs. The Director of Operations is central in campus planning and will work closely with the Head of School and the Board of Trustees’ Buildings and Grounds Committee on initiatives related to the school’s aspirations for enhanced and expanded facilities, continued financial growth and stability, and strong community connections. The Director of Operations has oversight over the Director of Facilities and Transportation, the Safety Team, Dining Services, and Cleaning Services, including managing external service contracts. The Director serves as the school’s General Contractor and manages all construction, renovation, and maintenance projects. Reporting directly to the Head of School as part of the Administrative Council, the Director works closely with the Chief Financial Officer, Division Heads, Assistant Head of School, Director of Advancement, and other school leaders to fulfill the mission, vision, and brand of the school.

Director of Operations, Full-time, 12-month, Exempt

Essential Job Functions: 

• Ensure the smooth and successful daily running of the school’s campus and facilities, including support for managing special events held on campus

• Supervise and mentor the Director of Facilities and Transportation and support the Facilities Team in their short-term and long-term projects

• Provide leadership and strategic planning in the school’s Transportation Services which include daily bus routes and field trip transportation 

• Oversee the School’s food service operation through direct management of third party contracted food service provider, ensuring a high quality, student-oriented dining experience

• Oversee the Summer at Sandy Spring Friends program and other auxiliary programs and rentals

• Assume responsibility for the School’s insurance policies; maintains sufficient commercial, liability, workers comp, professional, and all other necessary coverages.

• Oversee the planning, contracting and administration of all major, capital projects for the School, with budgetary projections and goals.

• Perform contract negotiations and management, for all major service providers (food service, housekeeping, grounds services, etc.).

• Ensure compliance with all codes and regulations governing the use, construction, maintenance and improvement of site and facilities.

• Foster, maintain and manage relationships with State, County and local community organizations.

• Lead the Safety and Security Planning Committee to support campus safety and risk management efforts, including oversight of the school’s campus safety equipment - video cameras, electronic doors, alarms, etc. 

• Serve in a leadership role on the Emergency Response Team including physical safety emergencies, weather emergencies, and health emergencies as well as taking responsibility for designing and implementing fire related protocols and drills, weather related protocols and drills, campus lockdown procedures, and campus evacuation procedures 

• Collaborate with CFO and Head of School on annual budget for operations, facilities and transportation expenses, including managing the PPRRSM budget

• Collaborate with Director of Advancement in capital campaign planning and fundraising related to campus operations

• Manage all purchasing for FFE (Furniture, FIxtures, Equipment) for School operations

• Provide logistical oversight for all major School events (program, advancement, facility rentals, etc.)

• Provide direction and guidance to the School community, for stewardship in resources, waste management and energy management.

• Attends monthly board meetings of the SSFS Board of Trustees, and serves as administrative liaison to the Board’s Buildings and Grounds Committee. Serves on other Board committees, as requested.

Knowledge and Skill Set Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree

• Visionary leader who is able to embrace Quaker values and use Quaker process 

• Proven skills in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, with experience leading and working successfully in a diverse environment 

• Demonstrated success in senior level facilities management or operations positions within an educational institution, or other non-profit organization

• Knowledge of design, construction and renovation protocols

• Sound fiscal management skills

• Experience supervising individuals and teams effectively 

• A collaborative leader and worker with strong internal motivation, follow-through, and strong executive functioning skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Strong interpersonal skills

• Strength in research, data collection, and analysis

• An advanced understanding of, and ability to use, technology, including Microsoft Office, and on-line technologies (including Google)

• Ability to establish, implement and maintain operational policies, procedures, controls and standards in a complex environment with multiple demands and on time and attention

• Demonstrated strategic and long-range planning skills

• Creativity and innovation 

Physical Requirements: Daily desk work including significant amounts of telephone and computer time; as part of daily routines, the ability to move around a large campus with uneven pavement and managing stairs; frequent walking inside and outside responding to campus issues and/or checking on various departmental progress.

Commitment to Diversity: Sandy Spring Friends School embraces the Quaker testimony of Equality and seeks applicants who represent all backgrounds and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We greatly value our diverse student population with 42% of students self-identifying as people of color and 89 international students representing 21 different countries. We actively seek faculty representative of our students’ diversity. Click to learn more about diversity at Sandy Spring Friends School. Special consideration may be given to members of The Religious Society of Friends. 

Sandy Spring Friends School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or a person's status as a qualified candidate with a disability in administration of its educational program, admission policies, financial aid program, staff hiring and other school-administered programs. 

Please provide a cover letter, resume, a completed application, and three professional references by selecting the link.

About www.ssfs.org

SSFS offers an inquiry-based college preparatory program that emphasizes deep understanding throughout the curriculum while encouraging collaboration, instilling confidence, fostering practical experience, and cultivating respect for others. The School's teachers help students internalize a process we call "QRA” —Question, Reflection, Action—which ensures that they think critically, integrate new knowledge, and apply what they learn. We help students develop their individual sense of purpose as they become caring citizens of the world. Our school’s culture, rooted in the idea that collaboration engenders achievement, can be traced to our Quaker heritage and abiding belief in the Quaker values of simplicity, equality, honesty, stewardship of the environment, and peaceful resolution of conflict. Our teachers are lifelong mentors and strive to identify and cultivate each student’s intellectual, extracurricular, and social passions. In doing so, we help shape students whose actions speak volumes and whose lives become exemplars—not only among their peers and families today but also in their personal, educational, and professional communities long after high school. Sandy Spring Frie...nds School students are taught to act upon what they learn. This call to action propels their accomplishments as graduates, in college, and beyond.

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