The Gate School

About The Gate School

The Gate School (TGS) is a tuition-free public charter middle school opening in Nashville in Fall 2027. Middle school is a pivotal time: students are forming beliefs about who they are, what they are capable of and what kind of learner they will become. We are building a school where they meet rigorous, meaningful work and adults who know them well.

At TGS, every leader teaches. Our Partners lead the school's core work while staying in the classroom, so coaching, feedback and decisions stay close to students.

The Role

The Director of Operations owns everything outside the classroom so that teachers can teach and students can learn. Reporting to the Operations Partner, this person builds The Gate School's operational systems from the ground up, leading up to school launch in fall 2027, and runs it day to day after opening.

• Title: Director of Operations (founding team)
• Reports to: Operations Partner
• Location: Nashville, Tennessee, on site
• Type: Full-time, exempt, 12-month position
• Start date: Flexible, ideally January or February 2027

What You'll Do

Community Engagement and Outreach

• Partner with the Executive Partner around recruitment events and outreach.
• Plan and run logistics for family and community events. Manage agreements and logistics with community partners and facility users.
• Maintain strong relationships and communication with community partners.

Enrollment and Student Records

• Manage and execute the enrollment and lottery processes in line with Tennessee charter law.
• Manage student records, registration, and family communications.

Finance and Business Operations

• Manage the budget day to day, purchasing, bill.com processes, and reconciliations with the back-office provider. 
• Analyze P&L monthly with the Operations partner to ensure budget targets and process expectations are met. 

Governance and Compliance

• Ensure all compliance tasks are completed and deadlines are met with the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission and the Tennessee Department of Education. 
• Update the compliance calendar tracker with completed tasks and ensure all required reports are submitted on time. 
• Respond to any other real time requests from TPCSC and TDOE in a timely manner. 

Daily Operations

• Build and execute the operational launch plan and timeline for the first , and hold the team to it
• Run arrival, dismissal, meals, transportation, and attendance
• Manage technology, including devices and the AI tools that support instruction
• Own and lead emergency planning, drills, and campus safety. 

Facilities

• After opening- Maintain building compliance: annual fire marshal inspection, required insurance. 
• Manage all regular building maintenance, custodial team, security, and overall building organization.  
• Plan furniture, technology installs and safety checks for move-in.

Talent, HR, and Payroll

• Manage and execute all hiring logistics, onboarding, background checks, and licensure tracking. Maintain personnel files and HR policies. 
• Manage and execute all payroll, benefits enrollment, and Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System reporting.
• Maintain the employee handbook. 

Management and Team Building

• Build and supervise the operations team as the school grows

Who You Are

Required

• Bachelor's degree
• 4+ years of operations experience- 2 in a school, nonprofit, or startup
• A track record of building systems and managing complex projects to a deadline
• Experience managing budgets and vendor relationships
• Strong command of Google Workspace and spreadsheets
• Ability to pass a Tennessee background check

Preferred

• Operations experience at a charter school, especially a school launch or early-stage school
• Familiarity with Tennessee charter compliance, school finance, and student information systems
• Supervisory experience
• Ties to the Nashville community, especially West or North Nashville

Competencies and Mindsets

• Builder: You get energy from creating something that doesn't exist yet, and you are comfortable with ambiguity.
• Detail-driven: Nothing falls through the cracks. You track deadlines, dollars, and documents with precision.
• Service-minded: You see your work as clearing the way for teachers and students, and you treat families with warmth and respect.
• Calm under pressure: You solve problems quickly on a busy morning and still think ahead to next semester.
• Mission-aligned: You believe every child deserves a rigorous, joyful education, and you want to help prove it can be done. You believe that the concept of the Narrow Gate is the way to greater success. 

Compensation, Benefits 

Compensation: $75,000-$90,000 depending on experience level.

Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance; Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System participation; paid time off; and continued professional development.

The Gate School is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.