Director of Operations Search
Position Profile - Director of Operations
KidSmart – St. Louis, MO
KidSmart is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to lead the overall administration and operation of KidSmart’s facilities, free store, product management, and programs to build on their exceptional record of providing free educational resources to students in need, and to be a key member of KidSmart’s growing executive management team.
The Organization
KidSmart was founded in 2002 with a mission to empower children in need to succeed in school by providing the essential tools for learning. Since its inception, KidSmart has distributed more than $22 million in free school supplies to nearly 100,000 economically disadvantaged children in the
St. Louis area. Donations from individuals and businesses help keep the shelves of its Free Store stocked with thousands of surplus and new items. Teacher shopping visits grew by 18% last year alone, and at present, nearly $30,000.00 worth of free supplies are distributed daily to teachers to take back to 3000 students in need.
Programs
- The KidSmart Free Store is where teachers shop for instructional supplies and educational incentives, at no cost, to equip St. Louis kids in need. The store is an educational resource center that provides support and inspiration for enhancing educational opportunities for children living in poverty.
- Crafts with Conviction is a collaborative program with the Missouri Department of Corrections in which offenders volunteer their time and labor to transform donated raw materials into educational and incentive items that are distributed by KidSmart.
KidSmart is the only free educational supply store in Missouri and serves students at more than 150 St. Louis-area schools, with priority given to schools with the highest poverty indices. KidSmart is located in an 11,000 square foot facility in Bridgeton, MO that houses its Free Store, warehouse and offices.
The organization is governed by a 15 member board of directors. The budget is approximately $5.5 million, including about $4.5 million in donated goods. Current staffing includes 7 positions.
KidSmart can be characterized as mature beyond its ten years, with solid finances, a talented, connected and well-developed board, and a committed staff. It is widely respected in the community by funders, the school systems, teachers and other community leaders. The organizational culture can be described as sophisticated yet down to earth, gracious and creative, and further distinguished by forward thinking and a commitment to setting and achieving high standards.
The Position
KidSmart is seeking a Director of Operations who has the confidence, knowledge and creativity to lead the retail, facility and corporate operations of this exceptionally solid, growing, and well positioned community-based nonprofit. The organization is looking for someone who is well prepared to provide the inspired external and internal leadership required of this role.
This is a key executive leadership position that requires a strategic thinker, capable manager and seasoned operations professional who can be hands on whenever needed. The Director of Operations will oversee and manage all facilities (including the warehouse, the Free Store, and the organization’s administrative offices), oversee all programs (including the Free Store operations, volunteer management, and the Crafts With Conviction program), and supervise the Operations and School Relations staff. (The Director of Operations is also responsible for procurement, management, and distribution of all donated product (last year KidSmart distributed $3.5 million worth of supplies to students in need.).
Over the next two years, KidSmart’s goal is to reach more students by increasing the eligible teachers’ utilization rate of the store, planning for a new facility while improving organizational operations and efficiencies, increasing the availability of donated product for teachers to distribute to students in need, and completing a successful growth and capital campaign to move to a larger, more efficient, permanent rent-free facility. Priorities for the Director of Operations over the next 12 - 18 months include:
- Procure and distribute $6 million worth of supplies
- Increase overall teacher usage by 25% of the Free Store
- Secure $1 million worth of new “top five” products (basics like crayons, pencils) as well as new “fresh” product
- Optimize operational and warehouse efficiencies
- Develop a technology framework for inventory control, shopper management, and volunteer management
- Develop standard operating procedures for warehouse and operations that reflect industry best practices
- Provide critical data and analysis of warehouse and operations needs for use in capital campaign planning, communication and relationship building
Key Responsibilities
The Director of Operations will report to the President and will lead the overall administration and operation of KidSmart’s facilities, Free Store, product management, and programs. He or she will build on KidSmart’s exceptional record of providing free educational resources to students in need, and will be a key member of the organization’s growing executive management team.
Key responsibilities include:
- Direct all Free Store and Warehouse operations
- Direct all Program activities
- Direct all Facilities management
- Direct Volunteer program and activities
- Lead Facilities Committee of Board of Directors
- Lead all procurement activities
- Serve as member of KidSmart’s Executive Management team
Qualifications
Ideal candidates for this position will share a commitment to KidSmart’s mission and will bring a variety of experiences and attributes, including:
Experience
- A proven track record of leadership and management with at least five years of senior operations management experience
- Experience in and senior management of retail, food banking, furniture banking, food service or similar organization
- An exceptional ability to build and maintain relationships and foster a spirit of collaboration with external partners, donors, and among board members, staff and volunteers
- Financial literacy
- Outstanding communication skills, both written and oral, including presentations in one-on-one and group settings with constituents at all levels
- Familiar with OSHA and other regulatory requirements
- Proficient in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and operation management systems
- A bachelor's degree (advanced degree highly preferred)
Attributes
- An entrepreneurial spirit and high level of creativity and innovation
- A proven leader with a bias for action and accountability
- A collaboration and relationship builder
- A team player and team builder
Compensation
· The salary is $85,000.
· KidSmart also offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package.
Application Process
· To apply, please send a letter of interest, resume and salary history via email only to:
KidSmart Search Committee
· Please, no phone calls or faxes.
· Application Deadline: January 6, 2012
For more information about KidSmart, please visit the website at: http://www.kidsmartstl.org
KidSmart is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to recruiting a broadly diverse pool of qualified candidates for the position.