Director of School Services, 25-26 SY Academic Year

Director of School Services, 25-26 SY Academic Year

Focus Area: Day-to-Day Operations of School Services

Report to: Principal

Who We Are

Heartwood Community School is a community-focused, tuition-free charter school serving Jasper, Beaufort, and Hampton Counties in South Carolina. We believe in educating the whole child—nurturing each student academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. Honoring every child’s unique journey, we bridge home and school to foster a compassionate, empowering environment where students feel seen and valued. Our mission goes beyond academics; we guide students to become resilient problem-solvers, compassionate community builders, globally minded citizens, emotionally intelligent leaders, and lifelong learners. Embracing mistakes as part of growth, we equip students to thrive in school and life—ready to make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.

The Role

We are seeking a proactive and service-minded Director of School Services to lead all systems that support the health, safety, and daily logistics of our campus. This leader ensures that every student and staff member learns and works in a clean, safe, and nurturing environment where facilities, nutrition, and transportation operate seamlessly. The ideal candidate is a hands-on problem solver who combines operational excellence with a deep commitment to student well-being.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• Supervise managers and staff across several departments: facilities, nutrition, transportation, security, health.
• Manage contracts and vendor performance, ensuring vendors meet SLAs.
• Manage the budget for all school-based services in collaboration with the Director of Business Services.

Facilities Management

• Oversee in-house and contracted maintenance and custodial services.
• Lead long-term facilities planning and capital improvement projects.
• Ensure school facilities are maintained and cleaned to provide a welcoming, safe, and functional environment for all.

Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness

• Provide oversight and strategic direction for all safety and emergency preparedness systems.
• Manage building security systems, including surveillance systems, emergency alert systems, and access controls
• Supervise, and collaborate with, the School Security Officer to ensure consistent implementation of safety protocols across campus.
• Ensure emergency preparedness plans, drills, and response procedures are regularly updated and effectively executed.
• Coordinate with the School Security Officer, Principal, and local emergency response agencies to maintain readiness and compliance.
• Review and ensure completion of all documentation, reports, and compliance requirements related to health, safety, and emergency management.

Nutrition Services

• Oversee all food service operations, ensuring meals and snacks meet Heartwood’s
• vision for nutrition, health, and wellness.
• Lead the Executive Chef in managing all kitchen and food service staff and
• vendors.
• Monitor food quality, safety, and satisfaction.
• Supervise the timely completion of audits and inspections.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal nutrition guidelines including the
• National School Lunch Program.

Transportation

• Manage school transportation systems: creating and overseeing bus routes and driver schedules.
• Design and oversee processes for student arrival/dismissal, and field trip logistics.
• Lead relationships with contracted vendors for vehicle maintenance, safety inspections, and other transportation-related services.
• Ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Health & Wellness

• Partner with the School Nurse to support student health & hygiene needs and design/implement student wellness initiatives.
• Monitor implementation of student care plans.
• Oversee systems for incident reporting.
• Ensure that Heartwood meets all public health and safety standards.

Collaboration and Shared Leadership

• The Director of School Services and the Director of Business Services work in close partnership to ensure every operational system at Heartwood runs smoothly, efficiently, and in full support of teaching and learning. They communicate regularly, align on priorities, and model the shared leadership that defines Heartwood’s culture of collaboration and care.

Requirements

Skills and Characteristics

• Deep commitment to Heartwood’s mission and the well-being of children.
• Excellent problem-solving and project management skills.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, and communication abilities.
• Commitment to safety, efficiency, and operational excellence.
• Ability to anticipate needs and act decisively in dynamic environments.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree is preferred, but not required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience managing school operations.
• A strong track record of delivering excellent service in operations.
• Experience supervising staff and managing vendor relationships.
• Knowledge of school facilities, safety, food service, and transportation compliance.

Benefits

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this role starts at $110,000, with eligibility for relocation assistance.Heartwood offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life and Disability Coverage
• FSA/HSA Options
• Retirement Plans

Our Commitment

Heartwood Community School is deeply committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.