Director of Finance and Operations (DFO)

Organization: Learning Blueprint ThinkerStudio

Reports To: Executive Director

Start Date: Fall 2026 (Operational Expansion)

Status: Full-Time

Position Overview

The Director of Finance and Operations (DFO) is a strategic and resourceful leader who serves as the Operational Architect of ThinkerStudio. While our Lead Artisans design the learning experiences, the DFO builds the infrastructure that makes that learning possible—ensuring the school is built on a foundation of financial health, operational excellence, and long-term mission sustainability.

This leader is responsible for translating our innovative Village Equity vision into a fiscally sound reality. The DFO serves as a shield for our instructional team, absorbing the complexities of non-profit compliance, procurement, and logistics so that our Artisan educators can focus entirely on students. This role requires a unique balance of fiduciary precision (to protect our 501(c)(3) mission) and operational creativity (to maximize resources for our "Margin of Excellence").

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Management & Strategy

  • Strategic Budgeting: Lead the annual budget development process, ensuring resources are allocated according to ThinkerStudio priorities: low student-teacher ratios, Village/cohort planning time, and specialized Learning Studios.

  • Non-Profit Stewardship: Manage day-to-day accounting in accordance with GAAP. Ensure the organization maintains a healthy Safety Net (reserve) and meets all 501(c)(3) financial reporting requirements.

  • The Village Equity Model: Oversee the complex tracking of our Professional Labor Contribution model. You will manage the verification of parent labor hours (100 hours/household) which replaces $120k+ in traditional payroll costs.

  • Fiscal Reporting: Prepare timely financial reports for the Executive Director and the Board, including budget vs. actuals, cash flow projections for our expansion, and scholarship fund status.

  • Managing the Margin of Excellence: Oversee the blending of tuition revenue with private philanthropy. Manage restricted funds for Capital Campaigns (Makerspaces, Garden, Campus without Walls Model) to ensure donor compliance and strategic impact.

2. Studio Operations & Compliance

  • Logistics Architect: Design the operational systems that make our inquiry-based model possible. This includes managing insurance requirements, safety protocols for off-site Expert Arcs, and transportation logistics.

  • Enrollment Systems: Own the student recruitment and registration lifecycle. You will manage the Intent to Enroll pool and automate tuition billing/collections using our digital management platforms.

  • Compliance & Licensing: Oversee all private school documentation and health/safety records. You will lead the coordination for TEPSAC alignment and any local licensing required for our Preschool Atelier.

  • Vendor & Procurement Management: Lead the procurement process for key partners (facility maintenance, specialized insurance, supplies). You will negotiate contracts that prioritize quality and alignment with our Community Hub philosophy.

3. Facilities & Technology Management

  • Facility Stewardship: Lead the operational management of our facility. Ensure specialized Learning Studios (Gardens, Makerspace, Campus without Walls Model) meet all health, safety, and instructional codes.

  • Maintenance & Safety: Oversee all facility-related matters, including preventative maintenance, safety drills, and relationship management with landlords or contractors.

  • Technology for Agency: Manage a strategic technology plan that prioritizes infrastructure for creation and documentation (e.g., high-speed Wi-Fi for coding, cameras for portfolios, and Makerspace tool software) rather than a traditional 1:1 laptop ratio.

4. Human Resources & Village Onboarding

  • Strategic Compensation: In partnership with the Executive Director, manage payroll and benefits administration. You will operationalize our competitive compensation model to ensure we honor our commitment to treating teachers as professionals.

  • Village Onboarding: Oversee a seamless onboarding process for new staff and Professional Labor families. You will ensure all non-instructional matters are handled efficiently so new members feel administratively supported and welcomed into the Village from Day 1.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Education: Master’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field (MBA or CPA preferred); OR a Master’s in Educational Leadership with a demonstrated emphasis on school finance and operations.

  • Experience: * Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a finance or operations leadership role.

    • Experience in a non-profit or independent school setting is highly preferred.

    • Demonstrated experience with financial modeling, facility management, and contract negotiation.

  • Skills:

    • Ability to build operational systems from the ground up.

    • Proficiency in modern financial and student information software.

    • Expertise in managing complex construction or renovation projects is a plus.

Founding Mindsets

  • Founder’s Resilience: An entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in ambiguity and views obstacles as design challenges.

  • Radical Trust in Artisans: A firm conviction that your role is to serve instruction by removing operational barriers for teachers.

  • The Village Heart: A belief that culture is built through relationships and that operations should be restorative rather than bureaucratic.

Compensation

  • Salary: Budgeted at $80,000 annually.

  • Benefits: Comprehensive benefits and taxes package (budgeted at 27% of salary).

  • Schedule: Full-Time, based at ThinkerStudio.