Job Description

Director of Operations (Hands-On, Growing Organization)

Mad Science of DC–Maryland–Virginia

In-Person | Silver Spring, MD

$105,000–$130,000 + Benefits

About the Role

Mad Science of DC–Maryland–Virginia brings hands-on science programs to 100+ schools, 20,000+ students, and 170+ summer camps across the region each year. Our mission is to make science exciting, memorable, and fun for kids, and behind the scenes, that takes a thoughtful, well-run operation.

We’re hiring a Director of Operations to lead that operation.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys solving real problems, managing people, and building systems that make life easier for teams in the field. You’ll work closely with the owner and leadership team, oversee day-to-day operations, and steadily improve how we schedule, staff, train, and support a large, multi-site organization.

If you like variety, responsibility, and seeing the direct impact of your work, this role offers all three.

This position is best suited for someone who:

• Likes being in the mix , not siloed
• Is comfortable juggling logistics, people, and priorities
• Enjoys building structure in active, fast-moving environments
• Wants to grow with an organization that values trust, autonomy, and mission

You won’t be dropped into chaos, but you also won’t be bored.

What You’ll LeadLogistics & Scheduling (Core Function)

• Build and manage weekly schedules for programs at 100+ schools
• Assign 20–30 instructors during the school year and 80+ instructors in summer
• Ensure 100% program coverage with minimal last-minute changes
• Optimize instructor travel routes, timing, and resource allocation
• Oversee equipment flow, supply kits, and warehouse coordination
• Maintain a stable, predictable logistics rhythm across the organization
  

Team Leadership

• Lead Senior Instructors, Zone Coordinators, and instructional staff
• Run training, onboarding, and staff development programs
• Ensure consistent, high-quality program delivery across sites
  

Summer Operations (High-Volume Season)

• Serve as first point of contact for routine counselor issues
• Handle typical parent calls and moderate behavior concerns
• Provide rapid problem-solving support to staff on-site
• Escalate serious behavior or safety issues directly to the owner
• Ensure camps run smoothly, safely, and with high parent satisfaction
  

Hiring & Staffing

• Own recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding
• Build and maintain seasonal hiring pipelines
• Develop staffing plans for both school-year and summer demand
  

Office Operations & Culture

• Help maintain a positive, energetic, mission-driven office culture
• Collaborate with the owner on staff performance tracking
• Lead internal events (team gatherings, holiday events, staff appreciation)
  

Customer, School & Parent Support (School Year)

• Resolve operational issues quickly and professionally
• Provide program quality oversight
• Support the sales team during high-volume periods when needed
  

Compliance & Standards

• Maintain background checks, certifications, and safety documentation
• Keep policies updated and properly documented
• Create and maintain SOPs for key operational processes
  

Strategic Growth Support

As the company grows, you’ll partner with leadership to:

• Identify opportunities to scale
• Improve and automate operational systems
• Increase organizational capacity
• Forecast logistics and staffing needs for expansion
• Ensure infrastructure supports smart, sustainable growth

This role has significant influence over how Mad Science evolves in the coming years.

What Success Looks Like (After Ramp-Up)

You won’t be expected to hit all of this on day one. These are the outcomes we work toward together over your first 6–12 months :

• 95–100% of programs staffed at least 7 days in advance
• Less than 3% same-day staffing changes
• 98%+ on-time program start rate
• Measurable reduction in instructor travel time within 6 months
• Parent & school satisfaction rating of 4.7+/5
• Summer hiring completed by May 15
• Full implementation of SOPs within 6 months
• Strong seasonal staff retention and training completion

Success here is about stability, predictability, and continuous improvement — not perfection.

Hours & Location

Full-Time · In-Person

12065 Tech Rd, Silver Spring, MD

School Year:

Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Summer (10 weeks):

Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Summer includes after-hours availability for urgent scheduling or staffing issues. These situations are typically brief, require quick decision-making, and can be handled remotely.

Compensation & Benefits

• $105,000–$130,000 , based on experience and demonstrated strength in multi-site operations
• Health insurance (60% employer-paid)
• Retirement plan with match + Roth IRA option
• PTO, holidays, and sick leave
  

Why Join Us

This is the highest operations role in the company, offering long-term stability, meaningful autonomy, and the opportunity to run a complex, mission-driven organization that reaches thousands of families every year.

You’ll build systems that matter, lead people who care, and help shape how Mad Science grows in the years ahead.

Job Tags

Full time, Summer work, Seasonal work, Work at office, Remote work, Monday to Friday,

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