Education Operations Business Manager (Cougar Mountain)

For over 30 years, Gersh Autism has empowered students on the autism spectrum to reach their full potential. Serving individuals aged 5-21 across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, our network of K-12 schools provides personalized education tailored to each student’s unique learning style. We offer comprehensive therapeutic services—speech, physical, occupational therapy, and more—along with vocational training for older students. Our dedicated team collaborates with families to ensure academic, social, and emotional growth, preparing students for success beyond the classroom.

At Gersh Autism, we are committed to helping individuals on the autism spectrum lead fulfilling, independent lives.

The Education Operations Business Manager plays a key role in the overall operations and financial integrity of Gersh Autism. This position provides leadership in school management, collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance and operational excellence, and supports strategic initiatives aligned with Gersh Autism Academy’s mission to empower students on the autism spectrum.

Leadership & Strategy

• Attend Senior Management and Leadership Team meetings to provide updates on school activities, business objectives, and outcomes.
• Collaborate with the corporate Finance, IT, Data and Compliance, and Facilities departments to ensure all school buildings follow established SOPs and operational standards.
• Plan and manage change initiatives aligned with the school’s development and strategic plan.

Financial Resource Management

• Actively monitor and control utilization and productivity performance by:
• • Maintaining mandate “burn-down” calendars to ensure all student mandates are met weekly, monthly, and annually, including BT assignments.
  • Conducting daily audits of all related service sessions to ensure verification and subsequent billing.
  • Hosting weekly utilization review calls, analyzing shortages or overages, and working with school leaders to identify root causes.
  • Creating monthly reporting on findings for Finance billing activities.
  • Meeting weekly with the IEP Coordinator to confirm that all mandate changes are properly documented in both the billing systems and the student contract.
• Own student contracts end-to-end, from enrollment through re-enrollment, including:
• • Overseeing GA contract updates and meeting bi-annually with advocacy attorneys to ensure all necessary changes are captured.
  • Partnering with Admissions and Enrollment teams to ensure new students are enrolled efficiently and on time.
  • Project-managing the enrollment and re-enrollment process within FinalSite.
  • Acting as liaison between Gersh and sending school districts to ensure district deadlines are met and all referral students are properly papered and billed twice per year.
• Health & Safety
• • Serve as the acting auditor for all safety drill logs.
  • Identify and mitigate hazards through proactive risk assessments.
  • Oversee school compliance with statutory obligations for students with special needs, ensuring adequate financial and agency support.
  • • This includes management of SOPs—auditing, creating, editing, and archiving as required.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Education, Operations Management, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in school operations, business management, or a leadership role within an educational or human services organization.
• Experience managing budgets, contracts, and vendor relationships.
• Prior experience in special education or working with individuals with autism preferred.

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Familiarity with education management systems such as PowerSchool, FinalSite, or similar platforms.
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills with attention to accuracy and detail.

Leadership & Communication

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate across departments.