Operations Manager

About Civic Debate AcademyCivic Debate Academy is the number one-ranked program in the United States. Headquartered in Chicago, CDA has taught hundreds of students how to think critically, problem solve, and use their voice. CDA's members attend schools like the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and more. Competitively, CDA has finaled or won state tournaments in four states, and in the 20252026 season, has accumulated over 250 team awards, making it the highest-ranked debate academy in the country.As an organization, Civic Debate Academy is dedicated to making debate accessible to all. We meet 100% of demonstrated financial need and have provided over $90,000 of aid in the past 12 months.Office moving to Chicago, IL in June (Location TBD). The RoleWe're looking for a Class Operations Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of our after-school class program while also serving as an instructor. This is a hands-on leadership role that blends program management, parent communication, staff oversight, and direct teaching.Classes run in the evenings after school, so this role requires consistent evening availability. You'll split your time between operational responsibilities (~2530 hours/week) and classroom instruction (~1015 hours/week), reporting directly to the Director of Debate. Occasional extended hours may be expected during peak seasons.What You'll DoOperations & Program ManagementServe as the primary point of contact for parents, providing timely and professional communicationCoordinate substitute instructors and manage scheduling across the class programMaintain and uphold teaching quality standards across all classesManage and support a team of approximately 20 part-time instructorsProvide ongoing support to staff and families to ensure a positive program experienceInstructionTeach Public Forum debate classes across various skill levelsDeliver engaging, high-quality instruction aligned with CDA's curriculum and teaching philosophyAdditional instruction in other debate formats, as needed and within abilitiesQualificationsRequiredBachelor's degree2+ years of competitive debate experience2+ years of debate education experienceOne weekend day of workAbility to work afternoon and evening hours, typically 2:0010:00 PMPreferredDemonstrated competitive debate success (e.g., elimination rounds at major tournaments)Experience in a debate administration roleGrowth & AdvancementCDA is a rapidly growing organization, and this role is positioned at the center of that growth. As the class program expands, there is a significant opportunity to take on greater leadership responsibility, shape program strategy, and grow into a senior operations or program director role within the organization.CompensationStarting at $50,000 annually, with room to negotiate based on experiencePerformance-based bonus potentialHybrid work arrangement with 2 days per week in our Chicago office recblid v7l5f25x9ul18b136egvevpl8s3l8v

Created: 2026-03-10