Managing Director of Management Information Systems (Immediate Opening)

Job description

Managing Director of Management Information Systems (MIS) Role Mission : The Managing Director of Management Information Systems (MIS) leads all student data management, state compliance reporting, and information systems strategy for IDEA Public Schools' Florida region. This role is the linchpin between our schools, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), and our internal teams — ensuring that every piece of student data is accurate, compliant, timely, and actionable. The Managing Director owns the end-to-end operation of IDEA Florida's student information system (FOCUS), drives a culture of data integrity across all six Florida campuses, and serves as the primary authority on all requirements under Florida's Comprehensive Management Information System (CMIS) and the Automated Student Attendance Recordkeeping System (ATDM). This leader partners closely with school principals, the Florida Executive Director, and IPS's national finance and operations teams to ensure that student data directly supports enrollment growth, FTE funding accuracy, and compliance with all state and federal regulatory requirements. Supervisory Responsibilities : This role will : • Directly supervises MIS Coordinators/Specialists at each Florida campus • Provide functional oversight of campus-level data entry staff responsible for FOCUS system inputs • Partner with the IPS HR Director on hiring, onboarding, and performance management for direct reports Location: ​​ This is a full-time (remote/on-site) position based in Florida , with preference given to candidates who live in Jacksonville, Tampa or Lakeland , or who are willing to relocate. Travel Expectations: R egular travel to all IDEA Florida campuses ( in Jacksonville, Lakeland and Tampa) to support data quality reviews, staff training, and compliance preparation . An additional 1 0% of travel time will include a ttendance at FDOE trainings , stakeholder meetings, and relevant conferences What You’ll Do – Essential Duties and Accountabilities State Reporting and Regulatory Compliance • Own and manage all Florida state reporting submissions through FOCUS, including all FDOE survey windows (Surveys 1–5) and end-of-year reporting • Ensure full compliance with Florida's Comprehensive Management Information System (CMIS) requirements, including all automated student attendance recordkeeping requirements under Rule 6A-1.044(3), FAC and Section 1003.23, Florida Statutes • Maintain complete, accurate, and audit-ready student attendance records at both the school and district level — including daily PK–12 records (ESE 950/ESE 955) and period-by-period records for grades 9–12 (ESE 953, ESE 954, ESE 956, ESE 981) • Manage all student entry, re-entry, and withdrawal coding in FOCUS, ensuring accurate use of applicable codes (DNE, W-codes, R-codes) consistent with FDOE requirements • Coordinate FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) survey submissions and support FTE audit preparation — ensuring that all attendance records, membership data, and supporting documentation are complete and accessible for a three-year audit window • Ensure accurate and timely tracking and reporting of all special student populations, including: Hospital/Homebound students, Virtual instruction students, ESE students in resource/pullout classes, Early admission and dual enrollment students, Year-round and intersession enrollment • Monitor and enforce adherence to FDOE attendance definitions and procedures — including proper use of excused/unexcused absence codes, tardy recording, and compulsory attendance law requirements • Maintain full compliance with data privacy regulations applicable to Florida public charter schools, including FERPA, CCPA, and HIPAA as applicable Student Information System (FOCUS) Management • Serve as the organizational lead and primary system administrator for FOCUS across all IDEA Florida campuses • Ensure FOCUS is configured, maintained, and continuously improved to meet all FDOE reporting requirements and IDEA Florida operational needs • Develop and enforce system-wide data entry standards, audit procedures, and user access protocols across all six campuses • Establish and maintain electronic recordkeeping procedures that comply with Rule 6A-1.044(2), FAC — including audit log maintenance, sign-on indicators, backup and redundancy protocols, and daily change logging • Coordinate with FOCUS vendor on system updates, issue resolution, data interoperability needs, and customization aligned with Florida-specific requirements • Lead regular data audits in FOCUS to proactively identify and correct errors prior to state reporting windows • Develop and maintain documentation, standard operating procedures, training materials, and user guides for all FOCUS workflows Data Quality and Integrity: • Build and sustain a culture of data accuracy across all Florida campuses — ensuring that school staff understand and own their role in the data pipeline • Design and implement a systematic data quality review cycle aligned to FDOE survey calendars, FTE count periods, and IDEA's internal enrollment reporting cadences • Establish 100% on-time submission as the standard for all state and district reporting deadlines • Partner with school principals and campus MIS staff to identify root causes of data errors and implement corrective training and process improvements • Analyze enrollment, attendance, and withdrawal trends to surface insights relevant to IDEA Florida's student persistence and enrollment goals Cross Functional Partnership & Leadership • Serve as the primary liaison between IDEA Florida and FDOE on all matters related to student data, MIS reporting, and compliance • Partner with the IPS VP of Finance and Controller to ensure FTE revenue projections are grounded in accurate enrollment and attendance data • Collaborate with IPS's national HR team to maintain accurate employee data in systems that intersect with state reporting • Support the Florida Executive Director with data and analysis for board reporting, fiduciary oversight, and strategic planning • Coordinate with IPS's national IST/technology leadership on system infrastructure, data security, and any technology needs related to MIS operations • Represent IDEA Florida in PAEC (Panhandle Area Educational Consortium) and other Florida charter/district MIS professional communities, staying current on changes to FDOE requirements and best practices Training and Organizational Capacity • Design and deliver ongoing training programs for campus MIS staff, school administrators, and teachers on FOCUS data entry, attendance procedures, and state reporting requirements • Ensure all campus staff responsible for attendance recordkeeping understand and follow FDOE procedures — including proper use of electronic attendance systems, sign-on requirements, and audit trail maintenance • Build internal MIS capacity so that IDEA Florida is not reliant on any single person for state reporting continuity What You Will Bring – Required Knowledge & Skills • Deep expertise in Florida K-12 education data systems and FDOE state reporting requirements, including FTE surveys, CMIS/ATDM compliance, and attendance recordkeeping under Florida Statutes and State Board of Education Rules • Demonstrated experience administering or leading operations in a student information system — FOCUS experience strongly preferred; experience with other Florida-compliant SIS platforms (Skyward, PowerSchool, Infinite Campus) considered • Fluency in Florida attendance definitions, codes, and procedures: daily attendance (PK-12), period-by-period (9-12), entry/withdrawal/re-entry coding, DNE procedures, FTE audit requirements, Hospital/Homebound, Virtual School, and Intersession recordkeeping • Strong analytical skills — able to identify data patterns, audit for errors, and communicate data findings clearly to non-technical audiences including school leaders and executives • Excellent project management skills — able to manage multiple simultaneous deadlines including state survey windows, FTE submissions, and internal reporting calendars • Strong interpersonal and communication skills — able to build relationships with school principals, campus staff, FDOE contacts, and IPS leadership • Familiarity with applicable data privacy regulations (FERPA, CCPA, HIPAA) in the context of K-12 student data Required Education and E xperience : • Bachelor's degree required; field of study in Education, Information Systems, Data Analytics, Business, or a related field preferred • Advanced degree or relevant Florida education data certifications a plus • 5+ years of experience in K-12 education data management, MIS, or state reporting — with at least 3 years in a Florida public school district or charter management organization • Prior supervisory or team leadership experience required • Experience managing data compliance in a multi-site or multi-campus environment strongly preferred • Prior experience working with or for Florida charter schools a plus What We Offer: Compensation & Benefits: Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $1 14 ,100 and $1 44 ,600, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment. Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at . * IDEA may offer a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable. About IDEA Florida IDEA Florida currently operates six schools serving approximately 5,000 students. IPS Enterprises, Inc. is the management company for all IDEA Public Schools operating outside of Texas. The Managing Director of MIS reports to the Florida Executive Director and works closely with the IPS national executive team. IDEA Florida is in an active growth phase, with a goal of reaching approximately 7,000 students over the next 2–3 years — making accurate enrollment data and FTE compliance foundational to the organization's financial sustainability and mission.