School Operations Associate

About Buffalo Commons

Buffalo Commons is an academically rigorous, creative, and collaborative K-8 learning community that uses research-based practices and innovative programming to close the opportunity gap and prepare a diverse student body to lead successful lives which strengthen their communities.

We provide best-in-class academic preparation, supporting each child in becoming an ethical decision-maker, offering all students the tools they need to thrive in our diverse world, and developing every child’s sense of purpose.

Our Commitment To You

• We invest in you and your development. We support you through individualized coaching, grade-team, and robust schoolwide professional development.
• We value your input and ideas. We’ll consult you on relevant matters that will impact you, your staff/team, and the organization as a whole.
• We bring an equity lens. We are committed to continuous learning and improvement to ensure that identity, background, or culture are not what determine your success.
• We strive for “real talk.” We provide direct and candid feedback. You’ll know how you’re doing and where you stand.
• We make space for you to be fully seen and heard as a whole individual.

About The Position

The School Receptionist is the welcoming first point of contact for students, families, staff, and visitors at Buffalo Commons. The Receptionist manages the front desk and phones, supports basic daily office and student logistics, and assists with lunch service each day. This role requires someone who is warm, dependable, organized, quick-thinking, and willing to pitch in wherever needed to help the school day run smoothly. The School Receptionist reports to the Operations Manager.

Primary Responsibilities

Front Desk & Family Support

• Greet and assist students, families, staff, visitors, and vendors
• Answer and route incoming phone calls and messages
• Support student late arrivals, early pickups, and dismissal changes
• Receive and distribute mail, packages, and deliveries

Lunch Service

• Assist with daily lunch setup and food service
• Serve meals to students in a warm, efficient, and orderly manner
• Support meal counts, basic documentation, and cleanup as needed

Daily School Support

• Complete routine copying, filing, organizing, and other clerical tasks
• Provide basic support to the Operations Manager and school team
• Respond flexibly to day-to-day needs that help the school run smoothly

About You

Commons is a values driven organization. Commons might be a great place for you if you see yourself some of our core values:

• Authentic. You show up fully as yourself, with integrity, self-awareness and a true understanding of “what it takes” to be a great colleague, strong educator, and fulfilled person.
• Curious. There’s always more to know out there, and you’re hungry for it. You are constantly absorbing information from a variety of sources. If something doesn’t make sense, you ask questions until it does, and you apply what you learn in your work.
• Creative. You leverage resources creatively to solve problems and dive right in. You often consult with others, but you can also propose solutions and get things rolling without much guidance.
• Compassionate. You enjoy building authentic, mutual relationships across lines of difference. You recognize the value of divergent perspectives and regularly include others in planning and decision-making.
• Committed. You are all in on making a positive difference in the lives of a diverse group of young people in our community. The mission of Commons speaks to you on a soul level.
• Fun. You have a passion for education, an enthusiasm for your students and colleagues, and an ability to find the joy and humor in almost any situation - even the challenging ones.

Qualifications

The strongest candidate will be personable, dependable, attentive, and able to communicate clearly with both adults and children. This role requires good judgment, comfort with a busy school environment, and a willingness to move between front-office responsibilities and hands-on lunch service.

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Experience in a school, office, customer-service, food-service, or youth-serving setting preferred
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills
• Reliable, organized, and able to manage routine tasks with accuracy
• Comfort working with children and families from diverse backgrounds
• Ability and willingness to assist with daily meal service and other hands-on school needs
• Basic computer skills and ability to learn school office systems

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $19.00 - $21.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement

Work Location: In person