diff --git a/nebari/provider/cicd/github.py b/nebari/provider/cicd/github.py
index 668ca74b2..8b565d306 100644
--- a/nebari/provider/cicd/github.py
+++ b/nebari/provider/cicd/github.py
@@ -241,18 +241,23 @@ def gen_nebari_ops(config):
     step1 = checkout_image_step()
     step2 = setup_python_step()
     step3 = install_nebari_step(nebari_version)
+    gha_steps = [step1, step2, step3]
+
+    for step in config["ci_cd"].get("before_script", []):
+        gha_steps.append(GHA_job_step(**step))
 
     step4 = GHA_job_step(
         name="Deploy Changes made in nebari-config.yaml",
         run=f"nebari deploy -c nebari-config.yaml --disable-prompt{' --skip-remote-state-provision' if os.environ.get('NEBARI_GH_BRANCH') else ''}",
     )
+    gha_steps.append(step4)
 
     step5 = GHA_job_step(
         name="Push Changes",
         run=(
             "git config user.email 'nebari@quansight.com' ; "
             "git config user.name 'github action' ; "
-            "git add . ; "
+            "git add ./.gitignore ./.github ./stages; "
             "git diff --quiet && git diff --staged --quiet || (git commit -m '${{ env.COMMIT_MSG }}') ; "
             f"git push origin {branch}"
         ),
@@ -262,11 +267,12 @@ def gen_nebari_ops(config):
             )
         },
     )
-
-    gha_steps = [step1, step2, step3, step4]
     if commit_render:
         gha_steps.append(step5)
 
+    for step in config["ci_cd"].get("after_script", []):
+        gha_steps.append(GHA_job_step(**step))
+
     job1 = GHA_job_id(name="nebari", runs_on_="ubuntu-latest", steps=gha_steps)
     jobs = GHA_jobs(__root__={"build": job1})
 
diff --git a/nebari/schema.py b/nebari/schema.py
index 70f6f19d6..fdda15596 100644
--- a/nebari/schema.py
+++ b/nebari/schema.py
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ class CICD(Base):
     type: CiEnum
     branch: str
     commit_render: typing.Optional[bool] = True
-    before_script: typing.Optional[typing.List[str]]
-    after_script: typing.Optional[typing.List[str]]
+    before_script: typing.Optional[typing.List[typing.Union[str, typing.Dict]]]
+    after_script: typing.Optional[typing.List[typing.Union[str, typing.Dict]]]
 
 
 # ======== Generic Helm Extensions ========