Director, Academy

About the role

The Director, Academy Operations & Education Programs is responsible for the strategic leadership, daily operations, guest experience, educational programming, and long-term growth of the JPMS Academy located within the corporate facility.

This role ensures the Academy operates as a premier destination for advanced professional education, brand immersion, creative inspiration, technical excellence, distributor engagement, artist development, and internal partner experiences.

This role works 3-5 days out of our Academy in Santa Monica and requires up to 10% travel.

What You Will Do

• Academy Leadership & Operational Excellence
• Provide overall leadership for the Academy as a corporate education destination and ensure the facility is organized, guest-ready, brand-aligned, and equipped to support hands-on education, demonstrations, meetings, media production, distributor experiences, and internal events
• Own the Academy calendar, class schedule, space utilization, operational workflows, registration coordination, supplies, model needs, artist preparation, room setup, teardown, and post-event reset processes
• Establish clear systems, standards, and workflows that allow the Academy to operate efficiently, consistently, safely, and professionally
• Corporate Facility Management & Brand Standards
• Maintain the Academy as a polished, functional, and inspiring extension of the JPMS corporate headquarters
• Partner with Facilities, IT, Operations, Creative, Security, and Education teams to ensure classrooms, salon stations, product displays, tools, technology, storage areas, guest areas, and back-of-house spaces are clean, safe, organized, stocked, and ready for use
• Anticipate facility needs, resolve operational issues quickly, and uphold corporate protocols related to safety, access, visitor management, equipment use, and professional conduct
• Guest Experience, Stakeholder Relations & Event Coordination
• Serve as the primary leader and point of contact for Academy experiences, ensuring salon owners, stylists, distributors, educators, artists, models, vendors, and internal guests receive a seamless and elevated experience from inquiry through follow-up
• Oversee guest communications, confirmations, hospitality planning, arrival flow, signage, check-in, class support, attendee needs, post-event surveys, and relationship management
• Build trust with key stakeholders through clear communication, thoughtful service, and strong follow-through
• Artist, Educator & Program Leadership
• Lead coordination with Artistic Directors, platform artists, educators, guest facilitators, and internal training partners to ensure each program is well planned, well staffed, and aligned to learning objectives
• Clarify expectations for each class or event, including run of show, educator preparation, technical needs, product usage, model requirements, timing, attendee outcomes, and follow-up deliverables
• Provide leadership, coaching, and accountability to support high-quality education delivery and consistent JPMS standards
• Curriculum, Program & Content Development
• Partner with Education, Artistic, Brand, Marketing, Sales, and Creative teams to develop Academy programming that supports JPMS priorities and advances the skills of salon professionals
• Ensure curriculum reflects current trends, brand launches, technical excellence, business-building needs, and the evolving expectations of the professional beauty industry
• Align with the International Academy in Rome, Italy for cross-collaboration as appropriate
• Class, Workshop & Event Execution
• Direct end-to-end planning and execution of Academy classes, hands-on workshops, distributor meetings, internal training, launch education, artist development sessions, business programs, and special events
• Manage timelines, agendas, educator briefs, supply lists, product needs, model calls, room layouts, technology, catering or hospitality needs, attendee communication, and day-of execution
• Ensure every Academy experience is organized, purposeful, on brand, and designed to deliver measurable value for participants and the business
• Budget, Resources & Operational Accountability
• Manage Academy resources, including budgets, supplies, tools, equipment, product inventory, vendor coordination, educator fees, model costs, and operational expenses
• Track resource needs in advance, monitor spending, identify cost efficiencies, and ensure resources are used responsibly while maintaining a premium education experience
• Create processes for inventory control, ordering, storage, maintenance, and replacement of Academy tools and materials
• Marketing, Enrollment & Creative Production Support
• Partner with Marketing, Social, Creative, Sales, Distributor Sales Consultants, and Education leadership to promote Academy offerings and drive awareness, attendance, utilization, and engagement
• Support class descriptions, promotional copy, launch calendars, social content, email communication, registration assets, and post-event storytelling
• Coordinate Academy use for photo shoots, video production, education capture, social content, launch support, and creative projects as directed
• Use captured content to support Academy curriculum, promotional storytelling, and future education assets
• Inclusive Education Delivery & Continuous Improvement
• Ensure Academy programs meet learners at a range of skill levels and create an inclusive, professional, and supportive learning environment
• Evaluate attendee feedback, educator input, program performance, operational outcomes, attendance trends, and business priorities to continuously improve curriculum, guest experience, class flow, and business impact
• Recommend enhancements that keep the Academy relevant, inspiring, efficient, and aligned with JPMS education strategy

Requirements

• Required Qualifications:
• Strategic and operational leadership of a high-profile corporate education, academy, training center, salon education, or professional learning environment
• Strong understanding of salon professionals, distributors, educators, artistry, technical education, product knowledge, and the professional beauty industry
• Ability to manage schedules, budgets, facilities, supplies, people, vendors, guest needs, and multiple simultaneous classes or events
• Clear, professional communication skills, including planning meetings, educator briefs, stakeholder updates, guest relations, and executive-ready recommendations
• Ability to translate business priorities, product launches, trends, and technical education needs into compelling Academy experiences
• Calm, proactive, and resourceful approach to last-minute changes, facility issues, model challenges, guest requests, schedule shifts, or production needs
• Skills:
• Experience supporting photo, video, social, digital education, product launch, or creative production projects within an active training environment
• Familiarity with instructional design, curriculum development, education measurement, and adult learning best practices
• Experience partnering with international education teams or global academy partners preferred
• Licensed Cosmetologist and/or Barber strongly preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in education, instructional design, business, marketing, communications, hospitality, or a related field preferred