Director of Education

Organization: JazzArts Charlotte • Location: Charlotte, NC

About the Role

The Director of Education is a key leadership role that will continue to propel the work of JazzArts Charlotte by providing the highest quality of jazz education and arts learning for students of all ages and backgrounds. This full-time exempt position leads the day-to-day management of all educational programs, oversees curriculum development, and manages performance and community engagement initiatives for youth and adults. The role is responsible for growing the JazzArts Academy and furthering the JazzArts mission through community relationship building.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an experienced jazz educator committed to enriching communities through creative programs.
• Manage professional faculty, including evaluation, student placement and development, performance development, and family engagement.
• Collaborate closely with the President and other stakeholders to build cohesive, year-round offerings that result in a thriving community music program with regional scope.
• Demonstrate knowledge and passion for jazz, its history, and culture.
• Facilitate access to jazz learning for all, engaging young people and adult learners in a fun, safe, diverse, and inclusive environment with high standards for jazz education and performance excellence.
• Provide leadership in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and leading a committed jazz faculty.
• Establish and maintain relationships with students, families, and alumni; represent JazzArts through active participation at meetings and conferences.
• Utilize technology and digital learning as tools to broaden reach and create new programming opportunities.
• Oversee program evaluation, meeting recruitment and enrollment goals, budgeting, and management; foster professional local, regional, and national partnerships.
• Lead innovation in digital learning for students using online and hybrid learning platforms when required.
• Oversee Jazz-in-Schools programming, including evaluation, curriculum oversight, and maintaining student enrollment goals to develop a healthy program pipeline.
• Support and carry out the overall educational vision and artistic goals of the President through JazzArts Academy programs; provide support to other JazzArts staff and programs as directed.
• Meet recruitment goals for existing and new programs; establish relationships with music educators, national partners, administrators, and professional organizations.
• Audition, schedule, and place students in programs; oversee their overall musical development and well-being.
• Manage faculty recruitment, orientation, curriculum oversight, and evaluation; interview, supervise, and evaluate faculty/teaching artists and clinicians.
• Oversee and plan all student performances, special events, community concerts, and other activities; produce and oversee musical enrichment programming, free community workshops, and student outings.
• Lead a comprehensive evaluation system to monitor all JazzArts Academy programs; prepare statistics and final reports for school partners and funders.
• Serve as the liaison between JazzArts, schools, teachers, and parents regarding the JazzArts Academy program.
• Stay informed on recent research and trends in music education, arts education, and youth development.

Requirements

• 4-year undergraduate degree in music (music performance, jazz performance, music education, or minor in music), education, or another related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Ability to play jazz is a plus.
• At least 2 documented years working in youth education, youth development, program management, or other relevant fields.
• Administrative experience with impeccable organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent writing and proofreading skills; professional, friendly, and timely email and phone communication skills.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Empathy and compassion for helping people, with a desire to build safe communities for all; drive to celebrate diversity and foster creativity and inclusion.
• Interest and ability to work with a variety of people, including team members, musicians, teachers, administrators, volunteers, parents, community members, and supporters.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will:

• Always be in pursuit of knowledge and able to work in an ever-changing environment.
• Be an innovative thinker that thrives in a collaborative team setting.
• Have a high degree of integrity, warmth, emotional intelligence, sense of humor, flexibility, and maturity.
• Have a passion for jazz and a demonstrated commitment to advocating for cultural diversity.

Pay

$63,000 - $70,000