Director of Studies

EF Honolulu is seeking an experienced leader to oversee the academic program at our school in Honolulu. This role reports to the School Director (local) and the Director of Academic Management, North America (regional).

About the role

The Director of Studies is responsible for leading the academic department, including managing and developing a small team of teachers and an Academic Coordinator, maintaining academic quality, coordinating classes, and overseeing the academic components of the school budget. Our Honolulu school is a close-knit campus with a maximum of approximately 250 students during peak seasons.

The ideal candidate is passionate about developing people, building a positive team culture, and delivering an exceptional student experience. This role plays an important part in shaping an engaging academic journey by encouraging innovative teaching practices, meaningful projects, and real-world learning experiences that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and make learning memorable.

This role does not meet the threshold for VISA sponsorship, and no relocation assistance package is available. On-island candidates are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, develop, and inspire a small teaching team and Academic Coordinator while fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Foster a collaborative, supportive, and high-performing academic culture.
• Coach, mentor, and motivate educators to achieve high standards of teaching excellence.
• Recruit, onboard, and develop staff effectively.
• Maintain a relentless focus on customer service, student experience, and academic quality.
• Ensure the EF in-house curriculum and materials are delivered with consistency while empowering teachers to bring lessons to life through creativity, project-based learning, and engaging real-world experiences.
• Ensure all academic department policies and procedures are consistently followed.
• Maintain the academic integrity and quality standards of the school.
• Organize placement testing and place students in appropriate levels.
• Counsel individual students regarding academic performance.
• Track students with excessive absences and initiate Academic Warning Letters.
• Coordinate professional development for teachers.
• Observe teachers and conduct follow-up coaching meetings, including written, formal evaluations.
• Deliver ongoing professional guidance and support to teaching staff.
• Encourage teachers to develop engaging projects, experiential learning opportunities, and innovative classroom practices.
• Coordinate departure evaluation questionnaires and departure testing.
• Supervise book inventory and ordering, conduct monthly inventory, and maintain the library of class sets in the teachers' room.
• Assign administrative duties to teaching staff as required.
• Work with the School Director to manage academic staffing, class size averages, and other academic budget considerations.
• Collaborate with other departments to create engaging academic experiences that enhance student learning and contribute to an exceptional overall student experience.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the School Director.

Requirements

• Proven leadership experience with the ability to guide, inspire, and develop a team.
• Experience coaching and mentoring others, with a focus on problem-solving and professional growth.
• Excellent communication, delegation, and leadership skills.
• Proven background in international education, with global and/or international work experience preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage difficult situations and remain calm under pressure.
• Excellent cross-cultural communication, people management, and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong, confident decision-making ability with a highly motivated, positive, and empathetic approach.

Benefits

• Commitment to professional growth: robust monthly calendar of trainings and workshops.
• Four weeks paid vacation your first year, ten paid holidays, and two floating holidays.
• Exciting business travel opportunities.
• 25% company match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Market-leading medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with options for life and disability insurance, legal and pet insurance.
• Dependent care, healthcare, and commuter Flex Spending Accounts (FSAs).
• Access to fertility care and family-building support.
• Wellness benefits including a yearly fitness reimbursement.
• Frequent social and learning events, including access to employee-run resource groups.
• Robust Employee Assistance Program.
• Tenure-based sabbatical eligibility.
• EF Product Discounts (discounts on travel, international language schools, Au Pair program, and more).
• Discounts at local venues and businesses.

Pay

Salary range for this role is $60,000 - $65,000 based on experience.

About EF Language Abroad

At EF Language Abroad, we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another. Since 1965, we've helped millions of students discover new places, embrace diverse cultures, and gain fresh perspectives. We're dedicated to our mission of opening the world through education, harnessing the power of language learning to deepen the connection between people across the globe.

We offer immersive short-term and long-term language courses and programs across different languages in the countries where they're spoken. Through blending classroom-based lessons with interactive exercises and real-world practice, our courses bring students to the heart of the language.

EF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. All positions are subject to criminal background and/or reference checks, as applicable.