SY 26-27 Founding Lead Music Teacher / Program Lead

About the role

Manhattan Charter School is a high-performing charter school located on the Lower East Side in New York City. The School is committed to providing its students with the tools and support necessary for success. Since its founding in 2005 as a 501c3 nonprofit organization, Manhattan Charter School (MCS) has consistently achieved high levels of success. Our vision is to offer a high-quality, public school education that will help close the opportunity, imagination, and achievement gaps for our high-need students by empowering, inspiring, and equipping them to fulfill their potential. Our mission is to teach our students how to learn and love doing it, how to cultivate their curious minds for the rest of their lives, and how to develop a solid foundation on which to base wise choices and build meaningful lives. Position Overview The Founding Music Teacher / Program Lead will launch and lead our El Sistema–inspired music program, building a joyful, rigorous, and inclusive culture of music-making. This role combines teaching, program design, and leadership responsibilities, ensuring that students experience the power of ensemble, discipline, and creativity as part of their daily learning. The ideal candidate is a passionate, trauma-informed music educator who believes in music as a vehicle for equity and social change and who thrives in both the classroom and organizational start-up settings.

Responsibilities

• Teach group instrumental classes (string, wind, percussion, or other core focus) and direct ensembles.
• Use trauma-informed practices to create a safe, supportive, and responsive learning environment.
• Develop students’ technical, musical, and social-emotional skills through daily practice and performance.
• Establish clear systems, routines, and expectations to maintain strong classroom management.
• Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of beginners through advanced students.
• Design the founding program structure (class structures, ensemble groupings, repertoire selection, performance calendar).
• Establish systems and routines for rehearsal, practice, and performance aligned to El Sistema principles.
• Lead recruitment of students and families into the program, cultivating a strong community culture.
• Mentor and support program support staff/teaching assistants.
• Collaborate with school leadership and other educators to align music programming with the broader school mission.
• Coordinate with families, community partners, and artists to enrich student experiences.
• Support grant writing, fundraising, and community partnerships to sustain the program.
• Monitor and track student progress, attendance, and engagement.
• Serve as the public face of the program, representing its mission to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, Performance, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Experiences in restorative practices and de-escalation techniques
• Demonstrated success teaching music in an ensemble setting (K–8 preferred).
• Commitment to social equity and belief in the transformative power of music.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills; comfort with start-up environments.
• Fluency in Spanish or another community language (preferred).

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Pay

$70,000 - $80,000 per year

Schedule

Full-time, 8 hour shift, in-person