Description
Title: Director of Education
Reports to: Executive Director
Classification: Full time exempt
Location: On-site in Berkeley, CA
Start date: September 2026 est.
Salary Range: $80,000-$90,000 based on experience
Benefits: Medical insurance, 403(b) plan, paid vacation
The Jazzschool Community Music School is hiring for the position of Director of Education at its Downtown Berkeley location. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Education visions and manages the programs at the core of the Jazzschool’s mission, serving more than 1200 students annually, employing 40+ instructors each year in 300+ classes and workshops. The Director of Education is responsible for the development, implementation, administration, and evaluation of Jazzschool educational offerings, including: adult and youth classes, ensembles, workshops, camps, and intensives — onsite at the school’s Downtown Berkeley facility as well as offsite and online. This position provides educational leadership for curriculum development, faculty recruitment and coordination, and is responsible for program administration and operations, budgeting, and enrollment management.
The Director of Education is the first point of contact with prospective Jazzschool students and their parents, and oversees student placement and financial aid administration. The Director manages the Director of Ensembles, who coordinates auditions and matches students to ensembles; schedules student concerts; assists with student recruitment; and organizes student performance opportunities in the community. The Director of Education is directly supported by the Program Administrator, who maintains educational offerings within registration, enrollment, and database systems, and assists with faculty and student communication. The Director works closely with faculty, program directors, administrative staff, and organizational leadership to ensure that educational programs align with the institution's mission, maintain high artistic and educational standards, and serve students of diverse ages and backgrounds.
The Jazzschool’s next Director of Education will work closely with the Executive Director and Director of Marketing to identify new communities to engage through our programs, and be part of designing strategic initiatives and partnerships that bring the Jazzschool’s educational offerings to new populations. The ideal candidate will build on the program’s existing strengths and longstanding successes, while also being attentive to student interest and demand; help identify income-generating opportunities; and be aware of and responsive to the greater arts education landscape. The person in this position must share and further the Jazzschool’s values of reflecting and serving the full diversity of Bay Area residents; and honor jazz as a Black American cultural practice through program content, community partnerships, and faculty/staff representation. This is very much an “on the ground” position, and the Director of Education is expected to attend student performances, meet parents, get to know local educators, and be an active and engaged member of the local jazz education community.
To apply, please e-mail careers@jazzschool.org and attach the following materials in PDF format:
- Resume
- Cover letter tailored to this position, addressing your relevant experience, commitment to community music education and/or jazz, and three ideas of how you would increase the diversity and reach/relevance of our program through educational programming
- Names and contact information for three professional references
About the Jazzschool
Founded in 1997, the Jazzschool Community Music School in Downtown Berkeley is dedicated to fostering the development of the aspiring jazz musician of all ages and levels, and builds audiences and connects communities to sustain the jazz art form. The school’s adult and youth community education programs include classes and ensembles, workshops, summer camps, in-school clinics, free public programs, a concert series, and performances in the community.
The centerpiece of the school is its community ensembles. Serving middle school students through to senior citizens, the Jazzschool ensembles are a place of sustained mentorship, profound social connection, and personal artistic growth. They are led by professional musicians and committed instructors with expertise in a wide range of jazz styles, including Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Caribbean, New Orleans, funk, blues, Afropop, and other musical genres of the African diaspora. Each quarter’s classes culminate in a marathon festival presented over a week of performances offered free of charge.
The California Jazz Conservatory, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status or protected veteran status.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in jazz studies, music, and/or music education; or equivalent experience as a performer/educator
- Excellent communicator both verbally and in writing
- Experience managing and training individuals in administrative tasks
- Detail-oriented administrator and project manager; able to conceive and lead long-term projects and meet overlapping deadlines
- Experience creating and managing budgets
- Proficient in Google Office software, including spreadsheets, word processing, calendar
- Ability and willingness to identify and learn new software applications to serve the program
- Commitment to access and equity in education, and to the values of community music education
- Knowledge of, and connections in the Bay Area jazz community and Bay Area music education organizations
