Director of Jazz Education

Job Description

Details at a glance

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• On-Site Location, Lower Manhattan, NYC
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• Full-Time Schedule (40 hours)
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• 4-Year Degree Required, Master’s Degree Preferred
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About JAZZ HOUSE KiDS

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JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, now in its 25th year, stands at a pivotal moment, marked by substantial growth, expanding impact, and exciting developments across our organization. From the launch of our arts education program in Lower Manhattan in collaboration with Trinity Church NYC five years ago, to record-breaking growth in our arts education programming at our headquarters in Montclair, NJ, to producing the largest outdoor jazz festival in the region, and to advancing student success through our JAZZ HOUSE Music Scholars in-school program, we are fulfilling our mission to build young community leaders and global citizens through jazz.

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Position Overview

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The Director of Jazz Education is a key leadership role responsible for the artistic and educational success at JAZZ HOUSE NYC, our music education program satellite at Trinity Church NYC. Working closely with the Founder + President, our Artistic Director and renowned musician and global ambassador, Christian McBride, and our senior leadership team, this role advances the organization's vision by leading a world-class, vibrant, student-centered jazz education program that serves young musicians of all levels while ensuring an exceptional experience for students, families, faculty, and community partners.

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This role establishes a co-directorship at JAZZ HOUSE NYC, providing strategic leadership and day-to-day oversight of the artistic and educational aspects of the program — including class offering and curriculum development, recruiting, developing and leading our faculty teaching team, student recruitment and placement, family engagement, and educational partnerships. The Director co-leads a talented team of educators and staff, fostering a culture of artistic excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement while ensuring the program remains aligned with the mission, educational philosophy, and organizational priorities of the JAZZ HOUSE. While each Co-Director has distinct areas of leadership and responsibility, both share equal accountability for the overall success of JAZZ HOUSE NYC and are expected to work collaboratively, step across functional lines when needed, and ensure that no aspect of the program is allowed to falter because it falls outside one Director’s primary area of responsibility.

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In collaboration with the JAZZ HOUSE NYC Co-Director counterpart, who oversees program operations, internal and external performance planning, and community partnerships, as well as with the broader arts and education team in New Jersey, the Director of Jazz Education will help shape a unified and thriving student learning experience. This role is critical to advancing our jazz ecosystem by cultivating relationships with students and families, schools and music educators, world-class artists and cultural organizations, expanding access and advancing JAZZ HOUSE's impact throughout the region.

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This is a role for a practitioner of jazz, bringing deep knowledge, lived experience, and an authentic connection to the music into the educational vision, student experience, and artistic culture of the program.

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Key Responsibilities

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Program Oversight 

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• Program Vision: Partner with the Founder + President, Artistic Director, and our partner, Trinity Church NYC, to advance the established artistic and educational vision and create a welcoming, dynamic environment that supports student success.
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• Partner Relationship Management: Cultivate the JAZZ HOUSE–Trinity Church NYC partnership through proactive communication, stewardship, and collaborative planning that advances shared goals and supports a strong student experience.
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• Program Leadership: Provide overall artistic leadership and accountability for JAZZ HOUSE NYC, guiding growth and retention while maintaining high standards of artistic and educational excellence.
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• Curriculum + Educational Excellence: Advance a sequential jazz education program serving young musicians from all five boroughs, from novice through pre-college, across instrumental and vocal instruction.
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• Program Operations: With the Co-Director, oversee day-to-day logistics, including scheduling, classrooms, facilities, materials, and on-site coordination.
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• Teaching Responsibilities: Teach one class as part of the regular instructional schedule, modeling JAZZ HOUSE’s standards for educational excellence.
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• Student Placement + Ensemble Development: Oversee student assessments, class and private lesson placements, and ensemble formation to ensure appropriate instructional pathways and balanced ensembles.
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• Faculty Management: Oversee faculty communications, hiring recommendations, scheduling, timesheets, and performance support.
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• Program Evaluation: In collaboration with the Associate Director of Music Scholars + Career Development, track educational outcomes and program metrics to support continuous improvement.
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Student + Family Engagement

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• Student + Family Support: Partner with the Manager of Student Services to address student and family concerns, ensuring timely communication, positive relationships, and an exceptional student experience.
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• School + Community Partnerships: Develop and maintain strong educational relationships and partnerships with school band directors, music educators, and community organizations.
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• Student Recruitment + Retention: Oversee a comprehensive student recruitment, audition, placement, and retention strategy that promotes diversity and access while supporting each student's artistic, academic, and personal development.
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Value-Add Programming + Concerts

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• Value-Add Programming: Support the many value-add program offerings for JAZZ HOUSE NYC, including JAZZ HOUSE Goes to College, the CHiCA Power Residency and Leadership Summit, the Emerging Musicians Community Concert Program, and other specialty programs.
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• Semester-Ending Performances: Coordinate mid-year and end-of-year concert programming in collaboration with the JAZZ HOUSE Montclair team, ensuring artistic programming is aligned with organizational priorities to deliver a cohesive experience across both campuses.
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• Cross-Campus Performance Planning & Execution: Develop and execute the artistic and educational components of a comprehensive year-round performance plan that supports educational objectives and showcases student achievement.
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• Concert Production Support: Provide artistic/educational leadership and support for Jazz @ One, Jazz Icons, student concerts, and other organizational performances, ensuring seamless planning and execution across departments.
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• Jazz Icons Representation: Attend the 4 Jazz Icons concerts over the course of the year, and serve as an organizational representative, supporting event operations, faculty and student engagement, and relationships with artists, audiences, and community partners.
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• Emerging Musicians Community Concerts: Support the Career Development pillar of our mission, with the EMCC, or “giglet” program which provides meaningful gigging experience for the next generation of artists. 
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As organizational needs and priorities evolve, the scope of this position may be reevaluated. JAZZ HOUSE reserves the right to adjust responsibilities to support programmatic and organizational needs.

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Qualifications

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Education and Experience

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• Education: Bachelor's Degree required; Master's Degree preferred
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• Work Experience: Experience in music education preferred. Experience with music equipment, logistics, and setting up an ensemble for a performance. Experience with music administration, program coordination, or arts nonprofit operations is a plus
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• Availability: Occasional evenings, weekends, and travel required during performance and event seasons.
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Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

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• Leadership & Collaboration: Leads with integrity, accountability, and emotional intelligence; builds trust, fosters collaboration, mentors others, and models JAZZ HOUSE’s professional and student-centered values.
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• Technical Proficiency: Highly proficient in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Experience with project management tools such as Asana is a plus.
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• Communication + Interpersonal Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, professional correspondence and connect meaningfully with a broad range of people.
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• Work Style: Thrives as part of a small, fast-paced team and brings a flexible, proactive, can-do spirit.
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• Attention to Detail: Exceptional attention to detail and organization, particularly in community communications, data management, and reporting.
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• Managing Multiple Priorities: Proactive self-starter who takes initiative, manages competing priorities, and meets tight deadlines across multiple programs while maintaining high standards of accuracy and quality.
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Personal Characteristics

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• Passionate advocate for the value of arts education and youth development, with genuine concern for people and community, and interest in working with diverse communities.
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• A role model relationship builder and staff manager, working hard with the ability to juggle and prioritize issues and multiple tasks without jeopardizing communications with students and student families.
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• Passion for the mission of the JAZZ HOUSE.
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• Appreciation of jazz and live music goer.
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• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
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• Successful completion of a national background check.
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Location: NYC, onsite position, full time plus concerts and events. This opportunity is open to any applicant eligible to work in the U.S. Set in advance, two days per month this position works out of the JAZZ HOUSE Headquarters in Montclair, NJ. 

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Salary Range: 80-90k, commensurate with experience.

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Reporting: This position reports to the Founder + President.

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