Job Description
JAZZ HOUSE KiDS has been swinging doors open for 17 years, and our emerging musicians are soloing and singing to greatness. We use America’s original musical art form to stimulate students’ creative self-expression, personal growth and collective engagement. JAZZ HOUSE KiDS’ tested programs change lives, build communities, and serve as a model for 4-12 music education, intergenerational learning, alumni and community engagement. JAZZ HOUSE KiDS students and the organization have received over 100 awards and is a nationally recognized community arts organization exclusively dedicated to educating young people through jazz.
The Director of Music + Education at JAZZ HOUSE KiDS is a key leadership position that furthers our mission to provide the highest quality music education and authentic jazz learning. JAZZ HOUSE KiDS removes barriers that stand in the way of students’ participation in music and their resulting growth and joy. JAZZ HOUSE KiDS’ builds tomorrow’s community leaders and global citizens and keep our promise to serve all students regardless of their financial circumstances and provide an inspiring and joyous learning environment.
The successful candidate will lead the day-to-day management of in-house programming and managing all aspects of the in-school, summer learning, adult programming and community education programs. He or she will be a visionary leader and an experienced jazz educator, artist/teacher or band director with significant experience in jazz performance and education, recruitment and arts administration. The successful candidate will be passionate and knowledgeable about jazz, its history, its legacy, and its culture. This position supports the goal of facilitating access to the arts for all and to engage young people and adult learners. The successful candidate will be able to create and execute a thriving arts program, provide leadership in a fast-paced environment, juggle multiple priorities and lead an impassioned jazz faculty. This position will work closely with the Founder and Artistic Director of JAZZ HOUSE KiDS and department heads to execute the vision of creating a safe, diverse, and inclusive fun learning environment with uncompromising standards for jazz education and performance excellence.
Reporting: This position reports to Melissa Walker, Founder + President. This is a full-time position located in Montclair, New Jersey.
Direct Reports: The Director of Music + Education oversees the JAZZ HOUSE KiDS Music + Education team:
● Director of the JAZZ HOUSE Summer Workshop
● Big Band Coordinator
● Music + Education Education Associate
The Director of Music + Education directs two key areas:
At the Jazz House Programming
Principal Duties:
● Shaping the Direction of the Program: Create and/or develop overall educational and musical direction for classes, programs and concerts for our instrumental and vocal programs in our youth and adult divisions
● Furthering the Organizational Standard: Carry out educational brand and artistic vision of President + Founder Melissa Walker and Artistic Director Christian McBride
● Recruitment: Establish relationships with music educators, administrators and professional organizations and maintain a schedule of visiting school programs to recruit students and adult learners for our programs
● Student Placement: Audition, schedule and place all academic year ensembles and classes
● Family Communication: Establish and maintain relationships with students, families, and alumni.
● Faculty and Staff: Manage all faculty including recruiting, orientation, curriculum oversight and evaluation. Interview, supervise, and evaluate reporting staff, teaching artists, teaching assistants and interns
● Concerts and Musical Enrichment: Oversee and plan all concerts, special trips, community concerts, and competitions. Produce and oversee all musical enrichment programming, including CHiCA Power, JAZZ HOUSE Goes to College, Emerging Musicians Community Concerts program, and Adult programming. Represent Jazz House Kids through active participation at local, regional and national meetings and conferences
● Impact: Lead robust evaluation program to monitor and evaluate all JAZZ HOUSE KiDS education programs. Prepare final reports, statistics, and analyses for funders and school partners.
In the Schools Programming
Principal Duties:
● Faculty and Staff: Manage all faculty including recruiting, orientation, curriculum oversight and evaluation. Assign teaching artists and guest artists, collaborating with in school teachers to match the needs of the school to the services we can provide
● Communication: Establish and maintain open communication with district administrators, school administrators and in schools faculty members.
● Concerts and Musical Enrichment: Oversee and plan all concerts, special trips, community concerts, and competitions. Produce and oversee all musical enrichment programming, including NPS Showcase, EPS Showcase, and the ‘Something Wonderful’ event.
● Impact: Lead robust evaluation program to monitor and evaluate all JAZZ HOUSE KiDS in school programs. Prepare final reports, statistics, and analyses for funders and school partners.
Qualifications:
● Experience as a jazz artist and/or strong arts education
● Strong music experience
● Masters Degree preferred
● Recruitment experience needed
● Minimum of five years of arts administrative experience preferred
● Passion and compassion for helping people and building a safe community of
inclusion and opportunity
● Ability and willingness to multitask and to change directions with little notice – go
with the flow mentality
● Ability to handle difficult situations and people while remaining calm
● Strong relationship management skills
● Strong oral and written communication skills
● Self-motivated, high energy, and team-oriented, can-do attitude
● Sensitivity to student and family privacy when handling confidential information
● Familiarity with music education a plus but not required
● Professional, nonjudgmental, compassionate demeanor
● Ability to plan, organize, implement and direct programs, events and services
● Experience as a manager and overseeing staff
● Event experience a plus
● Ability to anticipate needs and opportunities
● Demonstrable interpersonal skills, including good listening skills
● Commitment to the mission of JAZZ HOUSE KiDS and dedication to improving
access to the arts for young people and their families from diverse communities
● Passion for helping people
● Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Mac systems, Microsoft Word and Excel,
Google Suite
● Ability to demonstrate flexibility and balance multiple priorities effectively in a fast
paced, constantly evolving environment
● Professional development training experience preferred
● Demonstrated commitment to advocating for the arts and a passion for cultural diversity
● Ability to speak Spanish a plus
JAZZ HOUSE KiDS offers a competitive salary, health benefits, and paid time off, including vacation, illness bank, and paid holidays, as well as advancement and career development opportunities.
Equal Employment Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or nationality. JAZZ HOUSE KiDS is compliant with all ADA and EEOC
rules and regulations of the State of NJ.
Please contact Jessica Goldstein at jgoldstein@jazzhouskids.or g