What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Education position at Old Town School of Folk Music?
Summary: The Old Town School of Folk Music is seeking an experienced leader to serve as Director of Education. The Director is responsible for ensuring the growth and smooth operation of high-quality programs across OTS’ tuition-based offerings, deepening Old Town School's engagement with our current students and broadening the School's reach to new audiences. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director will lead 5 administrators and more than 200 part-time faculty members. The Old Town School of Folk Music's Education department encompasses in-person and online group classes, private lessons and workshops offered by the school.
Schedule: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week
Location: Lincoln Square and Lincoln Park
Responsibilities:
Provide leadership that aligns with the Mission, Vision, Values, and Priorities of the school.
Draft and execute plans that ensure the achievement of organizational and department goals and priorities.
Oversee the work of program managers and teaching artists.
Oversee and manage departmental projects.
Develop, monitor, and manage the department budget.
Monitor department performance indicators and identify adjustments and strategies as necessary to ensure continued growth and improvement.
Update, change or enhance the course curricula as needed.
Serve as a spokesperson in appropriate groups, events, and other relevant settings.
Oversee and manage the department calendar.
Oversee department events.
Oversee the work of, and facilitate working groups (committees).
Ensure consistency within the department and in alignment with the organization.
Collaborate with department leadership on organizational priorities and projects.
Engage in the OTS community, and adapt best practices from across the arts instruction field.
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in related area or equivalent work experience required. Advanced degree a plus.
A minimum of five years of management and supervisory experience in an arts education organization required
Experience managing and growing education programs.
Experience managing a departmental budget.
Additional Qualifications:
Experience operating and developing music and dance programs
Experience teaching music or dance
Ability to build and develop relationships
A clear and thoughtful communicator
A champion of teaching and learning in the folk tradition
Adept with current web applications
Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights and weekends as needed
Ability to travel to program locations as needed
Experience leading diversity, equity and inclusion efforts
Experience leading in a union environment is a plus
Bilingual Spanish/English a plus
If interested and qualified, please apply through our Career Center.
About Old Town School of Folk Music
Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music (“OTSFM”) is the largest community school of the arts in the U.S. and a non-profit organization committed to celebrating American music and global cultures. Founded in 1957, Old Town School provides a wide range of music, dance, and arts courses to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Whatever one's interest, Old Town School provides broad access to more than 700 weekly class offerings, a broad array of private lessons, and over 400 concerts and community events per year.
Old Town School of Folk Music opened its Lincoln Square facility in 1998 and expanded in 2012. The Old Town School operates two campuses located in Chicago's Lincoln Square and Lincoln Park neighborhoods that include world-class concert halls, classrooms, an award-winning music store, and a music resource center. Online classes were introduced in 2020 and students from nearly every state and a dozen countries participated over the course of
the pandemic. Children's classes are also held at several suburban satellite locations. More information is available at oldtownschool.org
Equal Employment Opportunity
OTSFM is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. OTS strives to be an inclusive and equitable organization that reflects the diversity of the city of Chicago. We seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. This is critical to our success as a community-focused organization.
