Overview
At the JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, we believe the uniquely American artform of jazz, universally loved, has the power to ignite our creativity and create meaningful connections through our differences. As an improvised tradition, jazz promotes healthy risk-taking, and persistent, creative leadership and collaboration.
For twenty years, the JAZZ HOUSE KiDS has been an instrument for change transforming lives through world-class education and cultural programming that creates avenues of access, learning, career development, and community building. We use jazz and the joy of music, advanced by master musicians, as a gateway to student achievement. Our award- winning organization has documented outcomes including boosted social and emotional learning, improved academic outcomes, acquisition of life skills, increased civic engagement and alumni are among the most talented young jazz musicians and young professionals in the nation. Every day we keep our promise to build community leaders and develop global citizens through America’s original art form of jazz.
In addition to our house HQ in Montclair, we recently opened a second house in collaboration with Trinity Church Wall Street. We are building out a dedicated team with a passion for jazz and a commitment to educational and artistic excellence.
JAZZ HOUSE KiDS seeks an experienced and exceptional Director of Student Services committed to our mission of making jazz education accessible to everyone regardless of their background or level of ability and to create and authentic and engaging community for our emerging musicians taking classes and special programs at the JAZZ HOUSE KiDS school in downtown Montclair, New Jersey and in Lower Manhattan.
Overall Responsibilities
Student Services falls under the department of Jazz + Education to deliver innovative, high-quality music education and administers student-related activities and events. Our Director of Student Services will lead our student services division in both locations and be responsible for student registration and recruitment, family engagement, managing billing and scholarships, special event and programs, managing front desk staff, and overseeing our volunteer committee to assist with various arts and education programs throughout the year including major student involved events like our annual MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL. Student Services represent the front facing division for the JAZZ HOUSE KiDS and are the first people our guests engage with when calling and visiting the organization.
We seek an energetic, empathetic candidate and a master relationship builder. You must be highly organized, forward thinking, innovative and conscientious, with the ability to prioritize effectively, juggle multiple responsibilities, and inspire the team to provide excellent front-facing service to our families and organization. You will maintain highly sensitive and confidential family and student information. You must appreciate and be sensitive to a diverse population of families and staff who hail from many sociocultural, economic, ideological, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
Your Impact at the JAZZ HOUSE KiDS
Deliver organizational and operational goals of the organization to be best in class for jazz education and youth development.
Act as a community and culture setter within the organization as Student Services is the first point of contact for all guests, families and supporters.
Recruit, mentor, manage, and scale our Student Services team to build relationships with our core base of students and families.
Lead, inspire, and empower our front desk staff both in Montclair and NYC to provide our students and families with an outstanding experience across all touchpoints, assuring a front desk that is adequately staffed.
Create a healthy workplace culture within your department by participating in staff performance reviews and an environment open to continuous improvement.
Contribute to the JAZZ HOUSE KiDS’ bottom line by recruiting and retaining students and engaging with families to coordinate class registration processes and private lessons for fall, spring, and summer programming.
Further our core value of providing access to high-quality arts education to everyone, despite their ability to pay, by working closely with leadership to administer our scholarship program.
Drive key core business processes, including accounting, billing, and scholarship administration.
Serve as the voice for our students and families internally, driving awareness of issues as they arise and helping to develop solutions.
Assure that our students and families are safe during classes and programs by managing building safety while programs are running.
Organize and inspire our Volunteer Committee, which is critical in supporting student performances and other special programs.
Drive success at special events and performances by supporting your colleagues in producing world-class performances and programs.
Develop strong partnerships to deliver cost-effective programming that bridges the gap in the arts and brings diverse groups of people together for training and learning.
Student Services Management
The Director of Student Services works out of the Montclair office with regularly scheduled monthly visits to our satellite campus at Trinity Commons in lower Manhattan. This position manages a staff of two Student Services professionals, and a small front desk team.
Basic Schedule
The Director of Student Services schedule is a blended day and evening schedule that mirrors programming at the JAZZ HOUSE KiDS in Montclair. We run classes 5 to 6 days per week. Availability to cover occasional weekend shifts is required if coverage is needed for front desk staff. Additional hours are required for annual student concerts, parent orientation, first week of classes each semester and during the two-week JAZZ HOUSE KiDS Summer Workshop.
When classes are running the basic schedule is 12:00PM to 8:00PM.
When classes are not underway the basic schedule is an eight-hour day beginning at 9:00AM or 10:00AM
Required Qualifications
A master relationship and community builder and problem solver with a can-do spirit. Providing strong front-facing services to all who come to JAZZ HOUSE KiDS and for our students and their families whom this position has deep engagement.
A track record of managing and inspiring teams and building trust through clear prioritization, coaching, and participating in a system of reviews and recognition of good work.
Exceptional skills building and overseeing an annual calendar with goals and benchmarks combined with day-to-day management of priorities.
Skilled at creating processes and efficiencies across the department.
Familiarity with registration database systems, preferably ACTIVE, to manage and track student enrollment, class scheduling, student retention, postgraduation status of all alums, student demographics, family information, and students' special needs.
Considerable budget experience and ability to work with finance departments and administer accounting processes, including budgeting, billing, accounts receivable, expense reimbursements, and payments received, to track registrations to budget.
An analytic thinker, able to identify patterns and extrapolate from the enrollment and income data collected for management and board reporting and driving innovation and organizational growth and success.
Ability to anticipate needs and opportunities with impeccable time management.
Ability to effectively analyze and use data and measurable benchmarks to drive continuous program improvement.
Enthusiasm for working collaboratively with the Jazz + Education, Development, and Events Departments, for performances and special programs.
Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
Minimum of three years of experience with registration, admissions, and student services or recruitment, and overall five years of administrative experience.
Ability to speak Spanish is a plus.
Track record of working in multiple locations is a plus.
Willingness to work from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM three to four days a week and some weekends.
Knowledge of Mac O/S, Microsoft Word and Excel, and Google Suite.
Personal Attributes
Devoted to the JAZZ HOUSE KiDS mission of building diversity, cultural competency, and inclusion.
An emotionally intelligent and compassionate leader with an ability to coalesce others around objectives, goals and their successful implementation.
A highly organized go-getter, problem solver and a descalator with a sense of humor and openness.
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.
A mentor with a commitment to selecting and cultivating qualified staff, recruiting parent volunteers, and inspiring service and building morale among staff and volunteers.
People, community and music lover.
JAZZ HOUSE KiDS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Please let us know if you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability.
Location:
Montclair, New Jersey, onsite position, with oversight responsibilities to campus in lower Manhattan, full time plus concerts and events. This opportunity is open to any applicant eligible to work in the U.S.
Status:
This is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the Director of Jazz Education + Performance at the JAZZ HOUSE KIDS. This role oversees the following staff:
Manager of Student Services (NJ + NY)
Front Desk Team
Additional Jazz + Education Team Members:
Artistic Director, 8x GRAMMY winner Christian McBride
Manager of Programs @ the JAZZ HOUSE KIDS
Director of In-School Music Education + Programming
Manager of In-School Programs