Director of School Programs

Director of School Programs

Midori & Friends

Location: New York, NY (Hybrid – site visits required)

Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt

Reports to: Executive Director

Compensation: $75,000-85,000 annually (commensurate with experience)

About Midori & Friends

Founded in 1992 by renowned violinist Midori, Midori & Friends has reached over 350,000 young people through tuition-free, accessible music education. Each year we serve students across 65+ New York City schools and organizations through programs that cultivate joy in learning, community engagement, and courageous self-expression. Our work includes instrumental and vocal instruction, live music performances, cultural exploration, and teen leadership development.

Our Mission

Midori & Friends harnesses the power of music to transform the lives of children and enrich their communities. Through accessible music education programs, Midori & Friends cultivates a joy of learning, a spirit of service, and courageous self-expression for all, illuminating pathways to a brighter future.

Position Overview

The Director of School Programs is a key leadership position responsible for the design, implementation, and evaluation of all direct service music education programs across Midori & Friends’ 65+ school partners. This role leads the program team and supports a roster of professional teaching artists to ensure that every student receives high-quality, impactful, and culturally responsive music experiences.

As the primary liaison with schools, the Director builds strong external relationships with principals, teachers, and administrators, while also working collaboratively with internal colleagues across development, finance, and marketing. This position supervises a three-person full-time programming team, oversees program budgets, supports grant reporting, and represents Midori & Friends at school sites and community events.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in music/arts education, team leadership, and program management, with a passion for making music accessible to all children regardless of background.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Management

  • Oversee the planning, execution, and evaluation of all school-based music education programs, including Play to Learn (instrumental and vocal instruction), Celebrate! Music concert series and Journey to Japan.
  • Supervise and mentor the programming staff (3 FTE) and provide ongoing professional development for teaching artists.
  • Lead curriculum design, training workshops, and teaching artist development to ensure consistent program quality.
  • Conduct regular school site visits and classroom/program observations to assess effectiveness and provide feedback.

School & Community Partnerships

  • Serve as the primary external contact for school partners, maintaining strong relationships with principals, teachers, and administrators.
  • Collaborate with school leaders to schedule residencies, performances, and workshops that align with school needs.
  • Represent Midori & Friends at community events, school showcases, and special performances.

Budgeting, Reporting & Evaluation

  • Manage program budgets and ensure fiscal responsibility in collaboration with the Finance team.
  • Partner with Development and Marketing teams to provide program data, evaluation outcomes, and success stories for grants, reports, and promotional materials.
  • Ensure accurate tracking of program impact and compliance with funder requirements.

Collaboration & Organizational Support

  • Work with the Executive Director and leadership team on organizational strategy and program growth.
  • Support annual fundraising events, board engagement activities, and donor cultivation events.
  • Collaborate with Marketing to highlight program impact and share student and school success stories.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Music, Education, Arts Administration, or related field required.
  • 8 years of experience in music or arts education with at least 3 years of management/supervisory experience.
  • Proven ability to design, implement, and evaluate school-based programs in diverse communities.
  • Strong knowledge of curriculum development, teaching artist professional development, and arts integration practices.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; comfortable working externally with school leadership and internally across teams.
  • Experience with budgeting, program evaluation, and grant reporting.
  • Proficiency with Salesforce, Mailchimp, Canva, Microsoft Suite, and Slack.
  • Familiarity with NYC Department of Education, NYS Learning Standards, Common
  • Core Standards, and the NYC Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in Music, as well as knowledge of NYC public schools.
  • Flexible, adaptive, and collaborative work style; willingness to attend evening/weekend events as needed.

What We Offer

  • Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package including health and dental insurance, 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution, and generous paid time off.
  • Professional development and leadership growth opportunities.
  • Flexible hybrid work structure with regular school site engagement.
  • A collaborative, mission-driven work environment where your leadership directly impacts music education access for NYC students.

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit the following to jobs@midoriandfriends.org with “Director of School Programs Application” in the subject line:
– Cover letter detailing your interest and relevant experience
– Current resume
– Three professional references

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Midori & Friends is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds, particularly those reflecting the communities we serve, to apply.