The Role
The Director leads and oversees the Contemporary Music Program, supervising faculty, managing operations, and ensuring alignment with educational best practices and community engagement.
Summary Generated by Built In
TITLE: Director of Contemporary Music Program (CMP)
REPORTS TO: Vice President of Music Education
DEPARTMENT: Contemporary Music Program
STATUS: Exempt; Full Time (32 Hours/Week)
LOCATION: Minneapolis, On-Site/Hybrid Eligible
COMPENSATION: $70,343 - $82,301; Benefit Eligible
STATUS: Exempt; Full Time (32 Hours/Week)
LOCATION: Minneapolis, On-Site/Hybrid Eligible
COMPENSATION: $70,343 - $82,301; Benefit Eligible
JOB SUMMARY
The Director of the Contemporary Music Program (CMP) provides visionary leadership and administrative oversight for MacPhail’s jazz, pop/rock, music production and technology, and world music offerings. The Director ensures that these programs work in alignment to deliver high-quality, inclusive, and innovative music education that reflects the evolving landscape of contemporary music-making.
Working closely with the Vice President of Music Education and other program leaders, the Director supports faculty and student success, supervises program coordinators, and helps shape the overall direction of contemporary music education at MacPhail Center for Music.
RESPONSIBILITES and ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Program Leadership & Development
- Lead the strategic and operational direction of MacPhail’s Contemporary Music Program (CMP), integrating jazz, pop/rock, music production/technology, and world music into a cohesive ecosystem
- Oversee curriculum design, course development, and pedagogical innovation across Contemporary Music Program (CMP) offerings
- Collaborate with faculty to ensure instruction reflects artistic excellence, cultural relevance, and educational best practices
- Supervise, mentor, and evaluate Contemporary Music Program (CMP) faculty and program coordinators supporting individual areas (e.g., Jazz, Pop/Rock, Music Production & Technology, World Music)
- Foster an inclusive, student-centered environment that supports risk-taking, mutual respect, and creative expression
- Oversee day-to-day program operations, including scheduling, course offerings, and room assignments in partnership with the Scheduling and Student Services teams
- Prepare and monitor Contemporary Music Program (CMP) program budgets and track expenditures in a timely and accurate manner
- Cultivate and sustain partnerships with community organizations, schools, and arts institutions that align with the Contemporary Music Program’s (CMP) mission
- Support outreach, recruitment, and audience development strategies that advance access, diversity, and engagement in contemporary music
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Music or related field, required
- Master’s Degree in Music or related field, preferred
- 5 – 10 years of demonstrated leadership and administration experience in a contemporary, jazz, and/or music technology education setting, required
- Supervisory experience, preferred
- Experience with budget oversight, required
- Strong knowledge of contemporary music genres and their pedagogies, including improvisation, composition, production, and ensemble collaboration
- Strong organizational and project management skills
- Commitment to inclusive, student-centered teaching
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The Company
What We Do
Mission: To transform lives and communities through exceptional music learning.
Vision: To provide students of all backgrounds and abilities access to exceptional music learning experiences through extraordinary faculty, innovative programs and integrated learning technology to create successful outcomes.
MacPhail offers the best music education in the region in 35 instruments at 132 different locations throughout the Twin Cities and statewide, serving 16,000 students annually.
