Director and Head of the School of Music at InsideHigherEd

Job TitleDirector and Head of the School of MusicAgencyEast Texas A&M UniversityDepartmentDean - CHSSAProposed Minimum SalaryCommensurateJob LocationCommerce, TexasJob TypeFacultyJob DescriptionINSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT:During the application process the “My Experience” page has a section provided “Attachments (Resume/CV, References, Cover letter, etc.)” to upload required documents. Use the Upload button to add each document.You will be able to upload up to 5 documents. Be aware that the maximum size allowed for any one document is 5MB.All documents must be electronically submitted through the Texas A&M Online Employment Services website to be considered.Incomplete or improperly submitted applications may be excluded from consideration.Please do not withdraw your application in an attempt to upload a missing document, instead please email HR for help.Please provide the following documents:Cover LetterResume/CVThree professional references with complete contact information (Unsolicited letters of recommendation will not be considered).Transcripts (Unofficial will be accepted with application. Official transcripts are required upon acceptance of verbal offer). If transcripts are from an international institution, it is the responsibility of the prospective faculty member to have the transcripts translated and evaluated by an approved credential evaluator.If you need assistance, please contact us at [email protected] and Head of the School of MusicEast Texas A&M University invites nominations and applications for the position of Head of the School of Music. This twelve-month, full-time administrative appointment carries senior rank with tenure and no assigned teaching responsibilities. The successful candidate will provide strategic direction and administrative leadership for a large and growing School, stewarding its reputation for excellence in music education and performance while enhancing its visibility regionally (East and North Texas as well as the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex), statewide, and nationally. In Texas—a state widely regarded for its excellence in music education and performance—great leadership is expected, and the next Head will also be given the inaugural title of Director and charged with building upon the School’s successes while positioning it for even greater distinction.As the first Director of newly designated School of Music, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape a bold vision for the School’s future. The School of Music has built its reputation on the twin pillars of music education and performance, with faculty and students who have achieved distinction in both areas and a Pride Marching Band that embodies the spirit of the university. At the same time, the elevation of the program to School status creates an inflection point: the next Head will be charged not only with sustaining these traditional strengths, but also with building new programs and offering curricula in areas not yet fully developed. The charge is to imagine and implement a more comprehensive School of Music that will prepare students for the broad range of careers and opportunities that define music in the twenty-first century.THE OPPORTUNITYEast Texas A&M University seeks a visionary and operationally skilled leader to direct the School of Music, which launched in September 2024. This newly elevated status reflects the university's strategic commitment to the arts and positions the School for significant growth and institutional integration.The School of Music is a comprehensive program with strong undergraduate and graduate enrollment, dedicated faculty, and a reputation for providing an exceptional student experience. The university has made significant strategic investments in the School and is committed to its continued excellence and expansion.This is a pivotal leadership moment. The School has strong fundamentals - talented students, committed faculty, robust community partnerships, and institutional support - and is positioned for a leader who can simultaneously stabilize operations, expand programs, and deepen the School's integration across the university.The ideal candidate will be energized by the opportunity to shape the founding era of a School with deep programmatic roots and significant growth potential.THE CONTEXTThe School of Music has entered an exciting new chapter as a School and is seeking visionary and strategic leadership to build on its strong foundation, enhance its academic and performance programs, and guide its continued growth and excellence for the future.Key contextual factors:Recent elevation to School status (September 2024): This organizational change signals institutional commitment and creates opportunities for program expansion, curricular innovation, and enhanced visibility. The new Director and Head will be the primary architect of the School's identity and trajectory in this formative period.Accreditation: The School of Music continues to engage proactively with NASM in support of its accreditation status, reflecting the university’s strong commitment to sustaining high standards in music education. A decision related to the most recent review is anticipated in November 2025.Financial structure: The School of Music operates with strong enrollment and university investment and is advancing a strategic financial plan focused on sustainability and long-term excellence.Faculty dynamics: As the School of Music continues to evolve, the incoming Director will have the opportunity to cultivate a culture of collaboration, transparency, and shared purpose among a dedicated and talented faculty.Institutional commitment: The Provost and President have demonstrated their commitment to the School of Music through resource allocation, active engagement, organizational elevation, and support for the changes needed to ensure long-term success.THE ROLEThe Director will provide strategic, operational, and academic leadership for the School of Music during a formative period of growth and integration. This is both an inward-facing role (enhancing operational effectiveness and supporting faculty excellence and innovation) and an outward-facing role (advancing the School's profile, cultivating partnerships, and generating resources).Strategic Leadership & Institutional Integration• Lead the School's next strategic plan to align with the University’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan.• Enrich curriculum to increase contributions to General Education, expanding the School's reach and enrollment.• Assess and develop interdisciplinary collaborations with the College of Business, Art, Theatre, and Counseling programs.• Position the School as a hub for cross-campus and community engagement.• Expand the marching band from 205 to 250 members, enhancing visibility and connection to Athletics.• Build collaborative relationships with key stakeholders including the Dean, Provost, President, Athletics Director, department heads, donors, alumni, and community partners.Financial & Operational Management• Develop and implement a sustainable financial model that reduces scholarship dependency while maintaining enrollment strength.• Manage a complex budget with attention to both immediate constraints and long-term sustainability.• Make data-informed decisions about resource allocation, scholarship strategy, and program development.• Implement transparent budget processes that engage faculty in understanding the School’s financial planning and growth initiatives.• Lead the School through NASM accreditation processes and ensure ongoing compliance.Academic & Faculty Leadership• Foster a culture of shared governance, shared responsibility, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.• Support faculty development, retention, and strategic hiring aligned with growth priorities.• Ensure academic quality and program innovation at undergraduate and graduate levels.• Champion curricular development that positions music as both a discipline and a campus-wide resource.Advancement & External Engagement• Cultivate relationships with donors and develop a compelling case for philanthropic support.• Engage alumni in the School's next chapter and build a culture of alumni participation.• Strengthen community partnerships and enhance the School's regional profile.• Collaborate strategically with Athletics on marching band growth and visibility.• Represent the School to external constituencies and position it for regional and national recognition.QUALIFICATIONS & CHARACTERISTICSRequired:• Terminal degree in music or related field.• Minimum five years of progressively responsible administrative experience in higher education music programs (Associate/Assistant Director, division head, or comparable leadership role).• Demonstrated financial management skills and experience with complex budgets.• Proven ability to lead through organizational change.• Knowledge of NASM accreditation standards and processes.• Record of faculty development and relationship building.• Experience with advancement, donor relations, or resource development.Strongly Preferred:• Prior experience as a music school/department Director or Dean.• Track record of addressing structural budget challenges.• Experience managing scholarship models and enrollment strategy.• Success in building interdisciplinary programs or institutional partnerships.• Experience with marching band programs and athletics collaboration.• Demonstrated success in fundraising and alumni engagement.Essential Leadership Characteristics:• Financial acumen - ability to understand, communicate, and manage complex budgets strategically while pursuing growth• Dual focus - capacity to manage inward (faculty, operations, culture) and outward (advancement, partnerships, visibility) simultaneously• Communication - ability to cascade necessary information from senior administration to direct reports• Confident leadership - provides calm, steady guidance that builds trust, encourages collaboration, and maintains alignment as the department moves forward through growth and change.• Transparency and integrity - leads with clarity, honesty, and fairness, ensuring decisions are communicated thoughtfully and aligned with the department’s mission and shared goals.• Strategic thinking - ability to balance short-term constraints with long-term vision and growth• Relationship cultivation - demonstrates the ability to build strong, trusting relationships with faculty, students, alumni, donors, and community partners through respect, collaboration, and consistent engagement.• Entrepreneurial energy - drive to identify opportunities, build partnerships, and generate resources• Visionary leadership - leads with a forward-looking perspective, inspiring faculty, students, alumni, donors, and partners toward shared goals and lasting success.WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY MATTERSThe right leader will find:• A chance to shape the founding era of a newly elevated School with institutional backing.• A program with strong fundamentals and significant growth potential.• Genuine institutional commitment and resources to support stabilization and expansion.• Freedom to innovate, build partnerships, and position the School as a campus-wide asset.• Multiple pathways for impact: curricular innovation, enrollment growth, fundraising, interdisciplinary collaboration.• Talented students, dedicated faculty, and community partners invested in the School's success.• Support from the Dean, Provost, and President for bold, strategic leadership.The School of MusicThe School of Music at East Texas A&M has been an integral part of the institution’s mission for more than a century, tracing its origins to the university’s beginnings as a teacher-training college. The program was first accredited in 1969 and has since grown into a regional leader in music education and performance. In 2011, the university invested $29 million in a new Music Building, a state-of-the-art facility that includes a 600-seat concert hall, a recital hall, rehearsal spaces, teaching studios, and specialized classrooms. The School has earned national recognition as an All-Steinway School and was the first institution in the world to achieve the Steinway Spirio designation, underscoring its leadership in piano pedagogy and innovation.In February 2024, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the elevation of the Department of Music to the School of Music, effective September 1, 2024. Today, the School enrolls approximately 250–300 students and offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees, including the Bachelor of Music, the Bachelor of Arts in Music, and the Master of Music. Its students and faculty contribute to a vibrant artistic culture on campus and throughout the region through opera productions, jazz and symphonic ensembles, chamber music, and other performances. The Pride Marching Band, numbering more than 200 members, is one of the most visible and celebrated expressions of the School’s excellence and represents the university across Texas and beyond.The School’s faculty are accomplished musicians and educators, many with national and international reputations, who are committed to teaching, scholarship, and creative activity. Students in the School of Music are recognized for their talent, achievement, and persistence: music majors consistently post among the university’s highest retention and graduation rates. The Music Building provides modern facilities that support both performance and pedagogy, while the program’s growing scholarship portfolio ensures access and opportunity for promising musicians from across the state and nation.The College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts (CHSSA)The Director and Head of the School of Music will report to the Dean and form a critical part of the College’s Leadership Team. The College serves 1100-1200 undergraduate and graduate students and offers baccalaureates, masters, certificates, and one doctoral program (English); those programs are offered in person at the Commerce campus as well as sites in DFW, hybrid, and online.The College is positioned as a leader in the university's mission to transform lives through "student ready" education, emphasizing accessibility, support, and preparation for varied careers and graduate study. The college values interdisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and comprehensive programs serving multiple student pathways.Nominations and Application ProcessThe Search Committee Head will begin its review of applications on January 6, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. For priority consideration, all materials must be received by January 5, 2026. Zoom interviews are scheduled for January 19-28, 2026, with finalist campus visits planned for February 16–27, 2026. Candidates for the position are asked to make themselves available for interviews during these times.Application materials should include: (1) a letter of interest that addresses how the candidate’s experience and qualifications intersect with the priorities and desired leadership characteristics outlined in this profile; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three references for future contact, including the professional relationship of each reference.Applications must be submitted electronically through ETAMU .The starting date for the position is June 1, 2026. The base salary established for this position is $140,000 per annum. The search committee will be chaired by Dr. Ashanka Kumari, Associate Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Professor of English, Rhetoric and Writing. Nominations should be provided to Dr. Kumari by e-mail at [email protected] and arrangements for a conversation about the opportunity may be made.WHY WORK AT EAST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY?Competitive Benefits & Work-Life Balance:Employee tuition assistance for master’s and doctoral programs.Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance.ETAMU contributes to employee health and basic life insurance premiums.12-15 days of annual paid holidays, plus up to eight hours of paid sick leave and vacation each month.Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), with optional additional retirement plans (ORP).Physical wellness program and wellness release time for eligible employees.Career Growth & Development:Access to cutting-edge research opportunities at a designated R2 Research Institution.Academic Excellence:ETAMU is ranked among the top 30% in five online degree programs and offers national recognized academic programs.Over 140 degree programs, including nationally ranked online and graduate options.First accredited institution to offer a competency-based bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.Distance education offerings in Corsicana, Dallas, Frisco, McKinney, Mesquite, Bryan, and online.State-of-the-Art Facilities:Work in advanced facilities such as the 113,470-square-foot Nursing and Health Sciences Building, featuring a state-of-the-art simulation hospital and a 1,300-acre agricultural research farm.Vibrant Campus Life:Engage with over 95 student organizations and 14 NCAA Division I athletic teams, contributing to a thriving campus community.Prime Location & Growth:Enjoy the benefits of working in rapidly growing regions, with abundant career opportunities at six locations across Dallas and Northeast Texas.Visit us on our social media:Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and ETAMU NewsAll positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.