Director and Head of the School of Music

Job Title

Director and Head of the School of Music

Agency

East Texas A&M University

Department

Dean - CHSSA

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Commerce Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

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Director and Head of the School of Music

East 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 Texasa state widely regarded for its excellence in music education and performancegreat leadership is expected and the next Head will also be given the inaugural title of Director and charged with building upon the Schools 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 Schools 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 OPPORTUNITY

East Texas A&M University seeks a visionary and operationally skilled leader to direct the School of Music which launched as an independent School in September 2024. This newly elevated status reflects the universitys 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 Schools 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 CONTEXT

The School of Music has entered an exciting new chapter as an independent 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 Schools 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 universitys 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 ROLE

The 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 Schools profile cultivating partnerships and generating resources).

Strategic Leadership & Institutional Integration

Lead the Schools next strategic plan to align with the Universitys 2024-2029 Strategic Plan.

Enrich curriculum to increase contributions to General Education expanding the Schools 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 Schools 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 Schools next chapter and build a culture of alumni participation.

Strengthen community partnerships and enhance the Schools 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 & CHARACTERISTICS

Required :

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 departments 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 MATTERS

The 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 Schools success.

Support from the Dean Provost and President for bold strategic leadership.

The School of Music

The School of Music at East Texas A&M has been an integral part of the institutions mission for more than a century tracing its origins to the universitys 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 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 250300 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 Schools excellence and represents the university across Texas and beyond.

The Schools 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 universitys highest retention and graduation rates. The Music Building provides modern facilities that support both performance and pedagogy while the programs 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 Colleges 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 universitys 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 Process

The 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. 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 candidates 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 $140000 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 and arrangements for a conversation about the opportunity may be made.

WHY WORK AT EAST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Competitive Benefits & Work-Life Balance :

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All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation and employment is contingent upon the institutions verification of credentials and / or other information required by the institutions procedures including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity / Veterans / Disability Employer.

Required Experience :

Director

Key Skills

Crisis Management,Marketing,Public Relations,Fundraising,Media Relations,Constant Contact,Strategic Planning,Social Media Management,Team Management,Public Speaking,Wordpress,Writing Skills

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1