Director of Creative Arts

Milken Community School seeks a Director of Creative Arts to serve as the senior educational leader for performing arts education (theater, music, dance, and related disciplines) for grades 6–12. As a member of the Curriculum and Integration team, the role provides strategic vision, curricular leadership, and cultural stewardship to build a rigorous, inclusive, and highly visible performing arts program across the school.

• Provide strategic leadership and long-term vision for performing arts education across grades 6–12, ensuring excellence, coherence, and sustainability.
• Articulate and advance an inclusive performing arts philosophy balancing broad access with artistic rigor and skill development.
• Position the creative arts as a visible and valued component of the school’s academic program and culture; partner with school leadership on investment, growth, and sustainability.
• Lead the development of vertically aligned, credit-bearing pathways in theater, music, dance, and related disciplines, with entry points for beginners and advanced opportunities for committed student artists.
• Support integration of creative arts learning with broader curricular and interdisciplinary initiatives where appropriate.
• Partner with the Director of Jewish Integration and faculty to authentically integrate Jewish traditions into coursework, repertoire selection, and student work.
• Provide academic, artistic, and supervisory leadership for faculty and program heads, including goal-setting, feedback, and performance evaluation.
• Support excellence in teaching, directing, choreography, ensemble leadership, and production work; recruit, develop, and retain teaching artists.
• Oversee an annual season of performances, ensembles, and showcases; ensure a balanced model including selective mainstage productions and inclusive, lower-barrier opportunities.
• Support structures for student leadership, authorship, and creative ownership; ensure productions are educationally grounded and aligned with student wellbeing.
• Increase visibility through performances and community events; partner with Admissions and Advancement to communicate the arts as a defining feature of a Milken education.
• Cultivate relationships with alumni, guest artists, and external partners in the Los Angeles creative ecosystem.
• Partner on long-term planning for facilities, resources, staffing, and effective use of performance/rehearsal spaces; collaborate with operations and scheduling to maintain a sustainable calendar.

• Advanced degree or equivalent professional experience in theater, music, dance, arts education, or a related field.
• Experience teaching 2–3 courses each year.
• Significant experience in performing arts education, program leadership, or professional artistic practice.
• Demonstrated success leading productions, ensembles, or arts programs at the secondary or post-secondary level.
• Strong understanding of adolescent development and arts pedagogy.
• Experience working collaboratively within an academic institution.

• Preferred:

  • Visionary leadership experience building and sustaining high-quality arts programs.
  • Strong collaboration skills; comfort leading through partnership, mentorship, and influence.
  • Commitment to inclusive access and excellence in the arts.
  • Clear communication and advocacy for the value of creative arts education.
  • Ability to balance artistic ambition with institutional realities.

• Schedule (on-campus):

  • Start: Monday–Friday by 7:45 AM
  • End: Monday–Thursday 3:30 PM; Friday 2:30 PM
  • All schedules subject to change.
• Salary range stated: $110,000–$130,000 per year (benefits available; see employer employment page for details).
• Community: nurturing, diverse, and inclusive environment.