General Description

The Sr. Chair for Dance will be responsible for the strategic development and oversight of Peabody Preparatory's Dance program, which currently represents over 350 students and provides comprehensive dance education to students with a broad range of abilities, backgrounds, and ages; and provides oversight and supervision for this program. In addition, the Sr. Chair for Dance will be responsible for identifying and spearheading the development of new dance opportunities to grow the Preparatory's reach. 

Classification: Faculty administrative role with 12 hours of administrative responsibility. The position does not include teaching responsibilities; however, the successful candidate may be considered for future teaching opportunities. 

Duties and Responsibilities:  

Faculty 

• Responsible for the dance faculty recruitment and retention in collaboration with leadership and HR.  
• Mentor, supervise, and manage all dance program faculty. 
• Oversee faculty evaluation program for dance. 
• Oversee department hiring committees, as needed, to ensure JHU hiring policies and procedures are followed and to ensure a diverse candidate pool. Prepare candidate lists for the Director of the Preparatory for approval. 
• Mentor and supervise onboarding of all new dance faculty, coordinators, and dance administrative staff. 
• Identify and hire substitutes, coaches, and clinicians as needed.  
• Supported by the Director of the Preparatory and JHU, as needed, manage and work to resolve any area faculty issues that may develop throughout the year. 
• Coordinate area coordinator meetings, events, and professional development opportunities. 

Curriculum 

• Supervise and oversee the creation and revision, as needed, of curricula to ensure a comprehensive educational strategy within each program with a focus on diversifying the curriculum. 
• Approves music and choreography selections for dance performances. 

Students & Families 

• Oversee the recruitment and retention of students for the dance department, including recruitment, auditions, placements, and family education. 
• Working with the Director of the Preparatory, campus staff, and marketing, create a comprehensive marketing strategy for dance youth and adult student recruitment and retention. 
• Working with the Assistant Director, Preparatory Education Coordinator, and marketing coordinate the creation of content for course catalog, area publications, and web pages serving as an approver for all dance content. 
• Work with parent organizations to create an overarching parent advisory organization for the dance program. 
• Attend and support, as needed, retreats, performances, and master classes. 
• Supported by the Director of the Preparatory and JHU, as needed, manage and work to resolve any area student or parent issues that may develop throughout the year. 

Administration 

• Work with the Director of the Preparatory and campuses on strategic plans for dance expansion, including developing adult-focused programs and genre expansion. 
• Supervises Dance Administrative Assistant.  
• Oversee dance enrollments and class details in ASAP, Peabody's online registration system.  
• Working with the Business Office and Department Chairs, determine the course of action for under-enrolled classes. 
• Working with Preparatory Education Manager and Conservatory Concert Office, plan and oversee the rehearsal and performance calendar.  
• Approve additional external performances beyond the regular season. 
• Work with the Director of the Preparatory to create and update policies and procedures, as needed, for all dance programs. 
• Work with the Preparatory Education Manager on coordinating schoolwide recitals and oversee area event scheduling to ensure programs are equally represented. 
• Serve on Peabody Preparatory's leadership team. 

Budget 

• Working with the Director of the Preparatory and Business Office in developing the departmental 5-year dance budget, including enrollment projections and monitoring activity during the fiscal year.  
• Oversee summer dance programs and work with the Business office on individual program budgets, including enrollment projections. 
• Participate in periodic meetings with the Business Office and the Director to review year-to-date results and projections.