Career Center

General Description

Salary: Starting at $40-$50/hr for private lessons, $50-$60/hr for group classes

Position Summary:

The Department Chair, Guitar is a leadership role responsible for the strategic direction, development, and oversight of the Peabody Preparatory Guitar Department.  This position will lead the department into a new era of excellence, focusing on innovative programming, a robust curriculum, enhanced student experiences, and fostering a vibrant community of learners and educators. The Chair will manage a comprehensive program providing private and group music instruction to students across a broad range of abilities, backgrounds, and ages, while providing supervision and mentorship to departmental faculty.  The role requires a blend of administrative leadership and active teaching responsibilities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership & Vision:

• Lead the development and implementation of a forward-thinking, long-term vision for the Guitar Department, identifying strategic opportunities for student and teacher growth, and anticipating evolving institutional needs.
• Cultivate relationships with key figures and institutions in the guitar and performing arts community to create enriching future opportunities for students and faculty, aligning with the department's strategic goals.
• Serve on Peabody Preparatory's Director's Council, actively contributing to broader institutional strategy and initiatives.

Student Experience & Curriculum:

• Develop, guide, and continuously review Peabody Preparatory's guitar curriculum and student evaluation standards to ensure a comprehensive, high-quality, and equitable educational trajectory for all departmental students.
•  Actively manage year-round student placements for private lessons, including maintaining availability in-person or online placement sessions, conducting placement sessions, facilitating student/parent orientations, introducing students to their recommended instructor, and maintaining communication with unplaced students.
• Provide guidance and support for new and current students.
• Coordinate student transfers efficiently by communicating with office staff and assigning faculty.
• Organize and oversee studio and department recitals, delegating responsibilities to individual faculty where applicable.
• Regularly gather and critically review program feedback from faculty, students, and parents to inform continuous improvement.
• Communicate regularly and proactively with students regarding department activities and unique opportunities.
• Collaborate with faculty and Preparatory leadership (Assistant Director and Director) to effectively manage student and family issues.
• Working closely with the Assistant Director and Director of the Preparatory, formulate and implement an effective student recruitment and retention plan that aligns with strategic growth. 

Faculty Leadership:

• Supervise and evaluate all departmental faculty and ensure participation in developing and maintaining a dynamic curriculum.
• Optimize each faculty member's teaching load to leverage their strengths, ensuring an appropriate balance of group to private teaching and aligning private students with the teacher's expertise in age range, motivation levels, learning styles, communication needs, and methodology.
• Collaborate with faculty, Preparatory leadership, and HR to effectively manage and resolve faculty-related issues.
• Coordinate with the Assistant Director and Director of the Preparatory on all aspects of faculty hiring, including recruitment, credential review, interviews, and recommendations, ensuring alignment with departmental vision.
• Establish and champion excellence in teaching, curriculum, and community engagement.
• Schedule and lead regular departmental meetings (at least 1 per year) to foster communication and collaboration.
• Foster a strong sense of community within the department by involving faculty in decision-making and program development. Solicit and help shape ideas from faculty regarding new initiatives they are interested in developing.
• Mentor faculty through regular feedback on teaching and student outcomes.
• Communicate critical deadlines to department faculty for information pertaining to exams, recitals, and other department events as appropriate.

Administrative Oversight:

• Along with the Assistant Director and Director of the Preparatory and finance, develop and manage the department budget.
• Keep appropriate leadership consistently apprised of department initiatives, possible issues, and potential solutions.

• Monitor enrollments and class details in ASAP, and collaborate with finance to determine plans for under enrolled classes including communicating with families.
• Working with appropriate departments, create and oversee all departmental publications, programs, and web content, ensuring accuracy and alignment with branding.
• Plan, coordinate, prepare, and submit content for inclusion ASAP online registration system for all group classes.
• Serve on task forces, committees, adjudicate recitals, and attend administrative meetings as required.

Teaching:

• Maintain an active studio of students, providing direct instruction and serving as a model educator.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in relevant discipline is required, classical guitar preferred. Master's degree is preferred.
• Demonstrated strong administrative and teaching experience, with a focus in classical guitar, and supervisory experience in a music institution is a significant plus.
• Demonstrated capacity for visionary leadership and program innovation.
• High level of commitment to teaching students of all ages with a broad range of abilities and backgrounds in private and group class settings.
• Community music school experience preferred.
• Ability to work collegially but independently. Proven ability to build and maintain strong internal and external partnerships.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and think strategically to achieve departmental goals.
• Excellent communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills
• High comfort level and proficiency with technology, including extensive experience with Microsoft Office Suite products or Google Docs; experience with online database management systems is preferred.

Application Instructions

• Cover letter, including a summary of your teaching philosophy
• Résumé
• Video recording of performance
• 2-3 professional references.

Anticipated Start Date: September 1, 2025

About Johns Hopkins University

The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) was founded in 1876 as the nation's first research university, dedicated to bringing the benefits of discovery to the world. JHU is the largest private employer in Baltimore and Maryland, making a large economic impact in the city and state. We enroll more than 30,000 full- and part-time students across ten academic divisions, offering in-person and remote learning in over 400 programs. Not only are we located in Baltimore, but we also have a presence in Washington, D.C.

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