Director of Innovation and Growth Initiatives

New England Conservatory Of Music • Boston, MA

1d

About The Position

The New England Conservatory (NEC), a globally recognized music school, is seeking a Director of Innovation and Growth Initiatives for its Expanded Education division. This role is pivotal in driving program growth, innovation, and market development. The Director will identify, develop, launch, and scale new educational programs, strategic partnerships, certificates, and revenue streams across various Expanded Education portfolios, including Preparatory School, Summer Programs, Adult Education, digital and hybrid learning, certificates, and community programs. The position requires a collaborative approach, working with academic, operational, enrollment, and marketing teams to translate institutional goals into sustainable programs that align with NEC's mission, broaden access, and foster long-term growth. Key responsibilities include developing and implementing initiatives for enrollment growth, learner engagement, and revenue generation, supported by strategic planning, business case development, partnership cultivation, and project management from concept to implementation. This role focuses on new growth opportunities, with ongoing management of existing programs remaining with program and educational directors. As part of the Expanded Education leadership team, the Director will contribute to divisional planning and ensure new initiatives are mission-aligned, financially sound, and operationally feasible.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in program development, business development, innovation, continuing education, arts administration, entrepreneurship, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success launching, growing, or managing educational, nonprofit, arts, or community-based programs.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Experience developing business plans, budgets, revenue projections, and implementation strategies.
• Ability to lead complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in music, arts education, higher education, community music schools, continuing education, or lifelong learning environments.
• Experience developing certificate programs, professional development initiatives, or non-credit educational offerings.
• Familiarity with enrollment-driven and revenue-generating educational models.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a demonstrated record of innovation and execution.

Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and develop new educational programs, certificates, cohorts, intensives, camps, and special initiatives aligned with NEC’s mission and strategic goals.
• Conduct market research, competitive analysis, and environmental scanning to identify emerging opportunities and areas for growth.
• Develop business plans, implementation strategies, enrollment projections, pricing recommendations, and success metrics for new initiatives.
• Lead pilot programs from concept through launch, evaluation, and refinement.
• Recommend new educational offerings and portfolio enhancements based on market demand, mission alignment, and financial sustainability.
• Support growth and innovation across the Expanded Education portfolio, including Preparatory School, Adult Education, Summer Programs, and Digital Learning.
• Analyze enrollment, revenue, retention, and participation trends to identify opportunities for expansion and improvement.
• Develop recommendations for new markets, audiences, and programmatic offerings.
• Monitor the performance of new initiatives and recommend adjustments to support long-term success.
• Identify opportunities to expand venues/learning locations, diversify revenue streams, and strengthen learner pathways across the Expanded Education portfolio.
• Monitor financial performance against projections and recommend improvements to enhance program sustainability, growth, and return on investment.
• Develop and execute growth strategies that support enrollment, participation, and revenue objectives across new and emerging programs.
• Identify, cultivate, and develop new strategic partnerships that advance NEC's educational mission and growth objectives.
• Lead development of partnership proposals, collaborative program models, and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) in coordination with institutional stakeholders, including the strategy and finance team.
• Collaborate with colleagues in advancement around potential funding opportunities for new programs that align with fundraising priorities and donor interest.
• Evaluate new partnership opportunities for mission alignment, educational value, operational feasibility, and financial sustainability.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for prospective strategic partners during exploration and development phases.
• Collaborate with the Director of Education and Executive Director of the Preparatory School to ensure partnership opportunities align with educational priorities.
• Identify opportunities for innovative online, hybrid, and technology-enabled educational experiences.
• Collaborate with academic and operational leaders to support the development of scalable learning models.
• Evaluate emerging trends in lifelong learning, continuing education, credentialing, and digital engagement.
• Recommend new approaches that expand reach and accessibility while maintaining educational quality.
• Lead cross-functional project teams responsible for launching new programs and strategic initiatives.
• Coordinate implementation efforts across curriculum, operations, enrollment, marketing, technology, and finance functions.
• Establish project timelines, milestones, and performance metrics.
• Monitor outcomes and facilitate the successful transition of initiatives into ongoing operations, establishing clear ownership, performance expectations, and assessment metrics for long-term sustainability.
• Serve as a member of the Expanded Education leadership team.
• Contribute to divisional planning, portfolio development, and growth strategy discussions.
• Provide data-informed recommendations regarding future opportunities, investments, and program priorities.
• Support special projects and institutional initiatives as assigned by the Chief Growth Officer.
• Contribute to annual divisional growth planning, including enrollment projections, revenue forecasting, and strategic investment recommendations.

Benefits

• NEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director