Director of Studies

Education First•Honolulu, HI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

EF Honolulu is looking for an experienced leader to oversee the academic program at our school in Honolulu. The Director of Studies is responsible for leading the academic department, including managing and developing a small team of teachers and an Academic Coordinator, maintaining academic quality, coordinating classes, and overseeing the academic components of the school budget. Our Honolulu school is a close-knit campus with a maximum of approximately 250 students during peak seasons. We are looking for a leader who is passionate about developing people, building a positive team culture, and delivering an exceptional student experience. The Director of Studies plays an important role in shaping an engaging academic journey by encouraging innovative teaching practices, meaningful projects, and real-world learning experiences that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and make learning memorable. The ideal candidate is a proven leader with the ability to guide, inspire, and develop their team. This person enjoys coaching and mentoring others, effectively solves problems, does not subscribe to a "that's not my job" attitude, and has ambitions to grow both personally and professionally while contributing to a highly customer service-focused school. They will work collaboratively with other departments and possess excellent communication, delegation, and leadership skills with a proven background in international education.

Requirements

Proven ability to coach, mentor, and motivate educators to achieve high standards of teaching excellence.
Proven track record in effective recruitment, onboarding, and staff development.
Relentless focus on customer service, student experience, and academic quality.
A model of professionalism, accountability, and quality.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to manage difficult situations and remain calm under pressure.
Excellent cross-cultural communication, people management, and conflict resolution skills.
Strong, confident decision-maker who is highly motivated, positive, and empathetic.

Nice To Haves

Global and/or international work experience preferred.
On-Island candidates preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead, manage, develop, and inspire a small teaching team and Academic Coordinator while fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Foster a collaborative, supportive, and high-performing academic culture.
Ensures that the EF in-house curriculum and materials are delivered with consistency while empowering teachers to bring lessons to life through creativity, project-based learning, and engaging real-world experiences.
Ensures that all academic department policies and procedures are consistently followed.
Maintains the academic integrity and quality standards of the school.
Organizes placement testing and places students in appropriate levels.
Counsels individual students regarding academic performance.
Tracks students with excessive absences and initiates Academic Warning Letters.
Coordinates professional development.
Observes teachers and conducts follow-up coaching meetings.
Provides written, formal evaluations of observations.
Delivers ongoing professional guidance and support.
Encourages teachers to develop engaging projects, experiential learning opportunities, and innovative classroom practices that enhance student learning and create memorable experiences.
Coordinates departure evaluation questionnaires and departure testing.
Supervises book inventory and book ordering.
Conducts monthly inventory and maintains the library of class sets in the teachers' room.
Assigns administrative duties to teaching staff as required.
Works with the School Director to manage academic staffing, class size averages, and other academic budget considerations.
Works collaboratively with other departments to create engaging academic experiences that enhance student learning and contribute to an exceptional overall student experience.
Other tasks as assigned by the School Director.

Benefits

Commitment to professional growth: robust monthly calendar of trainings and workshops.
Four weeks paid vacation your first year, ten paid holidays, and two floating holidays.
Exciting business travel opportunities.
25% company match on your 401(k) contributions.
Market-leading medical, dental and vision coverage, along with options for life and disability insurance, legal and pet insurance.
Dependent care, healthcare and commuter Flex Spending Accounts (FSAs).
Access to fertility care and family-building support.
Wellness benefits including a yearly fitness reimbursement.
Frequent social and learning events, including access to our employee-run resource groups.
Robust Employee Assistance Program.
Tenure-based sabbatical eligibility.
EF Product Discounts (discounts on travel, international language schools, Au Pair program and more).
Discounts at local venues and businesses.