Director, School

GIA (Gemological Institute of America)•Carlsbad, CA

1d•$140,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

GIA is seeking an experienced and visionary Director, School to provide strategic and operational leadership for a campus location. This role is responsible for ensuring academic excellence, student success, enrollment performance, financial results, workforce effectiveness, and compliance with institutional, regulatory, and accreditation standards. As the senior campus leader, the Director, School drives campus operations, develops faculty and staff, and partners across the organization to execute GIA’s education strategy. This position plays a critical role in strengthening operational performance, enhancing the student experience, and advancing GIA’s reputation within the industry and broader community.

Requirements

Graduate Gemologist (GG) diploma or Bachelor's degree in Education, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
10+ years of progressive leadership experience, including at least 7 years of experience leading, developing, and managing teams.
Experience leading educational operations, campus administration, academic programs, or similarly complex business operations.
Demonstrated success translating strategic objectives into operational plans that drive measurable business and student outcomes.
Proven experience managing budgets, resource planning, financial performance, and operational effectiveness.
Experience leading organizational change, talent development, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to lead change, inspire teams, and drive organizational success.
Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to balance long-term vision and day-to-day execution.
Proven accountability for achieving operational, financial, and student success outcomes.
Experience building, coaching, and developing high-performing teams.
Strong workforce planning and succession management capabilities.
Ability to foster an inclusive, collaborative, and engaged workplace culture.
Track record of achieving measurable results through data-driven decision making.
Ability to establish performance measures and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
Experience managing complex operations and competing priorities.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
Skilled at building relationships, influencing stakeholders, and navigating complex organizational environments.
Ability to effectively communicate with diverse audiences, including students, faculty, staff, industry partners, and executive leadership.
Proven success working cross-functionally and building strong partnerships.
Ability to gain trust through integrity, transparency, and authenticity.
Strong negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience within vocational, career-training, higher education, or industry-related educational environments.
Knowledge of accreditation standards, educational regulations, and compliance requirements.
Experience partnering with industry organizations and developing external stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic direction and leadership to faculty and school staff to ensure academic quality and positive student outcomes.
Lead campus-wide student success initiatives focused on improving retention, persistence, graduation, and career placement outcomes.
Drive enrollment performance and student achievement by partnering with Admissions, Marketing, Student Services, and Education teams.
Promote a student-centered culture that ensures equitable treatment, exceptional experiences, and adherence to institutional standards.
Oversee admissions, student services, financial services, and instructional delivery to ensure effective campus operations.
Lead the resolution of complex student issues through cross-functional collaboration and sound judgment.
Sponsor and lead process improvement initiatives that enhance organizational effectiveness, student outcomes, and operational performance.
Ensure campus practices, policies, and procedures align with GIA’s mission, ethics, and corporate standards.
Build and lead high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring, performance management, and succession planning.
Develop annual course schedules that optimize instructor utilization, classroom capacity, and student demand.
Ensure curriculum updates, policy changes, and procedural improvements are implemented effectively across the campus.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.
Serve as the primary representative of the school within the business, educational, and gemological communities.
Build and maintain relationships with industry partners, employers, and community organizations.
Promote awareness of GIA education programs among prospective students and external stakeholders.
Evaluate market trends and emerging opportunities to recommend program expansion, modification, launch, or teach-out decisions.
Manage the school's budget and financial performance, including revenue forecasting, expense management, and resource planning.
Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to enrollment, retention, attendance, placement, and operational effectiveness.
Drive continuous improvement by evaluating and optimizing business processes, policies, and resource utilization.
Lead emergency response planning, operational continuity efforts, and reputation management initiatives.
Ensure compliance with applicable health, safety, environmental, accreditation, and regulatory requirements.
Promote and maintain a safe learning and working environment through proactive risk management and safety oversight.