Director

Art School Director 

Full Time - Immediate Hire

Salary Range: $65,000.00 To $75,000.00 Annually

The Director at One River School of Art + Design is a strong operational and strategic leader responsible for driving business growth, operational excellence, and team performance across our studio locations. This role requires an experienced leader with a proven track record of managing both operational and educational teams of full- and part-time employees, overseeing annual revenue plans and budgets, and driving overall school profitability.

While you do not need to be a practicing artist, you should possess a genuine passion for the visual arts and education. You will merge business rigor with artistic vision—scaling revenue, optimizing processes, and championing a high-performance culture while delivering exceptional art experiences to the community.

What You’ll Do:

Business Strategy & Performance Management

• Oversee school-level financial performance, including annual revenue plans, expense management, enrollment growth, and forecasting to drive revenue and school profitability.

• Track and drive key performance metrics across student enrollment, retention, and operational efficiency.

• Implement brand standards, workflow efficiencies, and accountability systems across all school functions.

Team Leadership & Talent Operations

• Recruit, build, and lead a high-performing team of instructors and operational staff.

• Drive team engagement, professional development, and accountability through structured performance management systems.

• Cultivate a results-oriented, professional environment aligned with One River School educational and brand standards.

Community Engagement & Brand Leadership

• Serve as the key business ambassador for One River School within the local market, driving strategic partnerships with community organizations, schools, and local networks.

• Oversee site-level marketing strategies, gallery exhibitions, and community programming to build local brand awareness and drive enrollment.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Fine Arts (BFA/MFA), or a related field (or an equivalent combination of business leadership experience and creative education).

• Experience: 5+ years of progressive leadership experience managing people, operations, and budgets within a multi-unit, retail, educational, or hospitality environment.

• Financial Acumen: Strong skills in budgeting, financial analysis, forecasting, and labor optimization.

• Leadership: Exceptional track record of building, coaching, and holding teams accountable to performance metrics.

• Art Affinity: A deep appreciation and enthusiasm for visual arts education and creative culture.

About One River School of Art + Design

Founded in 2012, One River School of Art + Design was created with a simple but powerful mission: to build a community for contemporary art in the suburbs through engaging programs and partnerships with living contemporary artists.

One River is an Equal Opportunity Employer institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, height, weight, pregnancy or marital status in employment or the provision of services and is an equal access/equal opportunity employer.