About Payam Music
As featured on CBS 60 Minutes, Payam Music is fundamentally changing the way students learn piano. In a national segment spotlighting our innovative Payam Method and teaching philosophy, legendary film composer Hans Zimmer added "it's exactly what I wish I could have had growing up!” That kind of impact is what drives everything we do. Our CEO Hadi Partovi, also the founder and CEO of Code.org, recognized the power of our mission from day one and has been committed to scaling it ever since.
At Payam Music, students fall in love with piano. While traditional methods have remained unchanged since Mozart’s era, our patent-pending curriculum helps students learn to play piano faster and more effectively. The curriculum teaches beginners using an innovative alphabetical and numerical notation which allows students to play melodies from their favorite songs within just minutes!
Our students consistently outperform national averages, with 96% reaching diploma level in just 4-5 years, compared to the national average of 1-2% over 10-12 years. In 2025, our students competed against over 300,000 participants, taking the top 4 of 5 Washington state spots and #1 national spot in the prestigious PTA Reflections competition.
Payam Music currently offers private 1:1 piano lessons in our schools.
Why this role matters
As Piano School Director, you’ll lead a team of 20–30 teachers, manage 150–200 students, and ensure everything runs seamlessly—from lesson quality to family communication to staff operations.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who loves working with people, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and can balance big-picture planning with day-to-day problem-solving. You’ll be trusted to make decisions, build strong relationships with families, and help shape the future of Payam Music.
What you’ll do
- Manage the initial set-up of the school
- Lead daily operations and be the go-to problem-solver for staff, students, and parents
- Build and mentor a high-performing team of teachers, keeping them motivated and supported
- Lead new student orientations - showing them the Payam Method, along with performing some pieces for the student to motivate them
- Maintain a warm, welcoming environment for families while ensuring high teaching standards
- Manage scheduling, staffing, billing, and other logistics to keep everything running smoothly
- Handle parent communication with professionalism and care—making sure families feel heard and valued
- Build local relationships with schools and businesses to drive awareness of Payam Music
- Organize events, recitals, and other community-building activities
You’ll be a great fit if you
- Have 5+ years of experience in school management, after-school program leadership, or a similar role
- Are an exceptional music teacher, ideally with extensive experience teaching piano
- Are an excellent communicator who builds strong relationships with staff and families
- Are organized, resourceful, and calm under pressure
- Love working with kids and care deeply about their growth and success
- Are comfortable managing billing, schedules, and staff
- Can work evenings and weekends
- Play piano at an intermediate level or higher
Nice-to-haves
- Familiarity with running high-enrollment after-school or enrichment programs
What we offer
- Competitive compensation: $75,000 – $100,000 (depending on experience)
- Equity + annual bonus based on site performance
- Exceptional medical/dental/vision benefits
- 401k retirement plan
- Discounted piano lessons for you and your family
- Opportunity for career progression with plenty of room for personal growth!
Application Instructions: Please apply on Indeed AND email us at [email protected] with the items below. In the title of these documents, please include your first and last name. We look forward to hearing from you.
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Solo video(s) of you playing piano - please send the video as a link if possible!
- LinkedIn Profile
- 3-4 references (include their title, how they've worked with you, and an email/phone number)
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $75,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Ability to Commute:
- Seattle, WA 98115 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Seattle, WA 98115: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
