The Jazzschool is seeking a dynamic and energetic Program Administrator to oversee the daily administration of our 30-year-old community music school, which serves more than 1,500 youth and adults each year through classes, ensembles, workshops, concerts, and free public programs. This position sits at the center of a vibrant community of students, families, faculty, music lovers and professional jazz artists. In addition to competitive compensation and benefits, staff enjoy free access to classes, workshops and concerts, as well as rehearsal and practice space for employees who are also musicians.
The Program Administrator serves as the Jazzschool’s administrative hub, ensuring the smooth operation of the school’s education programs and daily office activities. As registrar and primary daytime administrative presence on-site at the school’s Downtown Berkeley location, the Program Administrator coordinates student registration, supports educational programming, manages office operations, supervises program support staff, and facilitates communication across departments.
This position plays a central role in creating a welcoming, organized, and responsive environment for students, faculty, staff, and patrons. The Program Administrator develops efficient administrative systems, coordinates information across the organization, and ensures that the school’s administrative functions consistently support its educational mission.
The ideal candidate is an experienced and talented administrator and supreme multitasker who enjoys balancing multiple priorities, building strong relationships through timely and clear communication, solving problems proactively, and creating systems that enable others to succeed. The Program Administrator works closely with nearly every area of the organization, serving as a key administrative partner to students, faculty, program staff, and organizational leadership. The position reports primarily to the Director of Education in support of educational programming, with secondary reporting to the Director of Administration for office systems and administrative technology.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee the day-to-day administrative implementation of the school’s educational programming, ensuring a high-quality student experience and supporting faculty with the logistics of program delivery
- Serve as registrar for the school’s educational programs, overseeing registration, student records, and program communications
- Recruit, train, supervise, and schedule the administrative team that supports students, faculty, and classes
- Lead the day-to-day operation of the administrative office, ensuring a welcoming, organized, and professional environment
- Administer core office systems, databases, and technology while improving administrative workflows and processes
- Process routine administrative and financial transactions, including student account activity and payment processing
- Coordinate closely with Operations, Finance, and other departments to ensure the smooth functioning of the school
Who We’re Looking For
The ideal candidate is an organized, proactive administrator who enjoys helping people, building systems, and keeping a busy organization running smoothly. Successful candidates will demonstrate:
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
- The ability to manage multiple priorities with professionalism and good judgment
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a commitment to excellent customer service and the ability to build positive relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members
- A desire to create welcoming, efficient, and well-organized administrative systems that help others succeed
Qualifications
We recognize that exceptional candidates come from a variety of professional backgrounds. If you’re excited about this role and believe you could thrive in it, we encourage you to apply even if your experience doesn’t match every qualification listed below.
- Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
- Experience supporting the operations of a busy office, educational institution, nonprofit organization, or similarly complex environment
- A strong commitment to providing exceptional customer service
- Experience — or demonstrated aptitude — for supervising, training, or coordinating staff or volunteers
- Outstanding organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities with care and attention to detail
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Professional judgment, discretion, and a collaborative approach to problem-solving
- Comfort learning and using technology, including strong facility with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
- Curiosity, initiative, and a desire to improve systems and help others succeed
- A genuine enjoyment of helping people and creating organized, welcoming environments
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in arts administration, education, higher education, or nonprofit organizations
- Experience with student registration, enrollment, or registrar functions
- Familiarity with CRM, student information, or registration database systems
- An appreciation for jazz or live music, and a desire to support a vibrant learning community
HOW TO APPLY
Important: Only applications following the instructions below will be considered.
Please send an application tailored to this position that speaks to us. Introduce yourself to us as a colleague. Tell us about yourself, about what you can bring to the Jazzschool, and why this position is an exciting next step for you. We value great writers, so please take your time with the application.
To apply, please e-mail [email protected] and attach the following materials in PDF format:
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Names and contact information for three professional references
Review of applications will begin Monday, July 27, with an intended start date of Monday, August 24.
About the Jazzschool
Founded in 1997, the Jazzschool Community Music School in Downtown Berkeley is dedicated to fostering the development of the aspiring jazz musician of all ages and levels, and builds audiences and connects communities to sustain the jazz art form. The school’s adult and youth community education programs include classes and ensembles, workshops, summer camps, in-school clinics, free public programs, a concert series, and performances in the community.
The centerpiece of the school is its community ensembles. Serving middle school students through to senior citizens, the Jazzschool ensembles are a place of sustained mentorship, profound social connection, and personal artistic growth. They are led by professional musicians and committed instructors with expertise in a wide range of jazz styles, including Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Caribbean, New Orleans, funk, blues, Afropop, and other musical genres of the African diaspora. Each quarter’s classes culminate in a marathon festival presented over a week of performances offered free of charge.
The California Jazz Conservatory, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status or protected veteran status.
Pay: $71,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Education:
Experience:
- administration: 3 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Berkeley, CA 94704 (Required)
Work Location: In person
