Director of Experiential Programs

Berklee College of Music; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental coverage

403(b) retirement match

Tuition assistance

Generous PTO

Paid winter break

Job summary

Berklee College of Music seeks a Director of Experiential Programs to lead curricular and co-curricular experiential learning, integrating industry engagement with student career readiness. You will oversee programs, collaborate across divisions, and supervise a diverse team, driving high-impact projects and global initiatives.

The role emphasizes partnership development, credit-bearing internships, and innovative course design to advance Berklee’s strategic plan, with a focus on producing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred.
• 7–10 years of progressive leadership in higher education, arts education, or related fields.
• Strong ability to design and assess experiential learning experiences and internships.

Responsibilities

• Lead and champion curricular and co-curricular experiential learning initiatives in partnership with Academic Affairs.
• Design, scale, and administer credit-bearing experiential offerings and programs.
• Collaborate with Industry Relations to convert industry leads into academic partnerships and internships.
• Pioneer course development with BEATL for new career education modules and programs.
• Provide student coaching for internships and fellowships; oversee portfolio preparation and professional branding.
• Supervise an Assistant Director, graduate assistants, and student ambassadors; co-supervise an Associate Director.
• Track metrics for internship completion and graduate success; participate in senior governance bodies.

Skills

Leadership

Outcome assessment

Program analytics

Deck creation

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Job Description: Reporting to the Vice President of Career Strategy and Services, the Director of Experiential Programs serves as a senior leader driving a core pillar of Berklee’s strategic plan: deeply integrating industry engagement and experiential learning into the student experience. In partnership with Academic Affairs, the Director leads, supports, and administers, with their team, curricular and co-curricular experiential learning opportunities. In collaboration with the Director of Industry Relations, the Director of Experiential Programs will transform external industry and employer relationships into high-impact learning experiences, opportunities for credit-bearing courses, and structured postgraduate pathways. At Berklee, your work directly supports the next generation of creative leaders.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Curricular Innovation: Academic Partnerships: Champion the operational framework for career education and experiential programming in close partnership with Academic Affairs, department chairs, and faculty, serving as the Career Center’s primary liaison. Structured Experiential Offerings: Design, scale, and administer credit-bearing and structured experiential frameworks, including the expanding Berklee Fellowship Program, academic Co-Op courses, Experiential Design Labs (EDLs) linking real-world industry challenges to academic coursework, global Industry Exploration Trips, the Alumni Mentor Program, and First-Year Seminars (LENS). Industry Relations Partnership & Integration: Partner directly with the Director of Industry Relations to convert newly sourced corporate, brand, and entertainment industry leads into academic partnerships, live client briefs for EDLs, and credit-bearing internship opportunities. Pioneering Course Development: Partner with BEATL to incubate next-generation applications, hackathons, masterclasses and career education modules responsive to emerging technological landscapes (e.g., AI in music, spatial audio, Web3 monetization models). Fellowships & Prestigious Awards: In partnership with faculty development, support the Fulbright Program strategy as Advisor, cultivating top-tier student candidates through full-cycle application, proposal, and interview preparation. Student Readiness & Strategic Operations: Experiential Coaching: Deliver student coaching for internships/fellowships while overseeing portfolio prep, professional branding, and platform optimization. Team & Global Leadership: Supervise an Assistant Director, graduate assistants, and student ambassadors, and co-supervise an Associate Director. Manage the Faculty Ambassador Network and align curricula with BerkleeNYC and Valencia. Governance & Analytics: Serve on senior bodies (Curriculum Committee, Directors Council) and track metrics for internship completion and graduate success.

What You'll Bring

Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s preferred); 7–10 years of progressive leadership managing teams in higher education, arts education, or creative industries. Pedagogical Mastery: Proven success in curriculum engineering, student development theory, learning assessment, and credit-bearing internship structures. Leadership & Fiscal Oversight: Success managing operational budgets, leading cross-functional teams, and collaborating effectively with faculty and academic chairs. Technical Competencies: Mastery of outcome assessment, program analytics, and deck creation, paired with deep passion for performing arts and creative tech.

Why Choose Berklee

Executive Impact: Lead strategy to integrate real-world industry experiences directly into degree programs across global campuses. Cultural Access: Enjoy nightly, unrivaled access to world-class music, theater, and dance performances across our campus venues. Total Rewards: Outstanding health and dental coverage, an institutional 403(b) retirement match, tuition assistance, generous PTO, and a paid winter break. Hiring Range: $78,000 to $108,000; salary dependent on experience and education. Please visit the Berklee Total Rewards page for a complete listing of benefits.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee

We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance. Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at [e-mail] or call 617-747-2375.

*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*

Employee Type: Staff

As the premier destination for the study of contemporary music and the performing arts, Berklee stands as the culmination of two pioneering institutions—Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music—each recognized for its global reach and cultural impact. Berklee is a place where artists come together to innovate, and where artistic and cultural diversity is embraced and celebrated. We strive to reflect these values in our inclusive hiring practices, creating a welcoming and equitable process that embraces diverse perspectives and fosters equity and opportunity for all. Guided by our fundamental values, our unified mission and vision define Berklee’s core purpose and help us envision the positive influence we can have on each other, our students, our communities, and the broader world. Berklee is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits program to help our employees achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals. Learn more.