Director, School Operations & Student Success

GIA (Gemological Institute of America); Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Paid vacation

Job summary

GIA is seeking an experienced Director, School to provide strategic and operational leadership for its Carlsbad campus at the corporate headquarters. You will oversee academic quality, enrollment performance, faculty development, and student success while aligning campus operations with GIA’s mission and accreditation standards.

As the senior campus leader, you will lead curriculum updates, budget planning, and cross-functional collaboration with Admissions, Marketing, Student Services and

Qualifications

• Graduate Gemologist (GG) or bachelor’s degree in Education/Business.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience, including at least 7 years leading teams.
• Experience leading educational operations, campus administration, or similar complex business operations.
• Proven ability to translate strategic objectives into operational plans.
• Experience managing budgets, resource planning, financial performance, and operational effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to faculty and staff to ensure academic quality and positive student outcomes.
• Lead campus-wide student success initiatives focused on retention, persistence, graduation, and career placement outcomes.
• Drive enrollment performance by partnering with Admissions, Marketing, Student Services, and Education teams.
• Oversee admissions, student services, financial services, and instructional delivery to ensure effective campus operations.
• Lead emergency response planning, operational continuity efforts, and risk management.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Budget management

Student success

Staff development

Change management

Communication

Education

Graduate Gemologist (GG) diploma

Bachelor’s degree in Education/Business

Job description

GIA is seeking an experienced Director, School to provide strategic and operational leadership for its Carlsbad campus at the corporate headquarters. You will oversee academic quality, enrollment performance, faculty development, and student success while aligning campus operations with GIA’s mission and accreditation standards.

As the senior campus leader, you will lead curriculum updates, budget planning, and cross-functional collaboration with Admissions, Marketing, Student Services and