Executive Director of Mid-Pacific School of the Arts (MPSA)

Mid-Pacific; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid-Pacific Institute seeks a dynamic and accomplished arts leader to serve as Executive Director of the Mid-Pacific School of the Arts (MPSA), providing visionary leadership for a distinctive pre-conservatory arts program within a vibrant educational community.

The Executive Director champions the arts as an essential part of the Mid-Pacific experience, cultivating an ambitious and coherent vision across a diverse range of artistic disciplines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an arts-related field or relevant leadership experience.
• Significant professional experience in the arts and culture sector with knowledge of arts programming, artistic practice, and/or arts administration.
• Demonstrated leadership and people management experience, including supervising, coaching, developing, and evaluating staff.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in fundraising, grantmaking, or institutional advancement.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with program heads and departments to support the School of the Arts vision.
• Oversee productions, exhibitions, and public programs aligning with artistic and educational goals.
• Coordinate with Communications and Advancement to raise visibility and secure support.
• Manage budgets and administrative workflows, calendars, and succession planning.
• Represent MPSA as external ambassador and build partnerships locally and nationally.
• Ensure attendance and on-site leadership during events and performances.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Strategic planning

Budget management

Communication

Arts administration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in arts-related field or relevant leadership experience

Job description

Job Title

Executive Director of Mid-Pacific School of the Arts (MPSA)

Job Type

Full Time

Position Level

Experienced

Job Description

Salary Range: $100,000 – $125,000 Annually

Job Summary

Mid-Pacific Institute seeks a dynamic and accomplished arts leader to serve as Executive Director of the Mid-Pacific School of the Arts (MPSA), providing visionary leadership for a distinctive pre-conservatory arts program within a vibrant educational community. The Executive Director champions the arts as an essential part of the Mid-Pacific experience, cultivating an ambitious and coherent vision across a diverse range of artistic disciplines. The Executive Director elevates the student experience, builds meaningful partnerships within Hawai`i and beyond, and strengthens the visibility, reputation, and long-term sustainability of the School of the Arts. As both an artistic and educational leader, the Executive Director brings together people, programs, and resources around a shared commitment to excellence. Working closely with program heads, faculty, school leadership, families, artists, and community partners, the Executive Director ensures that MPSA continues to be a place where students are challenged to discover their artistic voice, develop their craft, and create work of extraordinary quality.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Collaborate

• Serve as a champion for the School of the Arts within strategic conversations at all levels, including but not limited to academic, campus & calendar planning, and budgetary meetings.
• Work closely with the School of the Arts program heads to support their vision, the faculty, and the program.
• Partner with Communications to strengthen MPSA’s visibility, reputation, and public narrative, ensuring that Mid-Pacific effectively conveys the importance and impact of the School of the Arts.
• Partner with Operations to effectively oversee Mid-Pacific’s arts-related classrooms and facilities as well as MPSA’s financial resources.
• Partner with Institutional Advancement to cultivate relationships with donors, alumni, families, foundations, corporate partners, and other supporters; identify opportunities for fundraising; and support philanthropic efforts aligned with MPSA priorities.
• Collaborate with the Enrollment Management office to showcase the School of the Arts to current and prospective families, including participating in Open Houses, admissions interviews, and other events.
• Collaborate with College & Career Counseling to ensure guidance and support are provided to students and families interested in advancing their studies in the arts.

Manage Events and Guest Artist Programs

• Create a first-class patron experience at all productions and exhibitions that simultaneously highlights the School of the Arts while deepening community connection and increasing pride.
• Provide strategic oversight of MPSA productions, exhibitions, performances, and public programs, ensuring that they advance MPSA’s artistic vision, educational mission, and relationship with the broader community.
• Oversee MPSA event execution, including supervising the Administrative Assistant’s management of the Box Office and ticketing operations, coordinating with the Technical Director and parent volunteers, and directly participating as appropriate to ensure a high-quality experience for students, families, and patrons.
• Partner with Communications to ensure that major productions, exhibitions, and events are effectively positioned and communicated to internal and external audiences.
• Establish and steward relationships with Guest Artists/Artists-in-Residence and other artistic collaborators, set priorities and oversee contracts for artist engagement, and ensure guest artist programs advance MPSA’s artistic and educational goals.
• Be willing and available to work outside of regular school hours, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate the dynamic and diverse scheduling needs of our arts programs and events.

Administer

• Ensure administrative sustainability by documenting institutional knowledge, establishing and maintaining workflows, and developing and following a school year/production calendar.
• Plan and manage the School of the Arts calendar, working closely with Program Heads to finalize the production calendar.
• Oversee administrative systems and workflows to ensure that MPSA operates effectively within Mid-Pacific’s policies and procedures.
• Lead long-term succession planning and institutional knowledge transfer to support continuity and resilience across MPSA programs.
• Develop, implement, and manage budgets in collaboration with program heads and the business office, ensuring fiscal sustainability while meeting resource needs.

Lead

• Supervise and evaluate designated School of the Arts faculty, including conducting regular classroom observations and providing timely, actionable feedback.
• Support arts faculty in creating rigorous, engaging learning experiences that develop students as artists while reflecting Mid-Pacific’s educational mission, values, and commitment to student growth.
• Serve as the primary external ambassador for MPSA, representing the School of the Arts with arts and culture organizations, community leaders, donors, alumni, families, and other stakeholders.
• Build a robust professional network with other arts organizations locally and nationally.
• Effectively manage vendors and outside services contractors.
• Provide support to the School of the Arts Administrative Assistant, Technical Director, and Studio Assistant through training, monitoring performance, coaching and developing required skills, and conducting timely performance evaluations.
• Promote faculty professional growth through coaching, goal-setting, evaluation, and opportunities for collaboration and continued development as educators and practicing artists.
• Partner with Program Heads to strengthen instructional practice, foster coherence within and across arts disciplines, and ensure consistently high expectations for teaching, learning, and artistic excellence.
• Develop, communicate, and implement a strategic vision and multi-year priorities for MPSA, with clear annual goals and measures of progress.
• Cultivate a coherent instructional vision within a richly diverse set of programs.
• Translate department priorities into meaningful, motivating goals and objectives that the team can understand and deliver on.
• Support cross-functional efforts and model core values to set an example for other team members.

Attendance and On-Site Presence

• Regular and predictable attendance at work.
• Provides in-person support and service.

Qualifications

Applicant Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in an arts-related field or relevant leadership experience.
• Significant professional experience in the arts and culture sector, with demonstrated knowledge of arts programming, artistic practice, and/or arts administration.
• Demonstrated leadership and people management experience, including supervising, coaching, developing, and evaluating staff.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to build trust and work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Proven track record in community organizing and advocacy, leveraging experience to foster meaningful connections in the arts and greater communities.
• Experience effectively managing complex systems, including diverse departments, student bodies, and various art forms.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, resources, and organizational priorities, with sound financial judgment.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Sound judgment, diplomacy, and adaptability, particularly in navigating complex interpersonal and organizational situations.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master’s Degree in Arts Administration.
• Experience working with various art forms, such as dance, hula, theatre, band, orchestra, vocal ensemble, ceramics, visual/digital media, and other creative disciplines.
• Knowledge of effective teaching practices (and experience as a teacher) is highly desirable but not required.
• Experience with fundraising, grantmaking, or institutional advancement.

Education

Non-discriminatory Statement

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

Mid-Pacific Institute provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. It prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, marital status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Additional Info

https://www.midpac.edu/about/careers