School Director

Miami Ad School is one of the world's leading creative schools, preparing the next generation of professionals in advertising, design, strategy, AI, social media, and creative technology. With campuses and partners across the globe, our students learn from industry professionals while building award-winning portfolios that launch careers at the world's top agencies, brands, and creative companies.

Our mission is simple: develop exceptional creative talent through industry-driven education, meaningful mentorship, and real-world experiences.

We are seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial School Director to lead the overall success of one of our campuses. This is a highly visible leadership role responsible for driving enrollment growth, student success, academic excellence, operational performance, financial sustainability, and campus culture.

Position Summary

The School Director serves as the senior leader of the campus and is responsible for ensuring the successful execution of Miami Ad School's strategic priorities. This individual oversees day-to-day operations while building a high-performing team focused on delivering an exceptional student experience from inquiry through graduation.

The ideal candidate is an experienced educational leader with strong business acumen, outstanding leadership skills, and a passion for developing people. They are equally comfortable reviewing financial performance, coaching managers, meeting prospective students, solving operational challenges, and representing the school within the community.

The School Director reports directly to executive leadership and works collaboratively with departments across Admissions, Academics, Marketing, Student Services, Finance, Compliance, and International Programs.

Key Responsibilities

Campus Leadership

• Lead the overall strategic and operational performance of the campus.
• Foster a collaborative, positive, and high-performing campus culture.
• Recruit, coach, mentor, and develop campus leadership and staff.
• Establish clear goals, accountability measures, and performance expectations.
• Serve as the face of the campus for students, faculty, alumni, industry partners, and the local community.
• Lead campus meetings, planning sessions, and cross-functional initiatives.

Enrollment & Growth

• Partner with the Admissions and Marketing teams to achieve enrollment objectives.
• Monitor admissions performance, conversion rates, and enrollment trends.
• Support recruitment initiatives including information sessions, campus tours, open houses, and community events.
• Identify opportunities to improve the prospective student experience.
• Develop local partnerships that strengthen awareness of Miami Ad School.

Academic Excellence

• Partner with academic leadership to ensure a high-quality educational experience.
• Support faculty recruitment, development, and performance management.
• Monitor student satisfaction and educational outcomes.
• Promote continuous improvement of curriculum and classroom delivery.
• Ensure students receive appropriate academic support throughout their educational journey.

Student Experience

• Champion an exceptional student experience from enrollment through graduation.
• Partner with Student Services to improve retention and student satisfaction.
• Support resolution of student concerns, appeals, and escalated issues.
• Foster a vibrant campus community through events, networking opportunities, and industry engagement.
• Promote career readiness and professional development initiatives.

Operations & Compliance

• Oversee daily campus operations to ensure efficiency and consistency.
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Partner with Finance and Compliance on audits, reporting, and accreditation initiatives.
• Maintain campus facilities and operational standards.
• Develop and improve operational processes that enhance the student and employee experience.

Financial Management

• Manage the campus budget and financial performance.
• Monitor revenue, expenses, staffing, and operational efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability while maintaining educational quality.
• Review key business metrics and implement action plans when performance falls below expectations.
• Support annual planning, forecasting, and strategic initiatives.

Community & Industry Engagement

• Build relationships with agencies, brands, alumni, and industry partners.
• Represent Miami Ad School at networking events, conferences, and community functions.
• Develop partnerships that create opportunities for students and faculty.
• Promote the school's reputation through active engagement within the creative community.
  

Leadership Expectations

The School Director is expected to:

• Lead with integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
• Make thoughtful, data-informed decisions.
• Build trust through transparency and consistent communication.
• Foster collaboration across departments.
• Continuously seek opportunities for innovation and improvement.
• Create an environment where employees and students can thrive.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Five or more years of leadership experience within higher education, vocational education, or a comparable service-oriented organization.
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional teams.
• Strong financial and operational management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change and process improvement.
• Experience using CRM, student information systems, and business reporting tools.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for school events.

Preferred

• Experience with accreditation or regulatory compliance.
• Experience leading enrollment or student success initiatives.
• Background in creative education or related industries.
• Budget ownership and P&L responsibility.
• Experience building strategic partnerships.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Leadership
• Operational Excellence
• Financial Acumen
• Enrollment Management
• Team Development
• Student-Centered Leadership
• Communication & Relationship Building
• Problem Solving
• Change Management
• Organizational Planning
• Accountability
• Collaboration

Success Measures

Performance in this role will be evaluated through measurable outcomes including:

• Enrollment growth and new student starts
• Student retention and graduation rates
• Student satisfaction
• Campus profitability and budget performance
• Employee engagement and retention
• Faculty performance and instructional quality
• Regulatory compliance and audit readiness
• Operational efficiency
• Community partnerships and industry engagement