What are the responsibilities and job description for the Piano School Director - Burlingame, CA position at Payam Music?
About Payam Music
At Payam Music, our mission is for students to fall in love with piano. Our revolutionary approach is fundamentally changing the way students learn piano. Our patent-pending methodology is rooted in the psychology of language learning—students master fundamentals and techniques through a language they already know—letters and numbers—before progressing to traditional sheet music.
Not only do our students love piano lessons—they’re winning competitions! In 2025, our students competed in the PTA Reflections national competition against 300,000 others, taking 4 of the 5 top spots in Washington State and the #1 spot nationally. At Payam Music, 96% of students reach diploma level in 4 years, compared to just 2% nationally over 12 years.
We’re scaling quickly, opening new schools across the country and expanding our online program. We’re looking for an experienced Piano School Director to run our newest location, ensuring every family has an incredible experience and every student thrives.
Why this role matters
As Piano School Director, you’ll lead a team of 20–30 teachers, manage 150–200 students, and ensure everything runs seamlessly—from lesson quality to family communication to staff operations.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who loves working with people, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and can balance big-picture planning with day-to-day problem-solving. You’ll be trusted to make decisions, build strong relationships with families, and help shape the future of Payam Music.
What you’ll do
- Manage the initial set-up of the school
- Lead daily operations and be the go-to problem-solver for staff, students, and parents
- Build and mentor a high-performing team of teachers, keeping them motivated and supported
- Lead new student orientations - showing them the Payam Method, along with performing some pieces for the student to motivate them
- Maintain a warm, welcoming environment for families while ensuring high teaching standards
- Manage scheduling, staffing, billing, and other logistics to keep everything running smoothly
- Handle parent communication with professionalism and care—making sure families feel heard and valued
- Build local relationships with schools and businesses to drive awareness of Payam Music
- Organize events, recitals, and other community-building activities
You’ll be a great fit if you
- Have 5 years of experience in school management, after-school program leadership, or a similar role
- Are an exceptional music teacher, ideally with extensive experience teaching piano
- Are an excellent communicator who builds strong relationships with staff and families
- Are organized, resourceful, and calm under pressure
- Love working with kids and care deeply about their growth and success
- Are comfortable managing billing, schedules, and staff
- Can work evenings and weekends
- Play piano at an intermediate level or higher
Nice-to-haves
- Familiarity with running high-enrollment after-school or enrichment programs
What we offer
- Competitive salary: $75,000 – $100,000 (depending on experience)
- Equity annual bonus based on site performance
- Exceptional medical/dental/vision benefits
- 401k retirement plan
- Discounted piano lessons for you and your family
- Opportunity for career progression with plenty of room for personal growth!
Application Instructions: Please apply on really AND email us at careers@payammusic.com with the items below. In the title of these documents, please include your first and last name. We look forward to hearing from you.
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Solo video(s) of you playing piano - please send the video as a link if possible!
- LinkedIn Profile
- 3-4 references (include their title, how they've worked with you, and an email/phone number)
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $75,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Ability to Commute:
- Burlingame, CA 94010 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Burlingame, CA 94010: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
Salary : $75,000 - $100,000