Dean and Chief Academic Officer

THE SEARCH

The New England Conservatory of Music (“the Conservatory” or “NEC”), an international leader among schools of music, seeks an innovative and collaborative Dean and Chief Academic Officer (CAO). Reporting to NEC’s president and serving as a critical member of the Conservatory’s leadership team, the Dean and Chief Academic Officer partners closely with the Dean and Chief Artistic Officer (CRO), as well as other senior administrators, faculty, staff, and the Board of Trustees, to advance NEC’s educational mission, goals, and strategic priorities in a rapidly evolving arts education landscape. Specifically, the CAO oversees the Conservatory’s academic functions and is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality educational programs, fostering educational excellence, and driving innovation in teaching and learning to strengthen student success, professional preparation, and outcomes.

The CAO oversees the academic agenda and compliance for the College, including curricular design, development, and implementation; academic departments; academic faculty contracts and pay; academic operations (including registrar functions, scheduling, assessment, and accreditation); the Center for Teaching and Learning; and student and academic life (including student & residence/campus life, advising, and wellness). The CAO ensures strategic and operational excellence, organizational effectiveness, efficiency, and clarity and transparency in these areas.

Additionally, the CAO partners closely with the CRO to manage the college budget, lead academic faculty recruitment and professional development, enable the cultivation of musicianship at the highest level, foster innovative and integrative teaching and learning across the faculty, and encourage collaboration, both within the college and across the institution.

Additional information on New England Conservatory can be found at https://necmusic.edu/.

NEC has retained the national executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to assist in this recruitment.

Screening of applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/new-england-conservatory/dean-and-chief-academic-officer