Stanford Jazz Workshop Director of Student Life (Seasonal – Summer Programs)

Organization: Stanford Jazz Workshop

Location: Stanford University Campus

Term: May/June (flexible start) through July (full time during camp sessions)

Status: Seasonal, Full-Time (Summer)

Position Overview

Stanford Jazz Workshop seeks an experienced education professional to serve as Director of Student Life for our summer residential music education programs. This is a senior seasonal leadership role focused on student well-being, community culture, and social-emotional support across our summer sessions.

The Director of Student Life is a key front-line culture holder and problem solver, responsible for overseeing the counselor team, supporting students through a wide range of social, emotional, and behavioral needs, and partnering closely with parents and administrative staff. This role is ideal for a seasoned school administrator, dean, or educator who thrives in student-facing environments and is looking for meaningful, immersive summer work.

This is not an entry-level camp position. We are seeking someone with substantial experience working with adolescents in structured educational settings.

Core Responsibilities

Student Support & Community Care:

• Serve as the primary point person for student life issues, including social adjustment, conflict resolution, behavioral concerns, and emotional well-being.
• Proactively observe student dynamics and identify students who may be struggling socially, emotionally, or behaviorally.
• Intervene early and thoughtfully to support individual students and strengthen group culture.
• Uphold and model the program’s values around respect, inclusion, accountability, and care.

Counselor Leadership & Oversight:

• With the Director of Educational Programming and Head Counselor, supervise and support the counselor team, including guidance around student management, communication, and professional conduct.
• Partner with the Head Counselor to ensure consistency in expectations, tone, and response across sessions.
• Serve as a mentor and resource to counselors navigating challenging student situations.

Parent & Family Communication:

• Communicate directly with parents and guardians regarding student concerns, disciplinary matters, or significant social-emotional issues.
• Handle sensitive conversations with clarity, empathy, and professionalism.
• Work closely with the Registrar to ensure accurate documentation and follow-through.

Administrative Collaboration:

• Interface regularly with program administration, including the Executive Director, Director of Educational Programming, and Registrar, to coordinate responses to student issues.
• Contribute to daily operational decision-making related to student life and residential culture.
• Assist in refining policies, procedures, and practices related to student well-being.

Desired Background & Qualifications:

Significant experience in K–12 education, such as:

• Dean of Students
• Assistant Principal
• School Counselor
• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Lead
• Veteran classroom teacher with leadership responsibilities

Demonstrated expertise in:

• Social-emotional learning
• Adolescent development
• Classroom and community management
• Conflict resolution and restorative practices

Additional Characteristics:

• Strong judgment and calm presence in high-pressure or emotionally charged situations.
• Excellent communication skills, particularly with families and staff.
• Deep commitment to student well-being and inclusive community culture.
• Ability to be highly visible, engaged, and responsive.
• Willingness to work long hours during camp period.
• Someone who genuinely loves school life and student-centered environments.
• A natural observer who notices when a student is isolated or when group culture is shifting.
• Warm, grounded, and authoritative without being punitive.
• Comfortable holding responsibility and making decisions in real time.
• Energized by relational work and daily human interaction.

Schedule & Commitment:

The Director of Student Life will stay in on-campus graduate housing during the duration of the high school summer camps, 7/11-7/31. Middle school week one optional on-campus housing. Prior to the start of camp, the work will be largely remote, with occasional in-person meetings at our office in San Mateo.

Start date flexible in May or June (depending on candidate availability). Full-time, on-site presence required during all July camp sessions.

While this is a position that requires general availability during the four weeks of camp, the planned daily schedule would be 12:00-8:30PM along with on-call availability in emergency situations. For our first week of middle school Day Camp, the hours are 8:30AM–5:00PM.

Some evening and weekend responsibilities inherent to residential programming.

Compensation:

Competitive exempt seasonal salary position based on experience

Summary:

The Director of Student Life plays a central role in shaping the lived experience of our students. This position significantly reduces the load on administrative and registrar staff while strengthening the quality, consistency, and care of our summer programs. The right person will have a profound impact on student experience, staff culture, and overall program success.