Creative Director (Managerial Tier D) (SY26-27)

Reports To: Head of School

About Boston Arts Academy:

Boston Arts Academy (BAA) is Bostons only public high school for the visual and performing arts preparing a diverse community of aspiring artist-scholar-citizens for success in college professional careers and civic life. As a laboratory and beacon for artistic and academic innovation BAA is committed to inclusion equity and excellence in both academic and artistic instruction. BAA operates under an Election to Work Agreement (EWA) which includes responsibilities beyond the standard BTU contract such as extended days additional duties and professional development.

Role Summary:

The Creative Director serves as Boston Arts Academys chief architect of artistic vision creative strategy and institutional innovation and is a core member of the schools Senior Leadership Team. This role ensures that BAAs arts programming interdisciplinary learning experiences admissions and recruitment systems productions and public identity remain fully aligned with the schools mission to develop artist-scholars and global citizens and to function as both a beacon and a laboratory of academic and artistic innovation in public education.

In this role the Creative Director is responsible for stewarding innovation across several core domains of the schools work including the design and evolution of arts programming and CTE pathways; the development of interdisciplinary and arts-integrated models that reflect BAAs graduate competencies; the coherence and quality of artistic production and exhibitions; the systems that shape recruitment branding and institutional storytelling; and the exploration of emerging tools including AI and new technologies that expand access relevance and opportunity for students. Through this work the Creative Director ensures that innovation at BAA is intentional mission-driven and embedded in sustainable structures.

The Creative Director leads:

• Arts Department Chairs and Arts Faculty
• Recruitment and Events Manager
• Production & Events Staff
• Technical Director
• Creative contractors teaching artists and artists-in-residence
• Pathways Coordinator (arts-aligned pathways and CTE)

Core Responsibilities:

1. Artistic Vision Innovation Interdisciplinary Learning & Program Design

• Collaborate with instructional leadership to align innovative practices with curriculum assessment and professional learning experiences..
• With arts chairs set and steward a cohesive vision for the arts across all arts disciplines (Dance Music Theater and Media Arts Visual Art and Design)
• Lead the long-term design and evolution of arts programming creative CTE pathways and interdisciplinary learning models.
• Ensure arts learning experiences reflect BAAs mission graduate competencies and commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Collaborate with the Instructional Coach to advance refine and document artistic curriculum and instructional practices ensuring coherence across arts disciplines and alignment to schoolwide expectations.
• Partner with the Instructional Coach to design and sustain an innovative interdisciplinary learning model that supports multidisciplinary artists.
• Work in partnership with the Instructional Coach to integrate academic and artistic learning in authentic student-centered ways.
• Guide the responsible use of AI and emerging technologies within BAAs learning design model across both arts and academic disciplines supporting interdisciplinary instruction creative problem-solving and the intentional breaking down of silos between departments.
• Provide strategic leadership for schoolwide arts experiences Intersession/Project Week and cultural assemblies.
• Partner with the Instructional Coach to develop professional learning related to creativity innovation and future-ready skills.
• Partner with alumni and external artists to design and launch pipeline programming that engages middle and elementary school students through summer after-school and/or weekend arts experiences to support recruitment access and early talent development.
• Use reflection data and community feedback to inform continuous improvement.
  
  

1. Strategic and Operational Leadership

• Supervise support and evaluate arts faculty and department chairs.
• Lead hiring onboarding and development of arts educators and teaching artists.
• Build leadership capacity among department chairs and production leaders.
• Foster collaboration across disciplines while maintaining high standards for artistic excellence.
• Work in close partnership with the Head of School as architect and implementation lead for innovation-related strands of the strategic plan.
• Develop and oversee arts and innovation-aligned budgets in support of strategic priorities.
• Contribute to schoolwide leadership decisions culture-building efforts and continuous improvement.
  
  

1. Artistic Production Events & Creative Operations

• Oversee planning and execution of all major productions exhibitions performances and showcases.
• Supervise the Technical Director and production staff to ensure professional-level standards.
• Lead arts and production coordination meetings to ensure calendar alignment and operational clarity.
• Oversee ticketing systems front-of-house practices and audience experience.
• Ensure production work reflects both artistic excellence and student leadership.
  
  

1. Admissions Branding & Institutional Storytelling

• Oversee BAAs admissions strategy auditions timelines and systems in partnership with the Registrar.
• Lead the Recruitment and Events Manager in the development of a middle school pipeline program and recruitment strategy.
• Lead the cohesive design and strategic alignment of all external-facing marketing and recruitment materials including admissions flyers audition materials digital campaigns social media content website design and messaging and event collateral.
• Ensure a consistent compelling external narrative that communicates BAAs identity as a beacon and laboratory of academic and artistic innovation.
• Partner with admissions pathways and arts leadership to align storytelling with recruitment goals and equitable access.
• Maintain document and clearly communicate admissions policies and procedures to ensure transparency and equitable access.
• Coordinate with chairs of arts departments to design support and uphold equitable audition and portfolio review processes.
• Supervise creative marketing communications and storytelling functions.
• Ensure coherence between BAAs internal culture and values and the schools public-facing message.
  
  

1. Partnerships Pathways & External Relations

• Cultivate partnerships with arts organizations cultural institutions higher education partners and the BPS Arts Office.
• Collaborate with the Pathways Coordinator to develop partnerships that advance college and career pathways particularly in CTE dual enrollment internships and work-based learning in the arts.
• Expand artist residencies and real-world learning experiences aligned to creative pathways.
• Represent BAA as an arts and innovation leader when appropriate.
• Manage external requests for student performances and collaborations.
• Partner with the Head of School and BAA Foundation on artistic programming connected to fundraising visibility and external engagement.

Qualifications - Required:

• Degree: Bachelors degree in related artistic field or arts administration
• Experience as a working professional artist
• Enthusiastic flexible patient and positive demeanor
• Deep expertise in one or more artistic disciplines with a commitment to interdisciplinary practice
• Proven experience leading creative teams educators or arts organizations
• Strong understanding of arts education youth development inclusive and anti-racist pedagogy and the needs of urban youth in public school arts settings
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically while managing complex multi-disciplinary projects systems budgets and production calendars
• Strong background in artistic production production management or directing within a multi-disciplinary setting.
• Experience supervising staff and managing cross-functional teams
• Comfort with experimentation innovation and emerging technologies (including AI) with sound judgment and ethical leadership
• Exceptional organizational interpersonal communication collaboration facilitation partnership-building and storytelling skills
• Ability to work evenings and weekends for performances and events
• Current authorization to work in the United States - Candidates must have such authorization by their first day of employment

Qualifications - Preferred:

• Degree: Masters degree in education or a related field in arts administration or MFA
• Experience teaching in the classroom especially urban schools
• Commitment to linguistic diversity; bilingual or multilingual candidates are encouraged particularly those fluent in one or more of BPSs official languages: Spanish Cabo Verdean Creole Haitian Creole Chinese Vietnamese Portuguese or Somali

TERMS: Managerial Tier D

Please refer to (under Employee Benefits and Policies) for more information on salary and compensation. Salaries are listed by Unions and Grade/Step.

NOTE: School-based managerial employees will work 223 days between July 1st and June 30th each year. The 223-day work-year will include the 180 days in which school is in session and the additional days will be determined by the employee and the principal or school leader of the school. School-based managerial employees are not eligible for vacation time or compensatory the event of school cancellation due to snow or inclement weather school-based managerial employees need not report to work.

The Boston Public Schools in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies does not discriminate on the basis of race color age criminal record physical or mental disability pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions homelessness sex/gender gender identity religion national origin ancestry sexual orientation genetics natural or protective hairstyle military status immigration status English language proficiency or any other factor prohibited by law in its programs and activities. BPS does not tolerate any form of retaliation or bias-based intimidation threat or harassment that demeans individuals dignity or interferes with their ability to work or learn. If you require an accommodation pursuant to the ADA for the application process please contact the Accommodations Unit at

Required Experience:

Director