Director, School

The Company: GIA is the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA is a global organization with headquarters located in Carlsbad, CA, on a 17‑acre ocean view campus that accommodates approximately 800 of its 3,400 total employees worldwide.

Location:

This position is located in Carlsbad, California at our corporate headquarters.

• Competitive medical, dental, vision and matching 401‑K plans
• Paid vacation, sick and holidays, tuition assistance, commuter benefits
• On‑site cafe – affordable custom breakfast and lunch meals and Starbucks drinks
• Electric vehicle charging stations on site
• Ergonomic assessments offered on‑site and virtually

GIA is seeking an experienced and visionary Director, School to provide strategic and operational leadership for a campus location. This role is responsible for ensuring academic excellence, student success, enrollment performance, financial results, workforce effectiveness, and compliance with institutional, regulatory, and accreditation standards.

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to faculty and school staff to ensure academic quality and positive student outcomes.
• Lead campus‑wide student success initiatives focused on improving retention, persistence, graduation, and career placement outcomes.
• Drive enrollment performance and student achievement by partnering with Admissions, Marketing, Student Services, and Education teams.
• Promote a student‑centered culture that ensures equitable treatment, exceptional experiences, and adherence to institutional standards.
• Oversee admissions, student services, financial services, and instructional delivery to ensure effective campus operations.
• Lead the resolution of complex student issues through cross‑functional collaboration and sound judgment.
• Sponsor and lead process improvement initiatives that enhance organizational effectiveness, student outcomes, and operational performance.
• Ensure campus practices, policies, and procedures align with GIA’s mission, ethics, and corporate standards.

• Build and lead high‑performing teams through coaching, mentoring, performance management, and succession planning.
• Develop annual course schedules that optimize instructor utilization, classroom capacity, and student demand.
• Ensure curriculum updates, policy changes, and procedural improvements are implemented effectively across the campus.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.

• Serve as the primary representative of the school within the business, educational, and gemological communities.
• Build and maintain relationships with industry partners, employers, and community organizations.
• Promote awareness of GIA education programs among prospective students and external stakeholders.
• Evaluate market trends and emerging opportunities to recommend program expansion, modification, launch, or teach‑out decisions.

• Manage the school’s budget and financial performance, including revenue forecasting, expense management, and resource planning.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to enrollment, retention, attendance, placement, and operational effectiveness.
• Drive continuous improvement by evaluating and optimizing business processes, policies, and resource utilization.
• Lead emergency response planning, operational continuity efforts, and reputation management initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with applicable health, safety, environmental, accreditation, and regulatory requirements.
• Promote and maintain a safe learning and working environment through proactive risk management and safety oversight.