Akademie Lead

Job DescriptionLeica Camera is a global Icon that celebrates more than 100 years of innovation and photography. Over more than a century Leica has mastered the balance of art and engineering - achieving an immutable harmony of form and functionality. Visit Leica Camera at www.leica-camera.com. We are dedicated to developing cameras and optical instruments of the highest standards. The company has a tradition of precision manufacturing and technological innovations which have steadily positioned the brand at the forefront of the photographic industry and has enabled it to establish an unsurpassed standard of quality, excellence and cultural competence. This position will report directly to the Vice President, Retail. Location: Flexible, Extensive travel required Position Overview: The Leica Akademie Lead – North America will lead the development, execution, and evolution of Leica’s educational, experiential, and community engagement platform across the North American market. Reporting to the Vice President of Retail, this role will serve as both a strategic leader and active contributor, responsible for building a scalable Akademie model that supports retail, multibrand, product training, cultural programming, and client engagement. The Leica Akademie is a core pillar of Leica’s experiential retail strategy, connecting education, storytelling, product knowledge, and community to deepen client relationships and support commercial growth. This role will help define the North American Akademie roadmap, develop a consistent programming calendar, lead field instructor resources, and ensure that Leica Akademie experiences reflect the brand’s heritage, technical excellence, and cultural relevance. Primary responsibilities include: Leadership and Strategy Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of Leica Akademie programming. Partner with the Vice President of Retail, Leica HQ, Marketing, Product, Gallery, and Retail teams to localize global priorities into a North American Akademie roadmap. Develop a programming calendar aligned with product launches, retail priorities, seasonal campaigns, cultural moments, and community engagement goals. Help establish Leica Akademie as a meaningful contributor to the broader retail ecosystem, supporting awareness, consideration, conversion, retention, and long-term client development. Identify opportunities to scale the Akademie model across key markets through regional instructors, artist partnerships, retail activations, and cultural programming. Team and Instructor Management Build, lead, and support a scalable network of Leica Akademie instructors and educational partners across North America. Provide direction, coaching, scheduling support, and performance expectations for field instructor resources. Ensure clear alignment between Akademie programming, store needs, multibrand priorities, and commercial objectives. Support the long-term development of a regional instructor model. Foster a culture of accountability, creativity, collaboration, and premium execution. Programming and Experience Development Develop and oversee high-quality Leica Akademie programming, including workshops, masterclasses, destination programs, artist-led activations, bespoke sessions, and virtual education. Serve as an active contributor to programming when appropriate, including teaching, hosting, presenting, and representing Leica in market. Ensure all programs deliver a premium Leica experience and reflect the brand’s standards for education, storytelling, technical excellence, and client engagement. Partner with retail leadership to create localized programming that supports store traffic, clienteling, community development, and commercial conversion. Evaluate program effectiveness and continuously refine the offering based on client feedback, participation, business impact, and brand relevance. Retail, Multibrand and Training Support Integrate Akademie programming into the client experience. Support bespoke client sessions, product launches, VIP events, gallery activations, and local community engagement. Develop and coordinate product training for across channels. Collaborate with stores and partner accounts to identify educational opportunities that enhance the Leica experience and strengthen product confidence. Financial and Operational Oversight Support budget planning, program pricing, participation goals, and profitability analysis for Leica Akademie initiatives. Track and report on key performance indicators, including attendance, revenue, client engagement, conversion influence, training impact, and program quality. Manage planning, logistics, travel, gear needs, instructor allocation, and post-program reporting. Ensure consistent operating standards across Akademie programming, events, workshops, and training initiatives. Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in photography, communications, education, marketing, or equivalent professional experience. 8+ years of experience in photographic education, experiential programming, luxury retail, training, or related fields. Strong understanding of photography, photographic storytelling, and camera systems, with familiarity with Leica products and brand heritage preferred. Experience leading programs, teams, or cross-functional initiatives within retail, education, experiential, or cultural environments. Proven ability to develop and deliver engaging workshops, activations, educational programming, or community-driven experiences. Strong communication, presentation, interpersonal, and public-facing skills. Strong organizational and project management capabilities with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously. Experience collaborating across retail, marketing, training, and commercial teams. Experience building community partnerships, artist collaborations, or experiential activations is highly valued. Financial and operational awareness with the ability to manage budgets, program performance, and reporting. Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to operate both strategically and hands-on in a fast-paced environment. Willingness to travel extensively throughout North America. Key Attributes: Inspiring and customer-centric leader. Passionate storyteller and community builder. Entrepreneurial, proactive, and adaptable. Strong collaborator across functions and teams. Balances creativity with operational discipline. Passionate advocate for Leica’s heritage, craftsmanship, and innovation. About the Organization Leica Camera is an international, premium manufacturer of cameras and sports optics. The legendary reputation of the Leica brand is based on a long tradition of excellent quality, German craftsmanship and German industrial design, combined with innovative technologies. An integral part of the brand's culture is the diversity of activities the company undertakes for the advancement of photography. In addition to the Leica Galleries and Leica Akademies spread around the world, there are the Leica Hall of Fame Award and, in particular, the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA), which is considered one of the most innovative sponsorship awards existing today. Furthermore, Leica Camera AG, with its headquarters in Wetzlar, Hesse, and a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal, has a worldwide network of its own national organizations and Leica Retail Stores. EOE Statement We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.