Program Director

Our client, Arts for Learning, is growing again!

Arts for Learning is a non-profit organization that provides arts education programs for students of all ages, from birth through high school. Our mission is to inspire and engage students in and through the arts. We believe that arts education is essential for the development of creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills that prepare students for success in life.

We are looking for a passionate, experienced, creative, and fun-loving team member to join our staff and lead our school partnerships and grant-funded programs. As the Program Director, you will be responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating high-quality arts education programs that align with our vision, goals, and standards. You will also cultivate and maintain strong relationships with schools, districts, funders, and community partners, and oversee program budgets. Additionally, you will oversee program budgets and drive the growth of our organization's footprint, impact, and reach through effective program and service delivery.

The ideal candidate is someone who not only understands their responsibilities but can also independently take a project from inception to completion while keeping the entire team well-informed. We are looking for a dynamic, energetic, and collaborative individual with a penchant for bringing fresh ideas to the table. Effective communication skills, trustworthiness, and a great sense of humor are essential attributes for success in this role.

Responsibilities:

• Manage program implementation, ensuring timely and efficient delivery of services and resources to school partners.
• Monitor and report on program outcomes, impact, and quality, using data and feedback to inform program improvement and innovation.
• Manage program budget and resources, ensuring compliance with grant requirements and organizational policies and procedures.
• Participate in the design, delivery, and assessment of arts education programs, ensuring alignment with curriculum standards, learning objectives, and best practices.
• Collaborate with staff to maintain and increase generated revenue. This includes participating in the ideation of grant proposals through research, relationship building, and marketing strategies.
• Identify and pursue new opportunities for program expansion, funding, and collaboration, in alignment with the organizational strategic plan and vision.
• Cultivate and maintain positive and productive relationships with schools, districts, funders, and community partners, representing Arts for Learning in a professional and engaging manner.
• Participate in organizational leadership, planning, and development activities, contributing to the overall success and growth of Arts for Learning.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in arts education, arts administration, education, or related field.
• Five or more years of experience in arts education, program management, or related field.
• Demonstrates knowledge and passion for equitable access to arts education and its benefits for students and communities.
• Creative and enjoys a collaborative process to develop innovative programs and sustainable partnerships that fulfill the organization's mission.

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or relevant professional experience.
• Experience in non-profit administration and/or project management
• Ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures.
• Excellent organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse groups.
• Have confidence and enthusiasm to conduct presentations and meet regularly with existing and new community partners.
• Ability to adapt and be nimble to new and changing situations.
• Comfortable with technology with the ability and enthusiasm to learn new skills. Experience with Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom is a must. Experience with Salesforce and e-learning/virtual education is a plus.

A Note about Qualifications:

• We know that no single candidate will bring every qualification on this list. If your experience and skills align with the heart of this role, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't check every box.

What You'll Need for Success:

• Strong organizational, project management, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Experience and knowledge of arts administration and/or in-depth knowledge of the non-profit and education sector.
• The ability to attend in-person meetings with community partners.
• A reliable internet connection for remote work.
• Experience in Microsoft Excel and spreadsheet use and creation.

Tenets of our Culture:

Based on the proven track record of execution and interdependent project management of the current team, we have the following tenets. These are regularly reassessed through a collective decision-making process, to ensure collective accountability in project execution, distribution of labor, and work/life balance:

• Hybrid schedule
• Unlimited PTO
• We value and strive toward an equitable work environment:
• We embrace the transformative power of consensual conflict resolution
• We strive toward transparency in our communication
• We uphold a “Brave Space”, not a “Safe Space”
• We are an LGBTQIA+ celebratory space
• We have a cell phone stipend and gas reimbursement.
• We value building, celebrating, and nurturing our community through regular gatherings.
• We are a part of the Young Audiences/Arts for Learning and the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts national affiliate networks, through which we tap into a wealth of knowledge and camaraderie with peers around the country.
• We acknowledge that, partially due to the history of the non-profit sector, we are a predominantly white organization. However, we understand the importance of becoming an Anti-Racist organization and transforming our internal and external work.
• We work with the best artists and administrators in the greater Indianapolis area.
• We currently operate in a hybrid work environment, with staff generally gathering in person as a team one day each week and working remotely on other days. Additional in-office or in-person work may be required based on organizational, program, or partner needs. Because this position is highly relationship-based, the Program Director must also be available for in-person meetings, site visits, and other partner-facing responsibilities throughout the community and have reliable transportation to attend these engagements as needed.

At Arts for Learning Indiana, we value:

• Access, Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (ABIDE) as essential elements of an ongoing process to move our culture toward justice and solidarity.
• The strength of symbiotic and innovative partnerships.
• Learning that fosters Imagination as central to developing Self-discovery, Critical Thought, and Empathy.
• People who integrate creativity into their lives; in particular:
• Artists for their devotion to the fostering and amplifying of cultural expression
• Educators for their commitment to inspiring young minds through culturally sustaining pedagogy
• Youth for their inherent intelligence and curiosity to explore, create, and discover who they are
• We thank all who lift up the mission and celebrate the vibrancy of the Arts for Learning community: staff, board, donors, advocates, and volunteers

About Arts for Learning: Founded in 1961, Arts for Learning, the Indiana Affiliate of Young Audiences, empowers children to achieve their creative and intellectual potential through arts in education. Part of the Young Audiences Arts for Learning national network, Arts for Learning is one of 30 affiliates certified by the national office. We reach approximately 40,000 children each year with performances, workshops, and artist residency programs in-school, afterschool and out of school. We augment this activity with an array of professional development opportunities designed to help teachers and teaching artists bring the arts into the school environment more effectively.

Arts for Learning is an equal opportunity employer that values the right of children to have access to the arts and the participatory arts experiences that unlock minds, expand lives, and fulfill creative and intellectual potential.

Submit all applications through our HR partner, Deep End Talent Strategies, by September 30th.