Inner-City Arts
Los Angeles, CA
Senior Director of Education
Inner-City Arts is an oasis of learning, creativity and achievement in the heart of Skid Row, and a vital partner in the work of creating a safer, healthier Los Angeles. Since its inception, Inner-City Arts has provided hands-on arts instruction to over 210,000 public school students and 10,000 educators in the Los Angeles area. Every year, more than 5,000 elementary and middle school students — from among the most underserved urban neighborhoods in Los Angeles — receive high-quality creative experiences during the school day on the Inner-City Arts campus. More than 1,000 middle and high school students engage in workshops at Inner-City Arts after school, on weekends and during the summer. In all this time, Inner-City Arts has partnered with LAUSD to provide transformational learning that meets the needs of inner-city students.
Having provided a successful model program for arts education, Inner-City Arts is now entering into its next phase of development with a new strategic vision of deepening our impact by engaging in long term research, and by developing new sites and programs beyond our walls and in new communities throughout LA County. For detailed information about Inner-City Arts, please see our Impact Report at: http://www.inner-cityarts.org/impactreport.
Inner-City Arts is seeking an experienced Senior Director of Education to play a key role in the leadership of all programs serving youth, their families, school teachers, and communities, and with the expansion of programs at new sites. The Senior Director of Education is responsible for the overall successful operation and performance of its programs, as well as its intended direction as set forth in the Inner-City Arts Strategic Plan.
Programs include:
- Learning and Achieving Through the Arts (LATA), school-day program
- Visual, Media and Performing Arts Institutes, designed for middle and high school students
- Work of Art program, a college and career exploration program
- Artists in the Middle summer program
- The Professional Development Institute
Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Senior Director of Education oversees an annual program budget of $2.8 million, and a growing program staff of 32. Key responsibilities and accountabilities include, but may not be limited to:
Program Leadership
- Working with executive leadership and program staff develop, review, and create innovative and progressive arts educational programs for children and youth, ages 5 – 18 years, building upon the current programs, supporting Inner-City Arts growth strategies, envisioning innovative approaches while utilizing the most current research and best practices in the arts education and creative youth development fields.
- Creating pathways between programs advancing overall content and direction of programs in alignment with the organization’s strategic direction;
- Overseeing the documentation of program progress, monitoring and evaluating the organization’s programmatic efforts and impact;
- Providing day to day oversight and direction, administration and management of staff, including collaborating with programs management team to ensure the effective coordination of program activities and related events;
- Providing mentoring and supervisory support to staff in the areas of planning, management, program execution and communications
- Envisioning culture of all programs that aligns with organizational brand and strategic growth direction.
Outreach and Recruitment
- Fostering relationships among community organizations, local schools, businesses and other community youth and education programs to enhance the development of the programs;
- Creating and executing a comprehensive recruitment and enrollment plan for youth programming;
Staff Development
- Cultivating, nurturing and continuing to recruit a team of teaching artists and support staff
- Providing continued learning staff development opportunities to meet the staffing and growth needs of the expanding and deepening of programs;
Qualifications
The Senior Director of Education will be an outstanding communicator, manager, strategist and leader in the arts education and creative youth development fields. A deep commitment to the welfare of youth and the critical role that the arts play in their development is essential, as well as a deep belief in the transformative power of creativity and the arts. The Senior Director of Education will have the capacity to thrive in a fast-paced work environment that values vitality, integrity and flexibility. This individual will have the skills to maintain and build excellent working relationships with leaders in the arts and youth development communities.
Additional Qualifications
- Personal alignment with the mission, vision and values of Inner-City Arts;
- An advanced degree in Education, Arts Education, Arts Management, Youth Development, or related field, with vast teaching experience and/or engagement in own artistic practice;
- 8+ years prior experience in the field as a director in educational practice with arts and youth development priorities;
- 8+ years prior experience in design and management of programs for children and youth; prior experience supervising and mentoring staff;
- Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills, and forward-planning, strategy and leadership skills desired.
HOURS
Full-time position including evenings, early mornings or weekend hours.
LOCATION
Inner-City Arts is located in the downtown Los Angeles Warehouse District, adjacent to Skid Row, the Produce Mart and the Arts District.
SALARY
Commensurate with education and experience.
TO APPLY
Mail/Fax/Email letter of interest and resume to: Human Resources, Inner-City Arts Attn: Senior Director of Education application, 720 Kohler Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021;
Fax: 213-627-6469; Email [email protected]. No calls please.
Inner-City Arts engages employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition or information, family care status, military caregiver status, veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. All who believe they meet the stated qualifications are invited to apply. Inner-City Arts is an equal opportunity employer.
