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Director of Education and Community Engagement

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Director of Education and Community Engagement


Title: Director of Education and Community Engagement

Department: Education and Community Engagement

Reports to: UMS President and serves on the Management Team with the directors of four other departments

Download: PDF Version of the job description

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF POSITION AND UMS:

The Director of Education and Community Engagement will lead an award-winning department that has been recognized by leading national private and public funding agencies for the quality and impact of its programs. UMS is looking for a visionary thinker who can also plan and execute exemplary programs; work effectively with and garner the respect of a diverse group of educators, community leaders, and UMS staff and volunteers; and represent UMS with distinction at local, state, national, and international events. The UMS Education and Community Engagement Department works closely with the UMS Programming and Production Department in a collaborative organizational structure to create and sustain integrated programs across UMS.

UMS, an independent multi-disciplinary performing arts presenter with a long and deep affiliation with the University of Michigan, is located in the center of the Ann Arbor campus and offers 60-70 performances each season, performed in up to seven University and community venues. Since its founding in 1879, UMS has presented top-ranking international artists including symphony orchestras; chamber music; solo recitals; jazz; world music; ballet, modern and culturally-specific dance; opera, theater and choral groups; and special attractions. UMS also sponsors the UMS Choral Union, a 180-voice chorus that performs regularly with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and on the UMS series. UMS sponsors an extensive education program involving up to 100 events each season, commissions and presents new work, and hosts many artists’ residencies. UMS, which had a $6.5 million budget during the 2009-10 season, employs a full-time staff of 30, has a 34-member Board of Directors, and engages over 600 volunteers who serve in all aspects of the operation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Community Engagement (25%):

  • Maintain UMS’s current cultural and artistic community engagement programs and, working with the UMS Management Team, develop and help implement programs to serve UMS’s priority audience initiatives. Current programs include our work with communities of cultural heritage, genre-specific interest groups, geographic communities, age-specific groups, and others.
  • Collaborate with other UMS departments in the UMS Lobby (www.umsLOBBY.org) and other organization-wide initiatives to engage audiences.

Adult/University Programs and Artists Residencies (25%):

  • Create and direct public educational programming, contextualizing and extending the mainstage experience for audiences and supporting our programming, marketing, and development efforts.
  • Design and implement strategies to connect to curriculum and develop departmental relationships throughout the University of Michigan and other area postsecondary institutions.
  • Manage and facilitate artistic interactions and residency work for all artists featured in our season including discussions with agents, artists and staff.

K-12 Programs (25%):

  • Plan and direct goals and objectives for all K-12 programming and related partnerships including the Youth Performance Series, Teacher Workshop Series, in-school instruction, curriculum development, marketing initiatives, and K-12 partnering commitments. Maintain principal partnership with the Ann Arbor Public Schools and the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and maintain existing and build new partnerships with other school districts in the region. Participate in the Kennedy Center Partners in Education Program.

Strategic Alliances (10%):

  • Working with the UMS Management Team, assess the value of UMS’s current alliances to determine which should continue and to identify new strategic alliances.
  • Build new and maintain existing strategic alliances resulting from the assessment.

Advocacy and Development (5%):

  • Collaborate with the UMS development department to create and edit relevant copy for grant proposals and reports.
  • Represent UMS educational and community engagement programs with the Board of Directors, with donors, and in the community.
  • Speak and write in industry and public forums to advance the field.

Departmental Management (10%):

  • Manage 2 FTE staff, interns and work-study students, and volunteers.
  • Collaborate with Director of Programming and Production to supervise educational aspects of 3 other FTE positions.
  • Serve as staff liaison to the UMS Board Committee on Education and Community Engagement.
  • Develop and oversee educational budgets and ensure sound financial decision-making and negotiate partner financial and in-kind contributions.
  • Advise on artistic programming throughout the season, with special focus on programs for specific audiences (e.g. communities of shared cultural heritage, genre-specific communities, family programming, priority audiences, etc.)
  • Attend conferences, performances and cultural events, as well as educational activities on a regional, national and international level.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

  • B.A., M.A. preferred, with a concentration in, or extensive experience in, the performing arts and/or education and event planning; general knowledge of theater, dance and music.
  • 5 years proven experience in administering an arts education program and/or in cultural/community development work in the context of an arts organization.
  • Demonstrated organizational skills.
  • Proven written, editing and speaking skills.
  • Outstanding interpersonal skills; team player.
  • Proficient in computer and software skills and intimately acquainted with social media.
  • Experience and knowledge of the postsecondary education system; proven experience in working with faculty, students, and administrators in developing content-based events.
  • Experience in and knowledge of K-12 education systems, with proven experience in curriculum and professional development for educators.
  • Experience in production of on-stage events and artist logistics, planning and support.
  • Experience in supervising staff, interns, and volunteers and in community organizing.
  • Proven experience in working with communities of culturally and artistically diverse backgrounds.
  • Project oriented with the ability to multi-task, and the ability to take projects from task to finish with appropriate follow up.
  • Ability to travel and to work long hours, including weekend and evening hours.
  • Commitment to and advocate for the performing arts and arts education.
  • Ability to stay controlled and positive in adverse or difficult situations.
  • Demonstrated financial skills.
  • Creative problem-solving skills.

PREFERRED BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

  • Knowledge of the performing arts, art forms, and presenting organizations.
  • Knowledge of and experience in coordinating arts and educational activities.
  • Experience in the development and distribution of educational and marketing materials.
  • Knowledge of marketing, development, administration, and non-profit organizations.
  • Knowledge of community organizations, resources, and libraries.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Please submit your cover letter and resume to the University of Michigan/Careers at the U on the following link: www.umjobs.org Please enter Job ID: 50946 in the “Keyword” box and select “Search”. Applicants are required to complete the registration process per the instructions on the website. The deadline for submission is August 31, 2010.

The University Musical Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides programs and services without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex or handicap.