ABOUT THE POSITION
The Director of Programs at Cool Culture will lead the Program Team in the visioning, design, facilitation, and assessment of CityWide and Neighborhood-based initiatives that work in partnership with marginalized families and communities, educators, artists and museum staff. The Director of Programs ensures that these initiatives are designed and delivered to center those most affected by inequity, amplify the voices and increase activism of families, build authentic relationships, and strengthen communities. The Director will also be charged with working with the Executive Director, Director of Development and Programs Team to continue the buildout of new cross-organizational systems for project management and for collection of quantitative and qualitative data and sharing with our community network, and will collaborate with the team to develop a multi-year plan for organizational sustainability and growth.
A transdisciplinary practitioner, the Director of Programs brings experience in all aspects of programming and program operations, from program and curriculum design to assessment, systems design, team management, development, and budgeting. The Program Team currently consists of the Assistant Director of CityWide, Programs Coordinator and a team of consultants. This position reports to the Executive Director and serves as the staff liaison for the Board of Directors’ Program Committee.
Specific Responsibilities Include:
Strategy, Program Design & Oversight
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Work in deep collaboration with the Executive Director and members of Cool Culture’s Team to guide the overall strategic vision and successful execution of organizational mission and programs. Work, in partnership with Cool Culture board, staff, key stakeholders, and supporters.
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Hire, manage, train, mentor, and motivate a collaborative, high-performing team of staff and consultants, focusing on staff development and fostering an inclusive work culture.
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Envision, manage, reimagine and implement bold and integrated programs that serve as a model in the field of family and community arts/culture engagement through popular education and cultural organizing frameworks, tools, and strategies grounded in reciprocity, accountability, and self-determination.
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Lead the Program Team in aligning all initiatives with Cool Culture’s mission to engage, activate and mobilize marginalized families, ensuring that each program is responsive to community priorities, and builds on the synergies of CityWide and Neighborhood-based programs.
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Support the team to develop, deepen, and maintain meaningful relationships with education and cultural institution partners, artists and other stakeholders that are part of Cool Culture’s community network.
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Develop, manage, and monitor rigorous program assessments, benchmarks, and evaluations with an eye towards values alignment and program refinement.
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Interface with the Cool Culture board and serve as the Liaison to the Program Committee. Utilize the committee as a resource and support in delivering successful and relevant programs.
Infrastructure & Systems Development
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Work with the Cool Culture’s Team and operations consultant to design and strengthen new infrastructure and management systems to support cross-organizational collaboration and ensure that program operations are effective, efficient and flexible.
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Oversee management of all program and administrative tools to ensure program operations are effective, efficient, and flexible.
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Develop, manage and monitor the Program budget in collaboration with the Program Team
Cross-Department Collaboration
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Support and collaborate with the Development and Communications departments as needed, including supporting grants management; supporting content creation that brings visibility to families’ voices, and ensuring coherence of initiatives across the organization.
Who You Are:
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You have at least 10 - 12 years of experience leading the design, facilitation, assessment, and sustainability of community arts engagement, popular education, and family engagement programs; and/or related fields.
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You have experience managing a highly collaborative team, cultivating shared commitments, and being attentive to individual working styles and needs; and identifying and facilitating staff development opportunities.
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You demonstrate a strong understanding and passion for diverse artistic expressions and cultural practices, with the ability to engage meaningfully with creative communities and contribute to culturally informed initiatives.
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You are a strong conceptual and strategic thinker that can both zoom into the details and out to see the systems, patterns, and connections
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You have extensive experience implementing systems that support the development and monitoring of multiple projects, and adapting to shifting needs – and a keen interest in contributing to the build out of rudimentary systems and to build new systems as needed
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You have demonstrated ability to build authentic, ongoing relationships with a variety of external partners to identify, enact, and achieve common goals.
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You have a well-honed analysis of issues of equity, structural racism and patriarchy and your own privileges
Other Core Attributes:
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Excellent knowledge of NYC’s arts and cultural landscape, including trends, best practices, and activism.
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Strong oral and written communication skills.
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Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
Also a plus:
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Proficiency/fluency in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Chinese, or ASL.
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Excellent command of Microsoft Office and Google Apps.
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Familiarity with Salesforce, Canva, Adobe suite, or other design software.
$100,000 - $115,000
READY TO APPLY
Please email [email protected] with the subject line “Director of Programs, [Your Name]”
Include as attachment(s), (1) your resume, (2) answers to the application questions below. Number your responses according to the question number, and (3) a writing sample.
- Briefly tell us about a time when you were responsible for the management of a successful programs initiative . What was your process and what led to its success? 250 words or less
- Why are you interested in working with an organization seeking to strengthen family and community wellbeing through engagement with arts and culture? 250 words or less
- In what ways have you worked to address issues of equity, structural racism and patriarchy, as well as your own privilege, in your work practices and products? 350 words or less
*NOTE: While we work primarily remotely, team members are required to live in New York City.