Education Director

POSITION: DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Full-time, salaried with employee health insurance and paid vacation.

Salary range: $45,000 - $55,000

Reports to: Executive Director

South Shore Arts is the Regional Arts Partner for Region 1 for the Indiana Arts Commission and is an arts organization dating back over 85 years. We are dedicated to championing the arts, artists and creative endeavors across Lake, Porter and LaPorte Counties. We are also the Managing Agent for the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra.

Position Overview:

We are looking to fill our Director of Education role – a full time senior level management position primarily responsible for managing and driving growth in our critical Arts Education, Outreach, and Fee for Service programming supporting South Shore Arts as well as the Northwest Indiana Symphony.

Key Responsibilities:

Business & Administrative Leadership:

  • Recruit, hire and lead a team of art instructors (15+) and our Education support positions serving our two art studio locations (Munster & Hammond, IN) as well as our educational outreach programs.

  • Plan & Manage revenue producing programs working within budget parameters.

  • Create, organize and present budgets for arts education, outreach, and fee for service programs above.

  • With the support of marketing, build a marketing strategy and plan to maximize enrollment, participation, and revenue from both in house education and outreach/fee for service programs.

  • Oversee our registration process utilizing our NEON CRM system.

  • Write articles and content regarding education for publication in our quarterly magazine.

Education Leadership:

  • Design and implement a visual arts curriculum and course offerings in multiple mediums for our own classroom studios to maximize student enrollment.

  • Develop partnerships for arts outreach and fee for service programming (visual arts & music) with other not-for-profits, municipalities, and other community organizations

  • This position will do this for both South Shore Arts and the Northwest Indiana Symphony.

  • This would include activities like our annual Education concert for the Northwest Indiana Symphony, and community engagement activities like our Annual Family Arts Fest, Night Out Against Crime, Art in Nature programs, and other community related activities that allow us to engage our local communities.

  • Design and implement the curriculum for these types of outreach program offerings – many which need to meet State of Indiana Academic Standards.

  • Manage the logistics of coordinating, scheduling, supplying and paying the instructors for these classes and programs.

  • Manage the physical assets needed for our education purposes including but not limited to ceramic wheels, ceramic kilns, whiteboard instruction tools, ipads, computers, and miscellaneous art related tools and supplies.

Other responsibilities as assigned including but not limited to support for community and resource development activities critical to the organization’s success.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and/or Education (Master's degree preferred).

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in Art Instruction with a proven track record of success In a public or private education or arts education Institution.

  • Minimum of 2 years of experience building and implementing an Arts education curriculum and managing a team of instructors.

  • Minimum of 2 years of experience building and managing a fiscal year program budget.

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling messaging for different audiences.

  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.

  • Passion for the mission and values of our organization, with a commitment to the arts and making a positive impact in the community.

  • Proven team player with excellent interpersonal skills, able to collaborate effectively with colleagues and external partners.

This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the world while working with a passionate team dedicated to our cause. If you are a strategic leader with a creative flair and a passion for making a social Impact through the arts, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

  • Dental insurance

  • Health insurance

  • Paid time off

  • Vision insurance

Schedule:

  • Monday to Friday, some weekends

Application Question(s):

  • Do you have a degree in Arts &/or Education or 3-5 years of Arts Education experience?

Work Location: In person

Executive Director

FLSA Status: Salary, Exempt

Reports to: Board of Directors

Salary: $100,000

Background

South Shore Arts envisions a progressive region that employees the arts to transform lives and strengthen communities. The mission of South Shore Arts is to transform the South Shore region through the arts. We recognize our region’s diversity, its widely dispersed population and the need for revitalization and improved quality of life throughout the communities that we serve. We provide programs that showcase self-expression and nurture creativity in individuals and act as a catalyst by promoting the arts as a tool for revitalization of communities. We reach new audiences through collaborations with a wide range of community partners, including schools, nonprofits, units of local government, businesses and artists; our programs are provided on a large and accessible scale, often at no cost. We serve as a Regional Arts Partner for the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, offering broad local access to statewide arts services and funding opportunities to residents of our region.

South Shore Arts has been a successful nonprofit arts provider for 85 years. From a modest beginning with an art exhibit in the lady’s hat department of Minas Department Store in downtown Hammond in 1936, we have grown to become the regional leader for arts support and promotion in Northwest Indiana, directly serving approximately 80,000 people every year. Year-round visual arts programming, including exhibits, classes and art appreciation activities, began in downtown Hammond with the purchase of a former Christian Science Church in 1970. When the property was sold for the expansion of neighboring St. Margaret Hospital in the early 1980s, Northern Indiana Arts Association, as we were known, relocated to a storefront in Munster, later moving into the Center for Visual and Performing Arts upon its completion in 1989. Here, we occupy 16,000 square feet, approximately one third of the building, including a 5,000-square-foot main gallery, classrooms, art storage, offices and a gift shop. Our programs consist of 1) the everykid education outreach program serving students with free instruction in visual and performing arts; 2) exhibits of local, regional, national and international artists and cultures in six venues; 3) fee-based classes in all media for children teens, adults and seniors; and 4) art appreciation programs for people of all ages. We also manage the over 80-year-old Northwest Indiana Symphony.

Since 2008, South Shore Arts entered into an agreement with the Northwest Indiana Symphony that makes South Shore Arts the exclusive management and operations agent for the Symphony. Per the agreement, South Shore Arts has operational control of the Symphony, including planning, budgeting, fundraising, marketing, governance, education, administration, accounting, and contract negotiations. The Northwest Indiana Symphony is located in the Center for Visual and Performing Arts along with South Shore Arts.

Position Available

South Shore Arts seeks a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as Executive Director to advance the mission and agenda of the organization. Recognized as a model statewide, South Shore Arts provides innovative programs and services to artists, arts organizations, educators, youth, and the general public. Reporting to the Board of Directors, this position oversees all aspects of business related to South Shore Arts and the management of the Northwest Indiana Symphony. The Executive Director is the public face of both organizations. The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring the health of these organizations by working with staff, the Board of Directors and key constituents to implement a shared vision, form partnerships and secure funding from a variety of sources. The Executive Director is responsible for creating a positive internal culture that aligns with programmatic objectives and that treats everyone with dignity. The Executive Director exudes hope, optimism, and bold vision for the organization and its mission.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Administration

  • General supervision of all business and operations of South Shore Arts, including management of

    the Northwest Indiana Symphony;

  • Supervise staff of South Shore Arts and Northwest Indiana Symphony according to

    the combined organizational chart;

  • Sustain and strengthen a culture of compliance with office policies and procedures;

  • Recruit, hire, evaluate, terminate staff;

  • Oversee and monitor operations, goals, and objectives to effectively guide the business

    operations and staff;

  • Manage the organization by communicating goals, vision and mission to inspire and motivate

    staff, implementing any necessary action plans to lead individual and organizational objectives;

  • Collaborate with governance and leadership to develop and implement succession plans for key

    organizational roles.

    Fundraising

  • In collaboration with the Director of Development, plan, implement, and oversee all fundraising

    efforts of South Shore Arts, including individual, corporate and foundation giving; the annual fund

    campaign, grants, capital and endowment appeals, and other special needs;

  • Ensure that the Director of Development is setting and maintains all fundraising campaign

    deadlines— production of materials, creation of lists, issuing of acknowledgments, reporting and

    recognition;

  • Maintain excellent relationships with potential, current and past donors;

  • Provide fundraising leadership to ensure funds are there to execute the budget;

  • Expand local revenue generating activities to create a culture of fundraising.

Board of Directors

  • Schedule and attend all meetings of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and other

    board committees;

  • Provide reports on all matters of business and operations as requested by the Board of Directors;

  • In collaboration with the Finance Committee, present a proposed annual budget for the next

    fiscal year at the Annual Meeting held in June;

  • Identify and recruit new directors in collaboration with the Board of Directors;

  • Maintain professional relationships with all members of the Board of Directors;

  • In collaboration with the Board President, provide support and guidance to ensure that the board

    members successfully fulfill their roles and responsibilities.

    Planning & Evaluation

  • Coordinate strategic planning for South Shore Arts with the Board of Directors;

  • Based on data gathered from staff, key stakeholders, Board of Directors and any contracted

    consultant during strategic planning, articulate scope and emphasis of strategic plan

  • Ensure implementation of strategic plan

  • Evaluate organizational operational effectiveness based on alignment with strategic plan;

  • Establish standards and measures for performance and monitoring productivity in all operational

    areas, including contracts, grants administration, database management, personnel policies that uphold the organization’s stated commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access.

    Financial Management

  • Familiarity with 990s, audits, and compliance;

  • Competence in reading, creating, and understanding financial statements including budgets, cash

    flow, income statements, balance sheets, and expense reports;

  • Develop an annual budget through collaboration across all departments of the organization;

  • Monitor the adherence to the budget once adopted.

    Programs

  • Ensure that staff are developing, implementing and reviewing programs that align with the

  • mission, strategic plan, and budget of South Shore Arts;

  • Develop, implement, and oversee programming that meets the needs of the constituents;

  • Ensure that the Gallery Manager is successfully managing all aspects of program implementation

  • in the areas of exhibits;

  • Ensure that the Director of Education is successfully managing all aspects of program

  • implementation in the areas of classes, performances, educational outreach, and fee for service contracts.

Community Relations/Marketing

  • The Executive Director is the public face of the organization and serves as the chief spokesperson

    to the media for South Shore Arts;

  • Perform public speaking duties;

  • Serve as the South Shore Arts representative at community meetings;

  • Maintain communication with various local, state, regional and federal agencies whose programs

    and services are relevant to South Shore Arts;

  • Work with staff and board to market and promote the public image of South Shore Arts, including

    effective and responsive methods of marketing and promotion that shift and adapt to marketing

    trends;

  • Review and approve all marketing materials and campaigns (e.g. print publications, direct mail

    campaigns, newsletters, postcards, digital advertising, billboards, etc.).

    Preferred Candidate Qualifications

  • Graduation from an accredited 4-year college or university;

  • Professional experience in the arts and experience in an administrative capacity;

  • Abilities in the areas of public relations and public speaking;

  • Professional experience with fundraising, cultivating donors and managing endowment

    campaigns;

  • Professional experience in federal, state or local government in the arts and/or national, state,

    regional or local arts not-for-profit services is highly preferred;

  • Experience in organization management, including three (3) years of experience in supervision

    and staff management;

  • Specialized training and/or experience in negotiation, meeting convening, and organizational

    development;

  • Ability to communicate with constituents and staff at all levels;

  • Proven track record of leadership as a strategic thinker with a hands-on style in executing change;

  • Proficiency in MS Office Professional and standard office IT systems;

  • Must have access to a reliable mode of transportation.

    Difficulty of Work

    Work requires a high degree of concentration, self-direction, creativity, interpersonal and time management skills. Work requires the ability to develop and maintain an effective working relationship with a wide variety of people, including internal and external customers. Employee must be skilled in conflict resolution and have well-developed diplomatic skills. Employee must be willing to represent the organization to the public at all times.

Responsibility

Employee must be able to manage effectively multiple projects and competing priorities. Employee must be able to manage and motivate staff and be skilled as a change agent. Employee must be able to conceptualize work related to program and project design, development and evaluation. Employee must be able to analyze data and trends, and recommend strategies to achieve organization goals. Employee makes decisions related to recommendations about allocation and utilization of federal and state funds. Employee makes decisions in accordance with organization policies and procedures and is responsible for hiring and firing of personnel.

Working Conditions

May be required to lift up to 20 lbs. occasionally. Work may be performed in an office environment and remotely. Some work may be performed in the field and require some overnight travel (no greater than 10% of the time). Work will involve attendance at community events, social occasions, meals, and other local events.

Submit resumes to Carly Brandenburg

cbrandenburg@eichhorn-law.com or ATTN: Carly Brandenburg Eichhorn & Eichhorn, LLP 2929 Carlson Drive, Ste 100 Hammond, IN 46323