Artist Services Manager (20hr/week, Hybrid, NJ and Eastern PA)

The Artist Services Manager plays a key role in developing and maintaining productive work relationships with the YA roster of teaching artists (independent contractors) who represent diverse artistic disciplines and offer performances, hands-on workshops and residencies for PreK-12 Students, and professional development for teachers.

The Artist Services Manager has knowledge of arts education—both how the arts are currently integrated in schools and how teaching artists complement school programming, affirm and support student identity and creativity, and contribute to a welcoming school community. Candidate must have an abiding belief and passionate commitment to the value and need for arts education in all children’s lives.  The ideal candidate is curious and interested in all art forms and maintains a personal connection to the arts in their everyday life. 

Collaboration is essential to the success of this role, working with staff/peers and teaching artists to achieve organizational goals.  Learning opportunities may present themselves in on-the-job experiences, such as workshop or conference attendance. Engagement in YA’s Arts United (DEIA) efforts is essential and integrated into all staff roles.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Artist Recruitment, Engagement and Roster Management (70%)

• In collaboration with education and programming staff, lead efforts to identify programmatic and artistic needs of the roster; fulfill those needs by leading artist recruitment, auditioning, and contracting with a goal of onboarding 5-10 new programs per year.
• Support alignment of programming with educational priorities, artistic and cultural diversity, and organizational best practices.
• Building on current efforts, lead the orientation process for new YA artists.
• Artist monitoring/engagement: The manager works collaboratively with education and programming staff to visit and monitor artists in the field.
• Respond to roster artist-related concerns as they arise, including contract questions and school partner feedback.
• Manage and coordinate periodic communication with YA artists about opportunities, policy updates, and upcoming events. Lead virtual and in person artist meetings.
• In collaboration with education and programming staff, manage offboarding of artists from YA roster as necessary.
• Contribute to YA assessment initiatives.

Marketing support (10%)

• Support marketing efforts by gathering, editing, and writing content for annual resource guide and other marketing efforts.

Artist contracting and legal compliance (10%)

• Lead negotiation with YA roster artists on an annual basis to finalize artist fees and programs.
• Assist Finance and Administration Department with artist contracts, background checks, insurance documentation.

Contribute to YA Initiatives (10%)

• Contribute to Young Audiences’ ongoing efforts to improve in relation to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, according to YA’s Arts United Plan.
• Participate in organization-wide fundraising events and efforts.
• Other duties to contribute to YA’s organizational goals as assigned

Essential Qualifications:

• 3+ years’ experience in an administrative role, preferably in arts education and/or arts administration.
• Experience in the performing arts such as stage management, technical theatre, box office management, community or professional theatre. 
• Effective proactive communication—both verbally and written—with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and communities.
• Experience leading difficult conversations with compassion and clarity.
• Strong organizational skills to track progress on multiple initiatives, provide timely follow up, and complete tasks in accordance with YA organizational timelines.
• Experience with Salesforce, Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Drive and/or ease and curiosity with learning new software applications
• All YA staff must have a belief in and commitment to anti-bias, anti-oppression, anti-ableist, anti-racist practices in education.
• All YA staff must have an abiding belief in the value and necessity of the arts as an essential component of children’s education.
• Conversational Spanish is a plus.

On the Job Learning Opportunities:

• Salesforce, Teams, and other software applications
• Inclusive, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive practices and systems for individual and organizational change.
• Participation in convenings and professional learning opportunities relevant to the position.

Additional Information

• YA is a hybrid work environment. In office/remote work schedules are determined based on needs of the role.
• During 3-month provisional employment period, in-office (Princeton) work requirement may be significant.
• YA Office hours are 8:30-4:30, M-F. Regular working hours for this part-time role are determined in advance and align with YA’s business hours.  
• Visits to in-school programs and artist auditions are an essential function of this role, and may occur several times a month. The ability to travel to schools and events within our entire service region of New Jersey and Eastern PA is required. Travel to New York or elsewhere may be needed for recruitment purposes. Mileage is reimbursed.
• This position requires significant computer usage for email communications, Zoom/Teams meetings, interoffice communications on Teams, and use of Salesforce. To the best of our ability, YA supports workspaces (home and in-office) to support staff comfort, productivity and wellbeing.

Interested but don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At YA, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply.

Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome employees and prospective employees without regard to race, religion, national origin, formal education, age, disability, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, health and mental health status, or veteran status.

Benefits: 401k with company match, FSA, Vision, Dental, Life, and Longterm Disability. In addition, staff are provided with vacation, sick, and personal time as well as 11 paid holidays and 1 floating holiday

After an initial screening phone call, YA offers stipends to candidates participating in interviews.