The New York City Arts in Education Roundtable is a service organization working to improve and advance arts education in NYC schools, communities, and beyond. Founded in 1992 with the goal of building and professionalizing the arts education field, we are a community of arts education practitioners that shares resources and information, provides professional development, and advocates for the needs of our constituents and the communities they serve. The Roundtable produces a major annual conference (Face to Face); monthly professional development programs; an online resource center; and other activities, in addition to ongoing advocacy and communications efforts to support the sustainability of the sector.

The NYC Arts in Education Roundtable seeks a passionate, highly-organized Advocacy Associate to join our growing team. Reporting to the Executive Director with some direct support to the Operations Director, this newly created position serves as an engine for our grassroots and legislative efforts – bridging the gap between community organizing, communications, and policy work.

This role is ideal for a proactive storyteller and community-builder who is as comfortable looking through data as they are drafting compelling messaging and engaging with a diverse constituency. A successful candidate will play a critical role in mobilizing and growing our coalition of arts champions, helping us build off momentum in pursuit of equitable arts education access for all and dignity for the arts education workforce. By maintaining vital relationships and information-sharing with stakeholders, the Advocacy Associate will help ensure that arts education remains a top priority in New York City and New York State.

The position is open until filled, but preference will be given to those candidates who apply on or before Thursday, October 1, 2026.

Responsibilities of the Advocacy Associate include:

Campaign Strategy & Execution

• Help implement campaign strategies and tactics through targeted messaging, stakeholder convenings, and outreach to arts education champions.
• Draft and edit high-quality advocacy materials, including one-pagers, flyers, social media assets and copy, newsletters, petitions, research briefs, and fact sheets in partnership with the Executive Director, Advocacy Committee, and Operations Director.
• Work closely with the organization’s lobbyist to schedule meetings with officials and participate in regular check-ins with relevant agency and consulting partners (including but not limited to government relations, research/data, and public relations firms).

Community Organizing & Engagement

• Integrate advocacy and organizing activities within in-person events such as the Roundtable’s Day of Learning, Job Fair, and Face to Face conference.
• Work with the Executive Director, Advocacy Committee, Operations Director, and Programs Director to organize and host 2–4 community gatherings annually. 
• Represent the Roundtable in coalition-building activities, such as attending regular meetings with aligned arts, education, labor, and youth development partners to advance shared priorities.

Communications & Storytelling

• Serve as the primary point person for the Advocacy Committee, coordinating meetings committee workflow, and action steps.
• Maintain the “Advocacy Hub” on the Roundtable website – ensuring news, policy tracker, and resources are current and accessible.
• Support relationship mapping and community engagement through the buildout and maintenance of NeonCRM and other digital tools.
• Support the Development Manager by providing data and narratives for grant proposals and reports.
• Support Operations Director with ad hoc communications-related projects as needed.

Initiative Coordination & Administration

• Manage the It Starts with the Arts Student Art Competition, including recruitment, program design, and strategically integrating student advocacy and feedback with policy priorities.
• Serve as the administrative point of contact for Creative Compass: Mapping Arts Education in NYC Schools and Support for Arts Instruction Initiative.
• Create program surveys and track responses for initiative evaluations, and support in the writing and creation of initiative-related reports.

Qualifications & Skills

• At least 2-3 years work in community organizing, work on political/advocacy campaigns, communications, arts administration, and/or arts education.
• Excellent attention-to-detail, writing, verbal communication, copyediting, and all organizational skills.
• Creative problem-solver regarding digital outreach, building/engaging online communities, and managing information in a CRM.
• Ability to analyze arts education related-data and policy information.
• Demonstrated team player who works well with diverse groups of people and has strong interpersonal skills.
• Adept at navigating complex relationships with colleagues, government officials, and external stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks based on project timelines, and work in a hybrid work environment.
• Commitment to equity, access, inclusion, and social justice.
• Passion for and knowledge of New York City’s arts education ecosystems; knowledge of New York State ecosystem a plus
• Experience with Google Suite, WordPress, Mailchimp, Canva, Hootsuite a plus

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Ability to lift and carry light boxes, furniture, and/or files, typically up to 20 pounds
• Attendance at in-person events and meetings

Additional Details

• SCHEDULE/HOURS: Weekdays, 40-hour work week
• DURATION: November 2026 – November 2027 (with possibility of extension)
• START DATE: As soon as possible or by late-November/early-December 2026
• REPORTS TO: Primarily reports to Executive Director with additional support of Operations Director
• BENEFITS:
  • Access to vision, dental, and medical insurance
  • PTO vacation equivalent to fifteen (15) 8-hour days per full calendar year
    Summer Fridays from July through Labor Day (half-days)
  • 10 Paid Holidays per full calendar year plus paid office closures during December holiday break and a one-week summer office closure
  • 40 hours sick leave per full calendar year
  • 8 hours PTO in recognition of employee’s birthday (to be used on or within 30 days of the employee’s birthday)
• OFFICE LOCATION: ART/NY, 520 8th Ave, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10018

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume (no more than 2-3 pages) in one PDF to Executive Director, Kimberly Olsen, at jobs@nycaieroundtable.org with “Advocacy Associate” in the subject line. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The position is open until filled, but preference will be given to those candidates who apply on or before Thursday, October 1, 2026. The Roundtable will contact only those applicants invited to interview. 

Initial candidate interviews will be conducted via Zoom meeting (https://zoom.us/) culminating in an in-person interview at our Manhattan Office. The NYC Arts in Education Roundtable can also provide candidates with reasonable accommodations, as needed. Please note, the Roundtable will not use AI to review or screen applications as part of this hiring process.

Commitments to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: 

The New York City Arts in Education Roundtable is committed to equity, inclusion, and justice. We acknowledge our complicity in the long history of systemic racism within our country and the institutions of power in our city. We will continue to work to dismantle white supremacy within our organizations, schools, and communities. We offer these commitments to our membership and the arts education field:

• The Roundtable is committed to eliminating barriers and revealing pathways to cultural equity and inclusion in arts education, through our programming and our membership.
• The Roundtable is committed to eliminating barriers to advancement for professionals from underrepresented communities.
• The Roundtable is committed to responsive listening and transparency so that not only are we sharing our “best practices” but our challenges and questions as well.
• The Roundtable is committed to advocating for professional wages, employment benefits and fair working conditions for arts education practitioners’ quality and standard of living.