The Organization:

Harlem Stage, hailed by The New York Times as “an invaluable incubator of talent,” catalyzes the profound influence Harlem has had on American arts and culture to foster talent, commission new performing arts work, uplift a diversity of perspectives, and create opportunities for artists of color to freely explore and innovate in ways that are relevant and socially significant. Housed in a historically landmarked building known as the Gatehouse, with a seating capacity of 150 people, and boasting five MacArthur Genius Fellowship and two Pulitzer Prize awardees among its artistic family, Harlem Stage’s mission has been to bridge the rich and diverse artistic legacy of Harlem to contemporary artists of color. Among core programs offered are its celebrated WaterWorks commissioning program for established and emerging artists; a multi-disciplinary presentation series including its monthly Uptown Nights music series, its long-running E-Moves dance series, and theater, poetry, film, and multimedia offerings; and Dive Deeper, an artist conversation series that provides insight into the artistic process behind works presented on the Harlem Stage season.

Education at Harlem Stage:

The work of the Education Department is inspired by the deep artistic history of the arts in Harlem and by live performances at Harlem Stage. We believe that by engaging young people and community members as artists and with artists of color, we are continuing the legacy of Harlem arts as a catalyst for change. Our programs, on-site and at a network of partner schools and sites, strive to be community-informed and accessible, inviting students, teachers, families, and community members to engage in the arts. The nationally recognized education programs connect visiting artists with audiences and all of our constituents to the performing arts through workshops, adult education programs, community engagement activities, and a Professional Training Program, including fellowships and internships.

The Position: Education & Community Engagement Manager

Harlem Stage is seeking an experienced Education & Community Engagement Manager to align education programs with a recently completed strategic plan that aims to expand live and digital presentation formats in NYC and in communities beyond. The Education & Community Engagement Manager will work closely with Programming to align education efforts with what is presented on the stage and with the priority education areas recently identified by a team of staff and community members. Harlem Stage aims to deepen and diversify its education offerings, serve more students and audiences annually, engage with community consistently, and develop programs and curricula according to best practices.

Position:

Reporting to the Managing Director, and working with a broad spectrum of staff members, the Education & Community Engagement Manager is a critical member of the Education and Programming departments.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Community Engagement:

• Research and build relationships with community organizations in and around Harlem to identify potential partnerships
• Design and manage the Frances Davis Arts Education Program in schools, for adults, and in the community

School Programs:

• Work with Programming team to identify annual themes in the presented work to inform teaching artist program content in schools
• Find potential new schools with which to partner
• Supervise, schedule, and ensure timely payment of teaching artists
• Coordinate with schools to create, plan, and implement programs

Professional Training Programs:

• Facilitate Harlem Stage’s Fellowship and Internship programs designed to support people of color’s skill building in one of four (4) areas of arts administration: Performing Arts Programming, Fundraising and Development, Organizational Management, and Marketing and Communications
• Build staff capacity to mentor participants in the 6-month fellowship program
• Ensure school-year and summer internship programs across the organization run smoothly

Alumni Engagement:

• Connect with and build a network of alumni of Harlem Stage education programs
• Actively find ways to include alumni as a resource to current education programs

Other responsibilities:

• Manage the budget for the Education & Community Engagement program
• Work in collaboration with Development staff to identity new funding sources for the Education & Community Engagement program
• Ensure documentation of all programs for reporting and proposal writing purposes, including photo and video
• Coordinate with Marketing staff to promote Education programs
• Work with Programming staff to brainstorm and create online activities to support the Harlem Stage season
• Ensure participant and teaching artist assessment of all programs in order to stay current and impactful in the work

Essential Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree; graduate degree preferred
• Experience administering and assessing arts education and/or community engagement programs
• Capacity to communicate educational and artistic goals for all programs
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal skills in English
• Highly motivated with excellent time management, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Must manage tasks independently with strong attention to detail
• Experience with budget preparation and budget management practices
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
• Ability to work with and build consensus within a team
• Candidates must be able to work select evenings and weekends as required
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel) and Google Docs
• Interest in, or knowledge of the performing arts, arts education, or arts and culture
• Experience working with artists

Additional preferred experience:

• Experience mentoring and coaching young people and early career professionals
• Fluency in Spanish or another language a plus
• Experience working with individuals and/or groups with disabilities a plus
• Experience with or interest in online videos and digital content a plus

To Apply:

Please send a cover letter outlining how your experience is a fit for this position, and a resume, to Eric Oberstein, Managing Director, at eoberstein@harlemstage.org.

Please put “Harlem Stage Education & Community Engagement Manager” in the subject line of your e-mail application.