Inner-City Artsis a multi-disciplinary arts campus located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, serving over 7,500 children, youth, teachers and families during the school day, after school and on weekends. We believe that engagement in creativity and the arts are the cornerstone of a well-rounded education that levels the learning field across socioeconomic boundaries. Inner-City Arts is an oasis of learning, achievement and creativity in the heart of Skid Row, and a vital partner in the work of creating a safer, healthier Los Angeles. Since it was founded in 1989, Inner-City Arts has brought transformative arts opportunities to children and youth living in the city’s poorest neighborhoods.

Inner-City Arts is seeking an experienced Director of Youth Programs who is responsible for all activities associated with the creation, scheduling, supervision, and evaluation of youth programs, ages 13-18 years. Working with Inner-City Arts leadership and teaching staff, the Director of Youth Programs oversees the further development of the Visual & Performing Arts Institutes, designed for middle and high school students, taking place year-round at the center. The Director of Youth Programs plays a key role in the management of programs serving youth, their families, school teachers, and communities. This position reports to the Director of Education.

Responsibilities include:

Plans youth programming – envisioning innovative approaches — utilizing both the most current research in the arts education and youth development fields. Work with executive leadership and staff to design cohesive and comprehensive youth development programs in the arts for youth, ages 13-18 years, including the Visual and Performing Arts Institutes for middle and high schools students;
Fosters relationships among community organizations, local schools, businesses and other community youth and education programs to enhance the development of the programs;
Creates pathways for each department of the Institutes (Media Arts, Visual Arts, Performing Arts), developing overall content and direction of program;
Recruits appropriate talent of teaching artists and cultivates team of teaching artists and program staff to meet the needs of the expanding program;
Develops and implements planning and project management processes to ensure the effective coordination and integration of the youth programs, including creating schedules for classes and workshops, and all recruitment materials;
Creates and execute comprehensive recruitment and enrollment plan for youth programming;
Provides support to executive leadership and staff in the areas of planning, management, program execution and communications;
Envisions culture of Visual and Performing Arts Institutes that aligns with organizational brand and strategic growth direction;

Provides day to day oversight and management of institutes, including facility coordination, administration and management of staff; collaborates with programs management team to ensure the effective coordination of program schedules and related events;
Documents students’ progress to monitor their work and evaluates organization’s programmatic efforts; and
Works with the “Work of Art” program and Manager to provide cohesive planning of both programs, including planning of collaborative events.

Qualifications:

The Director of Youth Programs must be an outstanding communicator, manager, strategist and leader in the arts education or youth development fields. Essential is a deep commitment to the welfare of youth and the critical role that the arts play in their development, as well as a deep belief in the transformative power of creativity and the arts. The Director of Youth Programs must have the capacity to thrive in a fast-paced work environment that values vitality, integrity and flexibility. This individual must have the skill to maintain and build excellent working relationships with leaders in the arts and youth development communities. Additional

Qualifications:

8 years prior experience in design and management of youth programs;
8 years prior experience in teaching the arts to youth in the fields of the arts, education or youth programming;
Excellent organization and time management skills, interpersonal and relationship-building skills, communication and problem solving skills, and forward-planning, strategy and leadership skills desired.

Full-time position including evenings, early mornings or weekend hours.

How to apply

Mail/Fax/Email resume and cover letter to: Human Resources, Inner-City Arts Attn: Director of Youth Programs application, 720 Kohler Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021;

Fax: 213-627-6469; Email info@inner-cityarts.org. No calls please.