Associate Director of Education

JOB TITLE Associate Director of Education

REPORTS TO Director of Lifelong Learning & Education

DIRECT REPORT Education Associate

FLSA CLASS Exempt

SALARY $65,000 to $68,000 Annually

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Reporting to the Director of Lifelong Learning & Education, the Associate Director of Education provides key programmatic and operational leadership across the department and works closely with the Director in the planning and implementation of all education programming including Team Shakespeare Student Matinees, Shakespeare SLAM, student workshops, Bard Core professional development for teachers, and Lifelong Learning programming for the general public. The Associate Director of Education will manage daily departmental operations, programmatic excellence, and partnership and communications both internally and externally.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Program and Administrative Leadership

Department Operations

- Drive and lead day-to-day administration and operations of educational programming including SLAM, Student Matinees, Bard Core, and Lifelong Learning under the guidance of the Director of Education that align to the departments standards of customer service, accuracy, professionalism and welcome.

- Plan, organize, implement and evaluate the Shakespeare SLAM program; recruit, market and steward relationships with teacher coaches and grow number of schools involved in SLAM; produce final bout performance on the Jentes Family Courtyard Stage in collaboration with the Production and Front of House departments.

- Develop and train in databases and other technology tools used in the education department and CST to ensure full use of tools in the operations of the department.

Event and Production Management

- Manage and coordinate student matinees, SLAM, Bard Core and Lifelong Learning and other educational programs to ensure excellent staff preparation, communication and collaboration with various departments involved in education activities.

- Serve as a facilitator of post-show discussions on occasion; recruit and prepare actors and other facilitators for post-show discussions to interface with students and the general public that ensures a positive and respectful experience for everyone.

Staff and Teaching Artist Support

Supervision and Training

- Supervise and manage the Education Associate, providing guidance, support, and professional development.

- Contract Teaching Artists, process payments, ensure they have the schedule, logistics, agenda, materials and preparation for their scope of work to ensure strong program delivery.

- Work closely with Front of House and Operations staff to collaborate on Front of House staff training, and to prepare team for student groups that provide an excellent and welcoming experience.

Partnerships, Reporting and Communications

School Partnership and Service

- Build and manage strong relationships with school leaders, teachers, and other school partners, including recruitment of new and returning schools.

- Oversee and help with contact from school partners including booking student field trips and managing communications with school leads for various student programs.

Grants and Reporting

- Assist the Development Department with writing grant proposals, tracking program metrics, and compiling evaluation reports for funders.

- Provide information to Director of Lifelong Learning & Education for the preparation of regular impact reports to various departments for institutional storytelling and reports to funders that include annual impact report, media pitching and social media.

- Ensure compliance and maintain records related to fulfilling requirements as a professional development provider in affiliation with the Illinois State Board of Education and Chicago Public Schools.

Stakeholder Communication

- Provide excellent customer service in daily interactions with teachers and students by phone and email, as well as in person, that is welcoming, patient and responsive. Document contacts in Tessitura database to ensure a consistent experience.

- Plan, create and implement education communications materials, including marketing materials, teacher handbooks, workshop materials, production program supplemental information (as needed). Collaborate with marketing and communications staff to plan and create marketing materials to promote educational programs to target audiences to increase participation in programming.

- Serve as an advocate and champion for the educational programs and identify links and opportunities to highlight the program in other departments efforts.

- Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE AND ESSENTIAL SKILLS

- Three years of work experience in arts and culture education program administration and an understanding of schools and school systems.

- Demonstrated experience in exemplary program management, organizational, and systems-keeping skills.

- Strong organizational, time management and prioritization skills.

- Supervisory experience leading a team.

- Outstanding customer service and an ability to cultivate and sustain long term relationships with principals, teachers, school administrators, teaching artists and co-workers.

- Excellent writing and communication skills.

- Creative and resourceful problem solver who exercises sound judgement and remains poised under pressure.

- Passion for arts education and creating engaging and inclusive learning experiences for young people and adults.

- Advanced proficiency in MS Office Suite; desktop publishing is a plus.

- Experience with databases. Tessitura database is a plus.

- Ability to work frequent Saturdays and some evening hours when education programs are scheduled, with an emphasis on the first semester of the school year.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

- Work hours are generally 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

- Frequent Saturdays and some evening hours when education programs are scheduled.

- Worksite is primarily at the CST facilities on Navy Pier in Chicago but will at times work in other locations such as the Chicago area schools, City Parks, and other off-site performance venues.

PHYSICAL DEMAND

- Ability to load and unload 25-lb bins that hold snacks, workshop materials, props, etc.

- Ability to set up registration tables for workshops.

- Ability to sit/stand at a desk for extended periods of time.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

CST is dedicated to increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in our audiences, our programs and in all our hiring for staff and artists. We are committed to providing a work environment that is free from discrimination. CST prohibits discrimination in employment against any employee or job applicant because of that persons race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, membership in a local human rights commission or any other legally protected status.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.