Senior Director, Faculty & Creative Practice

Position Senior Director, Faculty and Creative Practice

Department: Arts Education

Reports To: Vice President

Status: Exempt / Full-Time

Supervises: Associate Director of Professional Learning and Training and Program Directors

Position Summary:

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Arts Education Department is seeking a Senior Director of Faculty and Creative Practice. The position is responsible for the artistic expression across department programs and, through that lens, develop pedagogy, curricula, training and initiatives that align with the department's vision and guiding principles.

The goal is to strengthen the community of artists, teachers, students, families and community members to establish a creative hub that promotes innovation and art making. The position will research the intersection of artistic practice, the classroom, and the community, specifically in jazz, theater, hip hop arts and culture, arts integration, and early childhood for PreK - high school. The Senior Director of Faculty and Creative Practice will possess and cultivate a faculty who develop a deep understanding of community-embedded art initiatives, collaborative cultural approaches, and inclusive arts education practices. In direct support of the Vice President and in collaboration with the other department

Directors and the Faculty Leads, the Senior Director of Faculty and Creative Practice will develop a participatory community for creative artistic and educational practice placing NJPAC and the Arts Education Department at the center of innovation, leadership, and excellence.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Subject to the policies and management directions established by the Vice President for Arts Education, the duties of the Senior Director of Faculty and Creative Practice shall include but are not limited to:

Program Development (40%)

● In collaboration with the Vice President, develop a creative and educational research agenda, including general operating plans and annual goals, objectives, and priorities for faculty leads and the breadth of the department programs.

● Lead the design and development of creative engagement, arts educational, and learning opportunities for programs and training that:

o Align with the Department's Mission, Strategic Plan, and broader organizational

priorities

o Leverages the assets of the Department

o Create visibility for Arts Education through innovative art-making and educational

approaches

o Incorporate instructional best practices to achieve optimal learning outcomes for

various stakeholders, including children, students, teachers, and community

members.

o Are feasible within organizational constraints and goals

o Reflect and enhance performing arts genres and the diversity and breadth of

contemporary issues

o Educate, inspire, and engage a broad range of students, faculty, and audiences

through a variety of program offerings, formats and platforms

o Drive participation, strengthen faculty and student experience, and deepen

connections to the varied communities of Newark in particular

● Think holistically about department programs and creative initiatives to make

informed choices about program creation and enhancements

● Spearhead creative initiatives to engage diverse communities.

● Establish an arts education faculty community that cultivates creative artistic

practices and/or scholarship that reflect inclusive excellence in the approaches to

creative research and arts education.

Program Management (40%)

● Cultivating a faculty community that sustains high retention and possesses a deep understanding of NJPAC teaching philosophy, excellent teaching practices, creative thinking and artistry, and strong collegiality.

● Responsible for maintaining a full and diverse roster of faculty.

● Work with Human Resources to recruit, hire, and onboard necessary faculty.

● In collaboration with the Senior Manager of Professional Development and Training, design and execute necessary training for the faculty to ensure knowledge of contemporary artistic approaches and sound pedagogical practices, including anti-racist, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approaches.

● Further develop, build, and manage partnerships with external stakeholders-cultural institutions, educational professionals, community groups & leaders, government agencies

●Monitor and measure the success and impact of programs and faculty teaching and artistic works.

● Develop marketing strategies for programs in collaboration with Marketing and

Communications staff so programs achieve maximum reach and educational impact

●Ensure market material accurately reflects the creative and educational goals of the programs.

Financial Management (20%)

● Create annual program budgets that align with department goals, priorities and strategic plans.

● Responsible for maintaining program expenses, ensuring accuracy and alignment with assigned budgets.

● Approve payroll hours, and track vendor contract invoicing and payments.

● Work with the Development team to apply for funding opportunities from individual, government, foundation, and corporate sources.

● Manage donor visits and provide necessary reports for funders.

Qualifications and Special Requirements:

● A significant artistic record, demonstrated by the creation and production of 15 + original works with youth or original professional works.

● A robust creative research portfolio and a fully developed perspective and practice regarding teaching and creating.

● Possess an active creative practice grounded in innovative performance, deep community engagement or creative placekeeping.

● An exceptional artist-teacher with 10+ year teaching experience and who is able to build upon the department programs and the creative strengths of the faculty.

● Strong understanding of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion implementation including anti-racist practices.

● Demonstrated dedication to the sustainability of art and culture in our society, as well as committed to social justice.

● At least six (6) years experience in a leadership and administrative capacity responsible for producing, presenting, managing staff, and budgeting arts training projects and performing arts events for an arts center or presenting organization.

● A broad and deep understanding of creative and innovative practice in performing arts presentation, production, and/or arts education.

● Demonstrated ability to create educational programs and pedagogy grounded in a creative work and process.

● A background as a teaching artist is preferred, and an interest in and ability to

participate in curriculum development, design, and revision is required.

● A significant interest in transdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge and appreciation of various forms of the performing and experimental arts.

● A track record of performing and/or presenting in conventional and non-traditional forums.

●Extensive experience in supervising staff and faculty including conducting evaluations and annual reviews.

● The capability to attract, mentor, and support exceptional faculty and students is essential.

● Knowledge of the current trends and transformations in the artistic professional landscape and educational industries.

● An openness to sharing with and receiving from, others -ideas, experience and knowledge.

● Superb organizational and communication skills, and detail orientated, and flexible.

● A love of teaching and learning and a strong belief that successful artists must have strong skills in entrepreneurship and management.

● Bi-lingual preferred, Spanish a plus

● Willingness to take on additional responsibilities as requested. Some evening and weekend hours required.

● Demonstrated command of computer skills including Salesforce and databases and specifically Microsoft Suite is required.

● Masters or Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or be able to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in a comparably rigorous, culturally or artistically-specific manner.

Please e-mail résumé/CV, cover letter, artist statement and teaching philosophy to

jobopportunities@njpac.org with the subject line SR. DIR FACULTY,CREATIVE PRACTICE.

NJPAC is an Equal Opportunity Employer