Arts Education and Community Engagement Manager, VPAC

The Vail Valley Foundation seeks a passionate professional to lead all education and engagement programs across multiple performing arts projects of the organization. This position works actively with relevant staff, local school districts, artists, and community partners to develop, implement, and/or sustain arts education programs. The Arts Education and Community Engagement Manager creates and manages programs that foster community, inspire deeper engagement and offer people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures connection to performing arts. The individual executes strategies to increase access and opportunities for youth, families, and community members, especially those with barriers to the arts. This position works closely with the leadership of the Vilar Performing Arts Center (VPAC) and YouthPower365, and reports to the VPAC Programming & Artist Relations Manager.

Program Development and Management:

• Develop, manage and expand VPAC’s STARS Program (Support The Arts Reaching Students) performances and the Community Arts Access program for VPAC and Vail Dance Festival (VDF).
• Coordinate and execute classroom visits, community engagements and YouthPower365 arts enrichment efforts with artists presented by VPAC.
• Collaboratively support and/or enhance performing arts experiences and exposure in after–school and summer programs for youth.
• Manage and grow VPAC’s Community Use Fund program, soliciting new applicants and developing collaborative opportunities with local performing arts organizations to develop youth in our community.
• Support administrative responsibilities related to YouthPower365’s arts education efforts, including sign–ups, scheduling and logistics.
• Develop and sustain a high–quality arts internship and apprentice program for high school students in arts administration and technical theater production.
• Cultivate innovation and experimentation in developing or enhancing programs that encourage new audiences to explore, engage with and learn from the performing arts.
• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with schools, community organizations and other stakeholders to enhance program offerings and resources.
• Identify and support family–focused and bicultural performances.
  Procure and distribute relevant curriculum and/or education components for arts programming.
• Create and implement strategies to expand and remove barriers to arts access for diverse populations internally and externally of the organization.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and quality for continuous improvement and maintain detailed records of impact.
• Executive administrative responsibilities including scheduling, coordination, expense reconciliation and others.
• Foster a positive and collaborative work environment that promotes creativity innovation, and inclusion.
• Coordinate marketing requests to promote arts education and community engagement efforts.
• Liaise with the Development department to strategize potential funding for this work.
• Manage, track, and allocate program budget.
• Ad hoc projects as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent, preferred, in community engagement, education and the arts.
• Background and passion in the performing arts highly preferred.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience working with youth.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience as a manager or project lead.
• Familiarity with VVF arts and education mission and operations.
• Knowledge of the Valley and our local community.
• Exceptional cross–cultural skills displayed through the ability to understand, communicate, and effectively engage with people across cultures.
• Excellent public speaking and written communication skills.
• Strong project management skills and experience.
• Evidence of leadership and strong self–initiative.
• Extremely detail-oriented and team–oriented.
• An ability to thrive in a high-paced work environment, dedication to following a timeline and ensuring tasks are done on–time and with fidelity.
• Eagerness to provide support to the greater Vail Valley Foundation staff and work collaboratively towards collective goals/outcomes.
• Experience with or capacity to learn Microsoft Office Suite and other database systems.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to successfully pass a Motor Vehicle background check.
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with middle school students preferred
  • Spanish conversational skills preferred

Our employees are a critical part of who we are as an organization and, as such, we see our employees’ safety and wellness as an important priority. As a result, we offer an array of employee benefits as part of our all-encompassing Wellness Program. Some of those benefits include:

• Affordable HDHP employee and family health insurance plan
• Premium free dental plan
• Premium free vision plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account with company match
• 401k retirement plans with company match
• Basic life insurance
• Short and long term disability plans
• Paid time off: 4+ weeks accrual on year 1
• Volunteer paid time off
• Employee Assistance Program
• Added Perks:
  • Free employee ski pass
  • Tickets to shows at the VPAC and The Amp
  • Discounts at the GFRA concessions
  • Tuition reimbursement