The Crucible has begun our search for a new Director of Programs! The ideal candidate for this role has direct experience both with the industrial arts, and program administration. We are also looking for understanding and experience supporting equity and inclusion in a changing institution with over 150 staff and faculty through their programmatic role and their leadership approach.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to make a huge impact at the largest industrial arts nonprofit in the country.

See the complete job description for the Director of Programs and details on how to apply below.

2021 Director of Programs Job Description

Job Title: Director of Programs 

Reports To: Executive Director 

Status: Exempt 

Date:  April 2, 2021

Closes: Open until filled

Background

The Crucible inspires creative exploration and expression through welcoming, hands-on arts education and experiences for people of diverse ages and backgrounds. As an innovative non-profit hub built around the industrial arts, The Crucible is a catalyst for individual growth and vibrant community connections. A leader in the Bay Area arts community, The Crucible is recognized for exceptional learning experiences, rich and varied arts programs, skilled and committed faculty, and amazing educational facilities. Want to work in a quirky, joyful place focused on the arts? Reach out to us to learn more!

Job summary

One of the Director-level jobs at The Crucible, the Director of Programs role has three distinct management areas, with staff that supports each area: Class programs, volunteer programs, and community programs. Each of these areas plays a critical role in achieving our mission of making the industrial arts accessible to all, regardless of income. The ideal candidate for this role has direct experience both with the industrial arts, and program administration. We are also looking for understanding and experience supporting equity and inclusion in a changing institution with over 150 staff and faculty through their programmatic role and their leadership approach. 

As the lead for our class programs, the Director works with the class programs team, and department heads/faculty to develop and offer classes and workshops for youth, adults, and families, including our Fuego youth leadership program, and private workshops, school programs, and community. This role involves supporting a team focused on class development, scheduling, recruitment, staffing and professional development, class management, sales, customer experience, and faculty support. This role also has revenue responsibility both for meeting our budgets and targets and supporting scholarship recruitment and fund distribution. All of our classes, programs, and workshops offered at The Crucible are supervised by this role. 

This role also supports our volunteer and events programs team, making sure we are successful in recruiting, scheduling, crediting, and orienting Crucible volunteers at all skill levels, and overseeing their professional development, and organizing thank you opportunities for our volunteers. This role also works with the team to co-curate planning and artist selection for key events and programs such as GIFTY, Open Houses, and artists talks, and our CREATE program (in partnership with Studio).

Finally, the Director of Programs works with our community programs team, supporting programs that depend on grant and individual donor funding to make Crucible experiences accessible to all. This team works on a variety of outreach and engagement events, including our participation in the Life is Living, and East Bay Mini Maker Faire programs and our onsite and offsite programs for local schools, our open houses, craft entrepreneurship programs, and studio apprentice and arts residencies programs. All public art partnerships and projects live in this team as well. 

Responsibilities

Class, workshop, program, and faculty support and development

• Work with team and department heads to plan, manage, schedule, and staff our educational programs, especially classes, workshops, and off-site activities. Support your team to make sure our classes and programs offer exceptional user experience, quality instruction, measurable learning, and skills building, and make everyone feel seen, welcome, and comfortable.
• Lead and manage department budgets, revenue goals, and revenue projections 
• Work with marketing/ecommerce to drive sales and outreach for our classes and programs.
• Recruit and retain department heads and faculty aligned with the core mission of The Crucible as an industrial arts school and resource for artists accessible to all.
• Support professional development and a welcoming environment that makes The Crucible more welcome and inclusive of local Oakland residents, local communities of color, women, and LGBTQIA folks.
• Maintain and improve access for our arts community to our studios, including faculty, CREATE members, Crucible members, Level 3 volunteers, and others.

Volunteer and CREATE programs and outreach events

• Oversee and support our active volunteer program and our CREATE studio access program(in partnership with Studio).
• Partner with program manager on recruiting, scheduling, crediting, and orienting Crucible volunteers at all skill levels.
• Co-curate planning, logistics, day-of coordination, and artist selection for key events and programs such as GIFTY, Open Houses, artists talks.
• Manage box office operations for any ticketed events. 

Community programs

• Partner with community programs team to develop, execute, assess and improve community programs that provide valuable arts and career pathway experiences, especially for our Oakland neighbors, and for BIPOC families and individuals. 
• Help evaluate, secure, plan, budget, and execute community-based and public art programs, including  Life is Living, East Bay Mini Maker Faire programs, and public art projects with Civic Design Lab and E14 Gallery, among others. 
• Support this team’s outreach to local schools and community groups, and maintain partnerships around existing and future programs, such as programs with McClymonds High School.
• Maintain strong relationships with the Oakland Unified School District, WOCC, Lincoln Family Services, Centro partners, Mandela Partners, and other community partners
• Oversee and develop relationships with Bay area artists, makers, and educators to support arts inclusion and entrepreneurship
• Support the planning of new programs, including a studio apprentice pathway, bike entrepreneurship, and more BIPOC local representation at GIFTY.

Financial and Operations 

• Manage budgets, work with Executive Director and CFO to manage revenue goals, and develop data-driven recommendations, including income projections, optimum studio usage, course activity, and enrollment projections 
• Analyze and contrast earned income potential between studio uses for Crucible programs, which include: youth summer camps, adult classes, team building activities, facility rentals, workforce development, and events 
• Use our Salesforce CRM and other data-driven tools to analyze class interest and performance. 
• Work in conjunction with Finance and programs team on the development and oversight of program budgets, guiding resource allocation and resource deployment

The ideal candidate is a well-organized problem-solver with a resilient temperament who enjoys working in a collegial, matrixed team, and has the desire to build a collaborative and inclusive culture among arts workers and learners. A passion for community empowerment, economic development, and personal expression through the arts, a commitment to developing staff skills and talents, and the ability to manage change and iterate will make this role successful. 

This position requires some on-site evening, night, and weekend work, including some program supervision during Spring and Summer holidays.

Position Requirements

• Minimum of five years of relevant program management experience as a creative lead in an execution-based setting – preferably with an established arts education nonprofit organization or equivalent setting
• Personal maker, creative or artistic practice a huge plus
• Experience managing budgets and hitting revenue goals
• Management or coaching experience, ideally with teams of creative personalities with a wide range of experiences
• Ability to prioritize, and manage multiple projects 
• Works effectively under pressure, react quickly, and meet tight deadlines
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback 
• Strong personal values around deep listening, authenticity, and integrity
• Familiar with Oakland and engaged in the Oakland community in some way
• Approaches work with an equity and inclusion lens
• Proficient with email, Google Drive/G Suite tools, Excel
• Experience with Salesforce highly recommended
• Comfortable with a metrics-driven approach to evaluation
• Ability to lift 35 pounds, current valid CA driver’s license, and ability to drive a car if needed

Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt position based in Oakland, California. We offer competitive pay and benefits, paid time off, and more. Our work environment is casual, upbeat, professional, and fun. 

The Crucible is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all persons, especially those who bring the benefits of diversity to the organization. Women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQIA, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Please email cover letter, resume, and three reference contacts (PDF format) to human.resources@thecrucible.org. 

Subject line: Director of Programs

No faxes or calls, please!