AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

MUSIC CENTER
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Research and Evaluation Director

The Music Center - Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County, home to Southern California's iconic venues -- Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum and Walt Disney Concert Hall -- is the gateway to the finest performing arts for all who live in or visit Los Angeles County. A leader on the international stage, the Music Center is redefining what it means to experience the performing arts by presenting the most compelling, highest quality engagements; ensuring that audiences of all ages are introduced to the arts; and extending the reach, accessibility and impact of everything it hosts, inside and outside its four venues.

As one of the most highly respected performing arts centers in the United States, the Music Center each year attracts nearly two million people to its four venues as well as to its outdoor theaters, plazas and gardens. The Music Center is home to four internationally acclaimed resident companies: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Center Theatre Group, LA Opera and Los Angeles Master Chorale. In addition, the Music Center produces a wide range of its own programming, including Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center, Active Arts at the Music Center and Global Pop at the Music Center, along with special productions and events for children and families throughout the year. It also provides extensive services as well as regional and national leadership to support arts education in grades K-12.

The position will provide in-house services and expertise on program research, needs assessment, evaluation design and methodologies, program monitoring, and outcome measurement, including serving as a resource to other staff, contributing significant subject matter expertise in the areas of arts education and program design.

Working under the general direction of and reporting to Vice President for Education, the successful candidate will work closely with Education programming staff; and maintain frequent contact with Director of Education and Director of School Programs. In collaboration with school programs staff, will interact with teachers, principals, and school district administrators in developing models for program design and collecting data over the course of a given project.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
This position will be responsible for overseeing and implementing evaluation and research projects on Music Center programs, analyzing and reporting methods and results, conducting evaluation studies, measuring program effectiveness and progression over successive years, and creating online and other presentations that summarize and highlight the quality and impact of Music Center programs.

Program Support

* Define program assessment plans and arrange for embedding external assessment measures

* Conduct and report program effectiveness analyses

* Use program effectiveness data to inform program development processes

* Identify and recommend appropriate methods, instruments, and processes for collecting and managing project-specific data and information

Customer Service

* Visit schools and attend Music Center events on a regular basis to evaluate programs

* Will serve as a knowledgeable contact with external evaluators to facilitate and coordinate collection and sharing of relevant data.

* Develop and maintain a data management system for evaluation materials and findings.

Communications

* Prepare presentations (briefs, white papers, executive summaries, research reports, etc.) that summarize the key aspects and impacts of a given program. These may include but not be limited to pages for the website, PowerPoint slides, written documents, and/or video summaries. Presentations should use graphs, charts, and other visual tools to assist in communicating essential ideas and/or findings.

* Collaborate with Music Center colleagues both informally and through committees to provide constructive feedback on Music Center programming, strategic goals and objectives, and mission and vision statements.

Grant Support
Collaborate with Development staff to compile evaluation-related information for grant proposals and for reporting results to funders.

Required Qualifications & Desired Skills include:
A Masters degree in educational research, measurement, evaluation, or related field; Undergraduate degree in an arts discipline, arts administration or Education, or equivalent course work and work experience. Recent familiarity with arts education issues, K-12 education, outreach programming and related issues. Successful candidate will have a deep knowledge of research methodology, statistical analysis, and measurement. Experience conducting applied research studies; Programming experience in at least one major statistical package (SPSS, SAS, or EzAnalyze). Must have the ability to handle multiple priorities under time-restricted conditions along with a demonstrated ability to work as a team player and to treat staff and constituents respectfully. Strong organizational, communication, presentation skills, and solid writing skills.

Salary range: $70,000 - $75,000 a year commensurate with experience.

How to Apply:
To be fully considered for this position please email your cover letter, resume, and salary history to jobs@musiccenter.org or fax to: (213) 972-0721. Please include the name of the position in the subject line. No telephone inquiries.

www.musiccenter.org

Equal Opportunity Employer

from LA Culture Net