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JOB POSTING (April 26, 2018)

Director of Programs

OPENING ACT | Brooklyn, NY

Organizational Background

Opening Act was founded in 2000 to address a clear need for teens attending the most under-served public high schools in New York City to feel a greater sense of empowerment and purpose in life. Our founders were actors and educators who knew they could offer students more opportunities, through theater, to develop leadership and communication skills, build self-confidence, and gain a strong sense of community. Since inception, we have grown to reach over 3,000 teens. Today, our free, year-long, after school theater program serves 50 schools throughout New York City, including our newest partnership with the city’s alternative school district, where we are working with young people who are formerly incarcerated, homeless, and/or teen parents. Opening Act targets the city’s highest need schools with disproportionately less access to resources than other schools in the system. These high schools are often flagged by the DOE as “under-performing” and are at risk of closure. We specifically reach out to schools with lower than average graduation rates (as few as 33% of students graduating in 4 years) and an evident lack of theater programming. Opening Act’s flagship program is the full-year After-School Theater Program that teaches improvisation, acting technique, and writing exercises to help students unleash their creativity, foster collaboration, and develop leadership and problem-solving skills. Programs culminate in original productions created and performed by the students in professional Off-Broadway theaters. Our students create thoughtful and reflective narratives about issues they feel are important to explore, ranging from police brutality to economic inequity to love and family dynamics. We say YES to our students’ powerful stories and voices.

In addition to our After-School Programs, Opening Act offers a Summer Leadership and Arts Conservatory, College and Career Readiness Program, Student Leadership Company, and Alumni Network.

Growth & Strategic Plans

Opening Act has been on a consistent growth trajectory, doubling its revenue in just the past two years, and increasing its partnering schools to 50 high schools. The 2017-2018 school year began an exciting 3-year Strategic Plan in which Opening Act is deepening its work in the city’s alternative school district, launching a new program - Act 2 – to support our students in successfully navigating the transition to college and work, and piloting our first-ever middle school program. At this time, when so many of the issues Opening Act’s work addresses - social justice, education, the arts, equity - are gaining urgency because of national events, our programming is especially critical and relevant. Opening Act is at a pivotal and compelling moment as an organization and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to welcome a new Director of Programs to play a critical role in our next stage.

Job Summary

Opening Act seeks a Director of Programs to join its highly collaborative and invested team of professionals.

The ideal candidate:

is deeply committed to the mission of Opening Act

is a visionary leader

is a phenomenal manager

has a fearless commitment to and accountability for the success of Opening Act’s programs

We are looking for a self-motivated, passionate, organized, and visionary leader who possesses excellent interpersonal communication skills, strong personal accountability, fastidious follow-through, and a commitment to the core values of the organization: Showing Up, Respecting, Listening, Yes and-ing, Including, & Empowering.

The Director of Programs is responsible for the successful visioning and execution of all Opening Act programming which includes core after-school theater programs on 19 campuses serving 50 schools, Opening Act’s expansion effort with District 79: NYC’s alternative school district, the Student Leadership Company, the Summer Arts and Leadership Conservatory, Act 2 College and Career Readiness Program, and the Opening Act Alumni Network. This dynamic position involves supervising four full-time program staff and a part-time Alumni Fellow, as well as supporting 30 part-time teaching artists who work remotely in our NYC public high school campuses located primarily in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Manhattan. The Director of Programs is a senior leadership position and reports directly to the Executive Director of the organization.

Qualifications include:

Passionate and demonstrated commitment to the mission of Opening Act

Commitment to social justice and anti-racism practice

Minimum of 3-5 years experience as a teaching artist and/or equivalent programmatic position

(curriculum development experience a plus)

The ability to effectively direct and supervise organizational initiatives with many moving parts, including

the ability to operate as an effective tactical as well as strategic thinker

Excellent verbal & written communication skills - facilitator of conversations between stakeholders and

key players (including developing and maintaining positive relationships with school administrators,

parents, students, partner organizations, board, donors, and volunteers)

Extremely detailed-oriented and highly organized

Demonstrates initiative and problem-solving skills

Strong time management with ability to prioritize responsibilities and meet deadlines

Flexible and willing to shift priorities when circumstances require

Experience with metrics and outcomes for program assessment

Experience mentoring peers in a professional setting

Background in theater, improv, devised work or similar discipline

Comfort in a small, fast-paced entrepreneurial environment

A strong work ethic is required; must work well in a collaborative team environment that is supportive of

team members’ accomplishments

A positive outlook and a sense of humor

In addition: Strong proficiency in Microsoft applications (Word and Excel required), Google Suite, and all social

media platforms. Experience with the NYC DOE as well as in a startup, non-profit, or social enterprise a plus.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Strategy, Vision, and Leadership: Demonstrate strong and dynamic leadership; Bring experienced vision to all Opening Act programs, ensuring each individual program has the strongest design possible while simultaneously ensuring programs work together to achieve the organization’s mission; Fearlessly seek and develop partnerships and opportunities to deepen program impact; Connect Opening Act to the larger arts education and equity communities.

Management: Bring a proven record of successfully developing other leaders; Live out the core values of Opening Act in management style (Showing Up, Respecting, Listening, Yes And-ing, Including, & Empowering); Support success of team through thoughtful and clear project management; Support fellow Program staff to establish ambitious but attainable goals, helping them to root ideas in the larger vision of the organization; Build a collaborative, generous and trusting work environment among the Program team; Be truly collaborative and generous in spirit; Encourage a growth mindset in others; Identify problems and examine structural issues creating them; Hold people accountable to deadlines, goals, and benchmarks; Collaborate with Director of Operations and Communications in setting Teaching Artist HR systems; Constantly seek to learn.

Program Success: Be ultimately responsible for the success of all programs; Bring a constant fire and self-motivated urgency to advance the work; Stay on budget; Ensure timely collection and analysis of impact data; Support the Executive Director and Director of Development where programs and development intersect. Opening Act values and welcomes diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages all qualified persons to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

This position requires some evening and weekend work as well as travel to various program sites during the school year.

Classification: Full time

Reports To: Executive Director

Compensation

Opening Act offers a competitive salary of $70,000-$80,000 based on experience, plus a benefits package including paid time off, health and dental insurance, 403b plan, professional development and wellness stipends, self care/we care plans, and paid parental leave. In addition, Opening Act’s employees work with a talented team of individuals who are committed to living out Opening Act’s core values of our programs in the workplace:

Respect

Showing Up

Listening

YES And-ing

Empowering

Including

To Apply

Please complete the following application form - https://bit.ly/2HvyQeP - and include a resume and thoughtful cover letter that addresses how Opening Act’s mission and work aligns with your worldview and how your background and experience will prove critical to Opening Act achieving arts equity for all young people. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. No phone calls please. We will contact only those applicants with whom we plan to set up an interview.

Application Deadline: May 14, 2018

Start Date: late June/early July

For more info on Opening Act: www.openingact.org