Job Posting: Program Manager

Published: October 31, 2024

Categories: Jobs & Internships

Position overview

Position: Program Manager
Reports to: Program Director
Location: Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA
Position type: Full-Time at 40 hours/week, Overtime-eligible
Salary: $55,000-$65,000 DOE; The candidate will start within the low to mid-range of the salary scale.
Ideal Start Date: January 27, 2025

Benefits: Artist Trust prioritizes work/life balance, and self/community care. We offer 22 days of vacation and holiday time in the first year of employment, including 10 days accrued paid vacation, at least 10 paid holidays (including paid vacation from December 25-January 1), and 2 paid personal floating holidays; Artist Trust also offers accrued sick leave and family leave. Vacation accrual increases after the 1st and 4th year of employment, and four weeks of additional paid sabbatical is offered in the 7th year. We offer group medical, long-term disability, life insurance, and employer-matched retirement plan at no cost, professional development support for each staff member, and a flexible schedule and hours.

Overview of Position: The Program Manager addresses the diverse needs of Washington State artists by overseeing the development, implementation, and evaluation of workshops, events, and resources. This role also supports grantmaking and co-leads a board committee. Reporting to the Program Director, the Program Manager fosters community among artists and partners, ensuring programs align with Artist Trust’s mission and strategic priorities, while contributing to both annual and long-term goals.

About Artist Trust: Artist Trust is a nonprofit organization that supports working artists of all disciplines in Washington State. We fuel our funding and other programs for artists through fundraising, partnership, and community engagement. Recognized as a national model for direct funding and professional development for working artists, we have invested over $15 million in individual artists since our founding in 1986. At Artist Trust, all team members help shape our organization’s strategy and culture in a hardworking yet joyful environment that prioritizes collaboration, trust, accountability, and care. We view our mission through a lens of racial and geographic equity and are actively working to become an anti-racist organization and build a leaderful workplace. We invite you to learn more by visiting artisttrust.org.

Core responsibilities

Program Development and Artist Support

  • Create, manage, and implement Artist Trust’s programs in accordance with organizational strategy and annual goals, including creating timelines and processes, monitoring budgets and expenses, and recruiting, training, and managing program facilitators.
  • Deliver virtual and in-person programs including workshops, Office Hours, town halls, events, online resources, and artist surveys, with a focus on racial equity and geographic reach.
  • Collaborate with the Program Director and contractors to develop and update curriculum and online resources that support artists’ career development and respond to current needs.
  • Pursue outreach and engagement opportunities to build relationships with artists, arts professionals, and partner organizations to increase program visibility and accessibility.
  • Partner with Program Director to create strategies to increase earned income and program partnerships and align program plans with the requirements of secured funding.
  • Document programs and events with a focus on capturing artist stories for external communications, and collaborate with communications team to edit, maintain, and manage online content.
  • Keep apprised of best practices in the field of career support for individual artists through organizational relationships, conferences, workshops, and research.
  • Collaborate with the Program Director on annual program and evaluation plans.
  • Other duties as assigned by Program Director.

Organizational Culture, Racial Equity, and Strategy

  • Participate in staff meetings, the Strategic Vision/Stewardship and Racial Equity committees, and annual organizational retreat, and attend community events.
  • Attend meetings, organizational learning sessions, and other opportunities to shape our organizational culture and strategic direction.
  • Grow and apply the skills and practices needed to create an inclusive organizational culture including clear and kind communication, giving and receiving feedback, mutual accountability, and self-care and boundaries.
  • Collaborate with staff in making strategic decisions.
  • Support teams as needed.

Values Alignment

  • Deeply committed to racial equity and willing to view your work through an anti-oppression lens.
  • Passionate about supporting artists in communities throughout Washington State.
  • Values collaboration, open and honest communication, and giving, receiving, and incorporating feedback.
  • Resourcefulness, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, adapt to change, and anticipate opportunities.

Qualifications

  • Minimum three years’ experience in one or more of the following: creative programming, program management at a nonprofit organization, experience teaching or facilitating workshops, curriculum design, outreach and/or community engagement.
  • Personal or professional connection to Washington State artists and familiarity with arts communities across disciplines, geographies, and ethnicities.
  • Strong project management and organization skills with the ability to prioritize multiple projects, events, and deadlines, and a keen attention to detail.
  • Ability to apply best practices in artist support programming.
  • Demonstrated understanding of the challenges individual artists face, with proven ability to provide compassionate, emotionally intelligent, and culturally competent support.
  • Confidence using nonprofit databases and CRM software; direct experience using Salesforce and Submittable is a plus.
  • Experience using Microsoft programs (SharePoint, Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.).
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to be kind and welcoming while representing your area of work and expertise to Artist Trust’s community, staff, and Board.
  • Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgement in managing daily workload and remain accountable to achieving goals and completing tasks.
  • Availability for occasional statewide travel, events, and evening/weekend meetings.
  • Valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.

Our Commitment to Racial Equity: Artist Trust is committed to racial equity throughout our organization, working against systems of racism and engaging in partnership with our Black, Indigenous, and people of color artist community to truly fulfill our mission to support all artists in Washington State. All staff and members of our Board of Trustees sign a commitment to anti-racism and are encouraged to regularly have discussions and share resources about racial equity, power, privilege, and positionality, and participate in trainings and race-based caucusing. To learn more visit: artisttrust.org/about/commitment-to-racial-equity.

How to apply

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to hiring@artisttrust.org with the subject: Program Manager

Hiring Process: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications submitted by Monday, November 25 will receive priority review. Our goal is to update all applicants by mid-December on the status of the hiring process. During the interview process, Artist Trust will request references and clearance for a background check. We appreciate your interest in the position and invite your questions at hiring@artisttrust.org.

Current Work Environment: Artist Trust maintains a physical office in Seattle’s Capitol Hill Arts District. Our work happens in artist communities statewide. Artist Trust currently maintains a hybrid workplace, with staff working from home and in our office. This position would be ideal for someone in the greater Puget Sound region who is able to comfortably commute to our Capitol Hill, Seattle office 2-3 days per week and travel within the greater Seattle area for meetings and events as necessary. 

Artist Trust is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all EOE and ADA requirements. We are committed to employing a diverse workforce and have a strong commitment to racial equity. People of color, transgender and gender non-conforming people, people with disabilities, and low-income people are encouraged to apply.