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Organization Overview:

Mission: Seattle Arts & Lectures cultivates transformative experiences through story and language with readers and writers of all generations.

We invite you to join our fun, book-loving, social justice-driven team of 12 to fulfill the mission of SAL as our Public Programs Associate. SAL fulfills its mission through educational, public, and community programming, in-person and online. Our public literary events bring the most talented and thought-provoking writers of our times to speak about and read their work. Our free Summer Book Bingo program inspires our community to reconnect with the joy of reading through a series of fun challenges. Our youth programs include Writers in the Schools (WITS) and the Seattle Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) program. WITS places local, professional writers in public school classroom residencies to inspire K-12 students to tell their stories as they develop lifelong writing skills. Our YPL program elevates the powerful voices of local youth poets committed to community engagement, education, and equity in our region.

SAL offers thoughtfully curated experiences through programs that are intergenerational in nature, bolstering both emerging and established literary artists, and inviting change and new perspectives in our audience. We believe these activities are essential to continuously and courageously revitalize equity, justice, and belonging. Our work both internally and externally is guided by our core values: belonging, racial equity, transparency and trust, curiosity, and joy.

We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture in all areas of our work and culture. SAL is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals from all cultures and communities are warmly encouraged to apply. Strong candidates will bring a diverse set of skills, characteristics, and experiences, both professional and lived. SAL focuses on a holistic view of potential candidates and understanding that no single candidate will offer every desired skill and characteristic. The following offers an aspirational view of the ideal candidate profile, and we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds.

Position Overview: The Public Programs Associate supports the Public Programs team by managing and implementing SAL’s public events and programs. The Public Programs Associate also supports the Public Programs team with customer service, marketing, communications, and engagement efforts to increase the visibility and success of the organization, our mission, and our programs.

This position reports to the Director of Events & Outreach and works primarily with the Public Programs team, including the Marketing Manager and Patron Services Associate. This team drives the coordination, outreach, and sales for all public events, as well as production of and engagement around our community-based programs, including Summer Book Bingo, the SAL blog and podcast, and our Community Access Tickets (CAT) program.

INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & ACCESS:

All staff actively participate in SAL’s ongoing efforts to become an anti-racist organization and embody an organizational culture that supports and reinforces our inclusion, diversity, equity, & access goals. Our 2020-24 Strategic Plan and SAL’s Equity Accountability Reports are available on the SAL website under “About.” This commitment and understanding should be demonstrated throughout the performance of the Public Programs Associate’s job responsibilities and staff activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Public Programs Coordination & Support (85%)

Attend and assist in managing all Public Program events night-of.

Serve as organizational contact point with event vendors and participants, including but not limited to photographer, audio and video production support, musicians, booksellers, table partners, moderators, venue representatives, and captioning/ASL providers.

Develop, finalize, and distribute event itineraries and other pertinent details to internal and external event participants.

Coordinate with the production company for digital or livestreamed events to ensure the successful production of these events and produce video assets, such as lower thirds, pre-show videos, and title cards.

Coordinate speaker travel, lodging, and speaker schedule, including additional commitments such as WITS visits or auction fulfillment.

Review, confirm, submit, and track all artist, venue, and vendor invoices, contracts, and W-9s.

Ensure program supplies are organized, well-stocked, and otherwise prepped before events.

Assist the Executive Director and Director of Events & Outreach in fulfilling season curation. Work with any guest curators to fulfill their vision for curation.

Assist with the production and editing of event programs and other event materials, including all email communications.

In conjunction with the Patron Services Associate, produce an annual volunteer handbook and co-lead volunteer trainings, as well as coordinate volunteers for public events.

Maintain audio, video, and photo event archives; lead recording permissions archive and the production of podcast episodes.

Manage the annual Summer Book Bingo submissions process in conjunction with the Seattle Public Library and collaborate on the development of new boards.

Assist the Patron Services Associate with the build and rollout of the Community Access Tickets program.

Marketing & Communications (10%)

With the Public Programs team, think creatively and proactively about how to produce welcoming, engaging, and quality events, as well as how to market and communicate our programs to reach people new and returning.

Assist with editing and content production for the blog to meet strategic outreach goals set in conjunction with the Director of Events & Outreach.

Proofread and copy-edit all external communications, including but not limited to emails, brochures, annual reports, postcards, direct mailings, fundraiser materials, and more.

Assist the team in building events and making updates to the website.

With the Public Programs team, gather quotes and stories from events for marketing, communications, and development purposes.

Other (5%)

Attend and contribute to departmental and organization-wide meetings as needed.

Participate in ongoing equity work and trainings.

Attend and support cultivation & fundraising events, youth programs events, SAL celebrations, and community functions as needed.

Greet and direct office visitors and delivery people when working in office.

Maintain SAL phone system and support the Patron Services Associate and provide excellent front-line customer service by answering phones and replying to the sal@lectures.org inbox.

Other duties as required.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

A passion for SAL’s mission, values, and programs including a love of books and reading

A commitment to racial equity and social justice

Minimum two years of experience working in event production and management or other applicable fields

A warm, authentic tone; excellent written and verbal communication skills

Outstanding organizational and time management skills; ability to prioritize multiple deadlines and tasks; excellent attention to detail

Diplomacy, a sense of humor, and the ability to maintain composure under pressure

Flexible and improvisational approach to problem-solving

Interest and ability to work as part of a highly collaborative team in an open-plan office and in a hybrid work environment

Proficiency with Mac platforms a plus

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Valid driver’s license and automobile a plus (weekly commute to the office and events is required)

Evening/weekend hours required (typically 5 to 7 times per month, September to June).

Ability to move boxes of books and transport event materials back and forth to events.

Openness to a dog-friendly work space.

Note: Seattle Arts & Lectures is a fully vaccinated office and all medically eligible new staff members will be asked to provide proof of COVID vaccination.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

This is a 40 hours/week full-time non-exempt position. Salary range is $48,000 – $54,000 per year (commensurate with experience and qualifications) with a robust benefits package, including:

Generous paid time off, including 20 vacation days/year starting your second year (15 days in year one), as well as wellness time, 3 personal days, and holidays

100% of medical, vision, and dental insurance, long-term disability, and group life insurance covered, including an Employee Assistance Program

403(b) retirement plan pre-tax distribution with a 3% gross salary match funded by SAL

Flex time as appropriate

Hybrid/remote schedule as appropriate with a laptop and support for some home office equipment

Support and budget for professional development and growth

HIRING PROCESS & TIMELINE:

We will begin scheduling phone interviews in early January with in-person interviews to follow. Finalists will be invited to a final round of interviews with SAL’s departmental teams, and we will make an offer shortly thereafter. Ideally, the selected candidate will begin in mid-February.

TO APPLY:

Send a resume and cover letter that tells us why this position is a good fit. Resumes submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.

Submit applications electronically in one PDF document to salhr@lectures.org. The email subject line should be “SAL Public Programs Associate.”

Open until filled. For best consideration, please submit no later than 9 p.m. on January 8, 2023.

Contact Information for inquiries related to this position (email preferred):

Liz Keenan
Hiring Coordinator
salhr@lectures.org
206.621.2230 x22

https://lectures.org/opportunities/public-programs-associate/

Opportunity Website

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