Title: Program Manager(s)

Reports To: Executive / Artistic Director

Direct Reports: None

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Summary:

NCCAkron seeks 3 Program Managers who will each manage a portfolio of national artists participating in NCCAkron programs. We envision these individuals to be dance and performing arts project administrators who enjoy working with artists across the US. Because we work with artists across the country and across all timezones, we’ve chosen to divide what would be 2 full-time positions into 3 remote jobs and hope to have 1 person working on east coast time, 1 on west coast time and one in the middle, covering central / mountain time. This is an opportunity to deeply engage with artists nationwide while staying rooted in your home community. These people will become salaried members on a 5-7 person team including the Executive/Artistic Director and Business Operations Director, Graduate Assistants, seasonal hires and consultants. Program Managers will organize partnerships and activities in response to artists’ interests and in accordance with the mission and goals of NCCAkron. They will follow the budget and operating plan for designated programs, as well as work with other NCCAkron team members to collaborate on related activities and promote the organization. Program Managers must have a deep understanding of the performing arts, preferably dance or body-based performance. Great-fit candidates will be natural connectors, have incredible front-of-house and/or back-of-house experience, and be folks who can roll up their sleeves and assist in all levels of a creative or community endeavor. 

 

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage communications and execution of Creative Administration Research activities within a designated portfolio of 5-8 artists

• Assist in the management of Satellite Residencies, Dancing Labs, Creative, Research, and Technical residencies

• Work with NCCAkron E/AD and Business Operations Director to develop and control deadlines, budgets and activities for programs and projects

• Coordinate project activities with NCCAkron team members such as documentation, marketing, public events, and administrative/operational needs that may stretch across the organization’s operations

• Generate strategic partnerships to potentially fulfill visiting artists goals and help manifest those relationships where appropriate and possible

• Anticipate needs of others / seek solutions and center needs of others while caring for oneself

• Embrace metaphorical teaching hospital environment and mentor Graduate Assistants to assist with program workload as appropriate

• Serve on the planning committee for CAR National Summit Convening (June 2023)

• Assess program performance by developing surveys and preparing reports based on results

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Qualifications

Education / Experience

• 3+ years related experience with proven, production / project management and communications skills.

• Have a performing arts background, preferably in dance

• Proven ability to work across teams and institutions with a variety of projects and constituencies simultaneously while maintaining strong attention to detail.

• A national and diverse network of dance / arts ecosystem people and organizations 

• Natural ability and / or practice in building partnerships and fostering connection

 

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Proven ability to ‘stage manage’ and ‘choreograph’ people and schedules

• A team-player and generous collaborator

• Flexible; open to iterative processes

• Works with a spirit of hospitality and care

• Able to lay down, or at least pick up, a slick metaphor 

• Remote positions; based anywhere in the continental United States

 

Compensation

We envision these roles to have flexibility  in terms of time commitment. Because we work with artists across the country and across all timezones, we’ve chosen to divide what would be 2 full-time positions into 3 portfolios and hope to have 1 person working on east coast time, 1 on west coast time and 1 working on central or mountain time. Salaried compensation is based on a 30-hour work week average between $38,000-40,000.  In addition, we offer a fully reimbursable health care policy, up to $600 per month and paid time off.  Work remotely at an estimated 25-30 hours/week and 8-10 weeks per year in Akron (with covered travel/housing/per diem) at 40 hours/week. We want an initial 18-month commitment at which point you may choose to move on to something else or continue on with NCCAkron and evolve the position.

 

Working Conditions

NCCAkron is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. All employment decisions at NCCAkron are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. NCCAkron will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. NCCAkron encourages applicants of all ages.

 

About NCCAkron

NCCAkron operates on both a national and hyperlocal level. The Center has become an intellectual matchmaker between national choreographers and the robust cultural ecology in and around Akron, OH. Through hosting convenings, publishing books, and cultivating forward thinking partnerships, we aim to build and fortify what will be the future of the field. Operating as a dance “think tank,” and striving to fill this critical need, NCCAkron hosts dance artists from across the U.S. providing resources and connections to individuals and/or organizations so the artists may be inspired and explore new ideas.

 

The Center provides space for choreographic process in the following capacities:

• Experimentation: Experimenting is at the core of all that we do. In the programs outlined below, we invite artists to exchange knowledge and to try something new. We get excited every time we can offer artists space, time, and resources to play without the pressure of producing anything.

 

• Creation: NCCAkron supports opportunities for dance makers, writers, and artist-administrators to deepen their practice and realize their visions, at any stage of their creative process.

 

• Advocacy: At NCCAkron, we elevate the voices of artists through documentation, archiving, writing, and public conversation. We seek to expand the narratives of dance in a way that is geographically equitable, culturally holistic, and accessible - all in an effort to advocate for dance as a more central part of U.S. culture.

 

Organizational History

In 2013, DANCECleveland launched a feasibility study to explore the possibility for a National Center for Choreography. After receiving the feasibility study’s preliminary findings in 2015, the Knight Foundation committed $5 million to fast-track the establishment of NCCAkron to operate in donated space and facilities at The University of Akron. NCCAkron incorporated as a 501(c)3, and in 2016, NCCAkron hired Christy Bolingbroke as the Founding Executive/Artistic Director. NCCAkron works with and hosts 100+ dance artists from 15-20 states on an annual basis.  Even through the COVID pandemic, the organization implemented its first strategic plan and grew its team to two full-time employees, two part-time employees, and seasonal contractors across the country.