Program Manager + Teaching Artist

Position Title: Program Manager + Teaching Artist

Position Level: Manager

Reports To: Director of Arts + Tech

Status: Salary, Exempt, Full-Time (40 hours per week)

Hiring Range: $44,000-$47,000

Prepared Date: May 2025

About WMCAT

The West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology (WMCAT) provides a culture of opportunity for people to make social and economic progress in their lives and community. We fulfill our mission through visual arts and tech engagement, workforce development, and social enterprise.

Arts + Tech at WMCAT makes space for teens to elevate their voices and build creative confidence through visual arts and technology engagement. Programs include our nationally recognized afterschool Teen Arts + Tech Program which engages high school students from Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) in creative, tuition-free studio experiences from September through May; Daytime Studios for middle and high school classrooms throughout West Michigan; and week-long summer intensives for middle and high school students. In Arts + Tech we focus in disciplines that fall within digital media and visual arts. To learn more about our current offerings visit artstech.wmcat.org.

Position Summary

The Program Manager + Teaching Artist manages Daytime Studios and recruitment/outreach efforts for WMCAT’s Arts + Tech programs. They support the Director of Arts + Tech in leadership of the Arts + Tech department and Teaching Artists. The ideal candidate is committed to providing quality, student-centered experiences; is able to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders both internally and externally, building positive relationships with staff, students, and partners; and is energized by leveraging opportunities in the arts to cultivate belonging, elevate youth voice, and build creative confidence in young people.

Essential Duties + Responsibilities

Teaching Artist

• Develop project-based curriculum that allows students to engage with their community, incorporates a variety of instructional methods, and meets the needs of all learners.
• Create opportunities for students to reflect on their work and experiences via presentations, group critiques, and artist statements.
• Submit written, sequenced lesson plans and other documentation of curriculum as requested.
• Maintain caring and trusting relationships with students, and provide supportive, fair, and non-discriminate treatment of all students.
• Encourage pro-social behavior in teens at and outside of WMCAT.
• Promote the value of consistent school attendance, high school graduation, and postsecondary planning for all students.
• Evaluate student progress, provide feedback to students, and make referrals to WMCAT support staff when appropriate.
• Maintain a clean, respectful, and inspirational studio, as well as care for technology and equipment.
• Track attendance daily on each class and record notes on student performance in a data management system, and follow-up with absent students regularly.
• Participate and assist in the planning and facilitation of student events and trips.
• Support other studio projects and programming as needed each year.

Program Management

• Manage and scale Daytime Studios, working internally with Arts + Tech staff and teaching artists and externally with Daytime Studio partners.
• Support the proposal development process with the Director of Arts + Tech, including the coordination of staffing and budgets.
• Manage school partner relationships throughout each program experience.
• Coordinate the overall in-program experience for students.
• Administer student and school partner evaluation after each experience.
• Facilitate programming as needed.
• Manage Arts + Tech physical spaces, equipment, and studio materials year-round, including between program semesters.
• Support Teaching Artists in identifying and creating projects with community partners
• Commit to intentional awareness of and connection to:
• Best practices of community arts education programs serving teens.
• Current trends, technology, and interests of teens.
• Support recruitment and outreach efforts with students, families, and school partners.
• Support development of community relationships.
• Implement communications strategy as set by the Director.
• Support Director of Arts + Tech in the advancement of Arts + Tech department as well as short- and long-term strategic planning
• Commit to ongoing professional development and integrate new learning into program
• management.

WMCAT Mission + Organizational Expectations

• Advance WMCAT’s mission and vision to ensure equitable access to opportunity.
• Recognize your responsibility and contribution to the culture of WMCAT. Represent WMCAT at designated events throughout the year, which may occur outside of standard scheduled hours.
• Foster positive relationships with staff and students.

Preferred Experiences + Skills

• Demonstrated experience could include:
• Bachelor’s degree in area related to arts education, education, visual or media arts, social services, or another relevant field of study.
• Teaching experience in a classroom setting with at least 10 students.
• Related experience working with teens from diverse cultural backgrounds (strongly preferred).
• Prior experience with curriculum development.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proactive problem solver and timely communicator who anticipates needs before they arise
• Dependable and detail-oriented, leads by example
• Ability to be iterative in the face of uncertainty and difficult situations
• High proficiency in computer skills, especially Microsoft Suite/Office 365.
• Working proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite.
• Excellent organizational skills and desire to maximize efficiency in this role.
• Ability to collaborate with partners and colleagues across teams and stakeholders.
• Cultural competency and emotional intelligence to work with individuals from varied backgrounds and foster open communication among diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and in a team-oriented environment, maintain flexibility, and manage multiple/competing priorities.
• Ability to inspire and engage others with WMCAT’s mission and work.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to handle, or feel, and is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee regularly is required to sit, walk, stand, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, climb or crouch.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move from 15-45 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Additional Details:Recognizing there is leadership in every community, WMCAT is seeking candidates with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. We are dedicated to hiring employees that reflect the communities we serve across race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and socioeconomic status. No person shall be excluded from WMCAT services, employment or volunteer participation because of ethnicity, race, national origin, age, height, weight, genetic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, economic circumstance, veteran status, physical and/or mental abilities/characteristics, philosophy/religion, or any other status that is protected by State of Michigan or federal law or by local ordinance for those jurisdictions where WMCAT operates.

WMCAT’s Values

• Design for Equity: Creating a world that works for all of us. Rooted in an understanding that systemic oppression is perpetuated by design, we center marginalized voices, consciously co-create solutions, and challenge unjust systems to provide equitable access to opportunity.

• Pursue Learning: Engaging the experiences and expertise around us. Acknowledging that we never “arrive” in our understanding, we engage each other, ourselves, and our community with curiosity and appreciation for diverse lived experiences, seeking out new ideas, more robust context, and opportunities for growth.

• Build Community: Curating belonging for collective good. Grounded in the belief that our humanity, prosperity and futures are interconnected, we intentionally create space for belonging, build authentic relationships, seek partnership in our collective work, and respect our shared context.
• Center People: Leading with empathy. Guided by the mindsets of equitable human-centered design, we seek the perspectives of and create solutions with those most affected, embracing the inherent value of each individual and prioritizing whole-person thriving.

Transportation: Consistent personal transportation will be necessary.

In-person, full-time at WMCAT: This position is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The candidate should be comfortable working in-person, with flexibility for remote work. WMCAT's regular office hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. In alignment with programming schedules, during the school year Arts + Tech hours are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy: All WMCAT employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19

Pay: Compensation within the listed hiring range is based on experience and nonprofit industry standards. Competitive benefits package provided, including:  

• 15 days of PTO  

• 15 paid holidays  

• Birthday day off  

• Half-day Fridays during the summer  

• Simple IRA with employer match of up to 3%  

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental, and Vision), premium 65% (average) paid by employer  

• HSA plan option 

• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) 

• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary, and AD&D)  

• Paid Family Leave  

• Professional development and opportunities for personal growth  

To apply: Submit resume, cover letter, and a portfolio of your artistic medium(s). WMCAT will use this to assess what studio instruction you could provide students.