Senior Director, Faculty & Creative Practice

New Jersey Performing Arts Center - Newark, NJ

Full-time - Senior

Newark, NJ

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries

About the position

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) is seeking a Senior Director of Faculty and Creative Practice within its Arts Education Department. This pivotal role is responsible for overseeing the artistic expression across various department programs, with a focus on developing pedagogy, curricula, training, and initiatives that align with the department's vision and guiding principles. The Senior Director will work to strengthen the community of artists, teachers, students, families, and community members, establishing NJPAC as a creative hub that promotes innovation and art-making. The position emphasizes research at the intersection of artistic practice, classroom learning, and community engagement, particularly in areas such as jazz, theater, hip hop arts and culture, arts integration, and early childhood education for PreK through high school. In collaboration with the Vice President and other department directors, the Senior Director will cultivate a faculty that understands community-embedded art initiatives and inclusive arts education practices. This role is crucial in developing a participatory community for creative artistic and educational practices, positioning NJPAC and the Arts Education Department at the forefront of innovation, leadership, and excellence in the arts. The Senior Director will be responsible for program development, management, and financial oversight, ensuring that all initiatives align with the department's mission and strategic goals. This includes creating a creative and educational research agenda, leading the design of arts educational opportunities, and managing partnerships with external stakeholders. The role also involves monitoring program success, developing marketing strategies, and ensuring financial accountability through budget management and funding applications.

Responsibilities

• Develop a creative and educational research agenda in collaboration with the Vice President.
• Lead the design and development of creative engagement and arts educational opportunities.
• Align programs with the Department's Mission and Strategic Plan.
• Create visibility for Arts Education through innovative art-making and educational approaches.
• Incorporate instructional best practices to achieve optimal learning outcomes.
• Think holistically about department programs and creative initiatives.
• Spearhead creative initiatives to engage diverse communities.
• Establish an arts education faculty community that cultivates creative practices and scholarship.
• Cultivate a faculty community that sustains high retention and understanding of NJPAC teaching philosophy.
• Maintain a full and diverse roster of faculty.
• Work with Human Resources to recruit, hire, and onboard faculty.
• Design and execute necessary training for faculty in contemporary artistic approaches.
• Develop and manage partnerships with external stakeholders.
• Monitor and measure the success and impact of programs and faculty teaching.
• Develop marketing strategies for programs in collaboration with Marketing and Communications staff.
• Create annual program budgets that align with department goals and priorities.
• Maintain program expenses and ensure accuracy with assigned budgets.
• Approve payroll hours and track vendor contract invoicing and payments.
• Work with the Development team to apply for funding opportunities.
• Manage donor visits and provide necessary reports for funders.

Requirements

• Significant artistic record with 15+ original works with youth or professional works.
• Robust creative research portfolio and perspective on teaching and creating.
• Active creative practice grounded in innovative performance and community engagement.
• Exceptional artist-teacher with 10+ years of teaching experience.
• Strong understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion implementation.
• Dedication to the sustainability of art and culture and commitment to social justice.
• At least six years of leadership and administrative experience in arts training projects.
• Broad understanding of creative and innovative practice in performing arts education.
• Ability to create educational programs grounded in creative work and process.
• Background as a teaching artist preferred; interest in curriculum development required.
• Significant interest in transdisciplinary collaboration in the performing arts.
• Track record of performing and/or presenting in various forums.
• Extensive experience in supervising staff and conducting evaluations.
• Capability to attract, mentor, and support exceptional faculty and students.
• Knowledge of current trends in the artistic and educational industries.
• Openness to sharing ideas and experiences with others.
• Superb organizational and communication skills; detail-oriented and flexible.
• Love of teaching and learning; belief in strong skills in entrepreneurship and management.
• Bi-lingual preferred, Spanish a plus.
• Willingness to take on additional responsibilities; some evening and weekend hours required.
• Demonstrated command of computer skills including Salesforce and Microsoft Suite.
• Masters or Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or equivalent knowledge and expertise.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in community-based arts initiatives.
• Familiarity with anti-racist and trauma-informed pedagogical practices.
• Knowledge of arts integration strategies in education.
• Experience in grant writing and fundraising for arts programs.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• 401k retirement savings plan
• Paid holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Flexible scheduling options