Program Director
Hybrid - US
Program Director
Full Time • Hybrid - US
Position Title: Program Director
Classification: Exempt / Full Time
Pay Range: $32/hr, starting
About Us: Founded in May 2014 as a 501(c)(3) organization, Jazz Hands For Autism is a talent advocacy group that uses a strength-based approach to empower musicians with autism and amplify their voices by providing necessary resources and avenues that will assist them with forging a rewarding and career path as a working musician.
Our Mission: Provide platforms and avenues where musically inclined individuals on the autism spectrum can express and explore their talents.
Our Vision: We are working towards a world where individuals on the autism spectrum are fully integrated members of society who are confident in their ability to make valued social, cultural and economic contributions in their communities.
Our Values:
- Music First!: We believe that our staff, students, and performers are musicians first; autism comes second. At Jazz Hands For Autism, We are all about T.H.E. M.U.S.I.C.
- Creative Growth: Harness the self and the talents within by exploring new abilities.
- Confidence: We work to enable the realization of the power of expression, and freedom with that expression.
- Unity: We work to create an atmosphere of unity and equality.
- Support: We work to encourage the development of confidence in abilities and talents.
- Inclusivity: We are a community that welcomes individuals of all backgrounds, and we want everyone we work with to know that their contributions are valued.
- Community: We work to create an atmosphere that fosters relationships, teamwork, and camaraderie across the spectrum and with individuals without autism.
We are seeking a highly motivated, reliable and creative individual to join our team. The ideal candidate is someone who truly loves working with teens and adults on the autism spectrum and is passionate about spreading the gift of musicianship. The ideal candidate is also someone with a high level of creativity and strong organizational skills.
SUMMARY OF POSITION
The Program Director plays a key role in accomplishing our mission of providing opportunities for our students on the autism spectrum to express and explore their talents. Instructors must be both experts in their crafts as musicians as well as able to foster a structured environment to support creative growth of our students while navigating and guiding through the behavioral aspects of those on the autism spectrum.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
- Program Implementation, Oversight & Development
- Program Implementation:
- Coordinate program logistics, including scheduling, venue selection, and equipment procurement.
- Recruit, train, and supervise program staff and volunteers.
- Training
- Collaborate with executive team to ensure that you receive the appropriate supervisorial and management training
- Training
- Facilitate program activities and workshops as needed.
- New student intake & registration
- Monitor list of the new students coming in and ensure that they have completed all registration steps
- Ensure that there are sufficient number of staff to meet class and attendance needs of new, current and returning students
- Develop templates to provide executive team with reports on student registration
- Student Career Planning
- Oversee career coaches/ guidance counselors to ensure that students are progressing academically and towards their listed career goals
- Develop templates to provide executive team with reports on student career progress
- Student Progress Tracking
- Oversee student progress tracking by ensuring that guidance counselors, student support staff and data team are creating and sharing reports during the designated time frames
- Develop templates to provide executive team with reports on student academic progress
- Student Learning Experience
- Oversee instructional staff to ensure that:
- Teaching protocol is being followed
- Instructional methods align with JHET training and best practices
- Daily reports are being completed
- Staff is receiving appropriate training to meet expectations
- Develop templates to provide executive team with reports on student learning experience
- Oversee instructional staff to ensure that:
- Student Placement & Original Projects
- Oversee student placement to ensure that:
- Placements align with students career goals and selected career track at Jazz Hands For Autism
- Develop templates to provide executive team with reports on student placement progress
- Oversee student placement to ensure that:
- Curriculum Quality:
- Oversee curriculum development to ensure that:
- Scope, sequence and structure of curriculum is conducive to student learning
- Layout on Moodle is accessible for learners with various support needs and learning styles
- Oversee curriculum development to ensure that:
- Mission Focus
- Ensure that all program activities align with the mission, vision and values of Jazz Hands For Autism
- Program Development:
- Collaborate with the executive team and stakeholders to design and develop new programs and initiatives.
- Create detailed program plans, including objectives, timelines, and resource requirements.
- Program Implementation:
- Communication:
- Communicate with appropriate departments to develop and share reports for metrics above
- Reports are to be shared with the executive team and the Jazz hands For Autism Board of Directors
- Collaborate with executive team to suggest changes that will improve efficiency and effectiveness of existing programs
- Communicate with appropriate departments to develop and share reports for metrics above
- Participant Engagement & Community Outreach:
- Participant Engagement
- Build and maintain relationships with program participants, their families, and the community.
- Ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all participants.
- Monitor and assess participant progress and adjust programs accordingly.
- Community Outreach:
- Represent Jazz Hands for Autism at community events, conferences, and meetings.
- Develop and maintain partnerships with local schools, organizations, and businesses to expand program reach.
- Participant Engagement
- Evaluation and Reporting:
- Implement data collection and evaluation mechanisms to assess program impact and effectiveness.
- Prepare regular reports and presentations for stakeholders and funding organizations.
- Fiscal Management & Fundraising:
- Budget Management:
- Assist in the development of program budgets and monitor expenditures to ensure financial sustainability.
- Fundraising and Grants:
- Support grant writing and fundraising efforts to secure funding for program expansion and sustainability.
- Budget Management:
- Outreach, Advocacy and Awareness:
- Advocacy and Awareness
- Advocate for the inclusion of individuals on the autism spectrum in the performing arts community.
- Promote awareness of Jazz Hands for Autism's mission and impact.
- Outreach
- Program Director may occasionally be expected to perform recruitment or outreach activities on behalf of Jazz Hands For Autism
- Advocacy and Awareness
REQUIREMENTS
- Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Social Work, Arts Management, Business Administration, Public Administration or related fields is required; a Master's degree is preferred.
- Experience: 3+ years of progressive leadership, particularly in staff supervision and fiscal management (often handling budgets and grants).
- Must be available to work in person at least two days in one week.
- Must be available to work on Saturdays occasionally.
- Must have the following characteristics:
- Represent JHFA, maintaining a professional attitude at all times
- Have a willingness to learn
- Be solutions oriented
- Maintain open mindedness
- Act with transparency
- Act with initiative
- Must be able to complete an Introduction to Autism Online Course within 30 days after start date.
- Experience with working with people with disabilities/autism is a plus.
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.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics for this position are typical of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
TRAVEL
This position may be required to travel locally on occasion. The following requirements apply:
- Ability to travel to performances and greet family members and friends of performers.
- Must be able to safely and legally operate a personal vehicle.
WE VALUE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION!
Jazz Hands for Autism believes in creating long-term relationships by being responsive and relevant and by consistently delivering value to our employees, our students, and our community. Specifically with our employees, we focus on attracting, developing and retaining the best talent, challenging our people, demonstrating a “can-do” attitude and fostering a collaborative and mutually supportive environment.
Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected age classification, ancestry, color, religious creed, marital status, military and veteran status, national origin, race, sex, gender, gender identity, and gender expression. Jazz Hands For Autism will make every reasonable effort to accommodate individuals based on their disability status.
Flexible work from home options available.
Compensation: $32.00 per hour
We create pathways that enable musicians on the autism spectrum to use their musical talents to obtain gainful work.
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