Career Center

The Director of Education & Community Engagement is responsible for overseeing, supervising, and managing all aspects of the Austin Symphony Orchestra’s Education and Community Engagement Department and setting the overall education and community engagement strategy for the organization. The position is responsible for creating and monitoring departmental budgets, as well as instituting program design, implementation, and evaluation. The position reviews on an on-going basis program content and effectiveness. Supervisory duties include advising, evaluating and directing education staff. The Director of Education & Community Engagement promotes the value of symphonic music, and ensures a vital on-going relationship between the ASO and the community.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure that ASO education and community programs are engaging, effective, and reflect best practices.
• Research current learning approaches and trends in educational content, communications, and delivery.
• Act as the liaison between the ASO and local public school districts, private schools and independent schools to cultivate, maintain, and grow the ASO’s relationship with key educators in the Austin area.
• Design and oversee scheduling and implementation of programs both school-based and community-based.
• Liaison between ASO and other arts agencies to develop collaborative programs in arts education.
• Develop evaluation and assessment procedures to interpret and present data for individual projects and for education program as a whole.
• Develop and produce curriculum support materials for education programs, including curriculum guides for concerts, units of study, lesson plans, videos, recordings, prompts, and reflections.
• Provide on-site management and oversight at education and community engagement programs.
• Organize and arrange professional development for musicians and teachers for in-school programs.
• In collaboration with the Development Department, oversee and manage the writing and preparation of grant proposals and applications to obtain funding from local, regional, and national funding sources in support of the ASO educational and community engagement programs.
• Work with Marketing Department to promote and increase visibility of ASO education and community engagement programs, including monitoring the education and community content on the website.
• Ensure full integration of ASO education programs with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
• Act as key staff liaison to the Board of Trustees Education Committee and the Diversity & Community Engagement Committee.
   

QUALIFICATIONS

Educational, Skills, and Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in music, music education or pedagogy, arts education, or other relevant artistic discipline. Master’s preferred.
• Background in teaching music in a classroom setting desired.
• 10-plus years of program administration including development, implementation, and evaluation.
• At least five years of experience planning educational programs for a symphony orchestra or similar performing arts institution.
• Background in teaching music in a classroom setting desired with demonstrated experience creating and delivering music education curriculum.
• Experience working directly with community, social, civic, arts, and educational organizations.
• Supervisory experience.
• Well-developed communication skills, including writing and speaking, attention to detail, organizational and research skills.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a timely and efficient manner.
• A collaborative, supportive, team-oriented attitude.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as required, including some holidays.
• Knowledge and familiarity with: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Publisher, and Outlook).
• Digital literacy and facility with online programs and apps, audio and video programs, and simple online editing programs.
• Researching, writing, editing and proofreading capabilities.
   

OTHER DUTIES

The information contained in this job description is intended to outline the general nature and scope of work being performed by an employee assigned to this position.  It is not intended to be construed as a contract, or as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and capabilities required of a person employed in this capacity.

Job descriptions are subject to change at the discretion of the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

COMPETENCIES:

• Organizational Leadership & Effectiveness
  Managing resources and leading the ASO effectively and ethically, understanding stake­holder needs and priorities and the unique environment and dynamics of the Austin Symphony model.
• Team Growth, Development and Engagement
  Facilitating the development of knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviors necessary for team members to function together with a high degree of engage­ment and satisfaction within the department and the ASO and at the highest possible levels of effective performance.
• Strategy & Innovation
  Strategically assessing and evaluating courses of action and identifying imaginative oppor­tunities to improve performance and position; implementing innovative and cost-effective solutions leading to effective change management and busi­ness process improvement.
• Stakeholder Advocacy & Collaboration
  Identifying, developing and maintaining collaborative rela­tionships and communications with key stakeholders; managing stakeholder expectations and needs; aligning the organization to key stakeholder requirements.
• Communication
  Listening and interpreting verbal and non-verbal inputs in order to ensure thoughts and ideas are understood; determining what information is to be communicated, when and to whom; organizing a response based on an awareness of content and intended audience; sharing information, seeking feedback from others, and providing appropriate follow-up to ensure understanding of both the message and its intent; expressing ideas respectfully and sharing information in a clear and concise manner using the appropriate mode of communication.
•  Professionalism & Personal Integrity
  Applying knowledge, sensitivity and judgment to act effectively and with personal integrity in accordance with the fundamen­tal principles of professional and personal ethical behavior; and effectively managing self and resources to achieve the ASO mission and objectives.
• Quality Management/ Improvement
  Designing and implement­ing policies and systematic processes to measure, analyze and improve organizational performance resulting in greater efficiency, cost-effectiveness and satisfaction.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

The Education and Community Engagement Coordinator report to this position.

TRAVEL

Will be present at ASO performances and activities throughout our community spanning Austin and Central Texas.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position operates in a professional, non-smoking office environment, which at times can be a busy with moderate noise and unscheduled interruptions. Routinely uses standard office equipment, such as computers & peripherals, phones, photocopiers and filing cabinets. There may be occasional outdoor activities and exposure to weather.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk; will walk and stand for brief periods of time. Must be able to access various departments of a given location.
• Frequent use of computers and other office productivity machinery, such as copy machines and printers.
• Periodic filing requires the ability to reach, push, pull, bend, stoop or stand as necessary. Will occasionally lift office products and supplies weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, hearing and speaking abilities, finger dexterity and repetitive hand motions for manual manipulation of a keyboard, mouse or phone system.
• Must be able to read, write and communicate both verbally and in written form to express and exchange ideas and have the ability to understand, remember and communicate routine, factual information.
• Must be able to maintain emotional control under stress.
• Reasonable accommodations maybe made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the key responsibilities of this position.

Due to the nature of this position and our business, background checks will be conducted as a condition of employment.

About Austin Symphony Orchestra

Founded in 1911, the Austin Symphony Orchestra is Austin’s most established and enduring performing arts group. Austin is a vibrant, artistic hub with a community that cares deeply for music and the arts. The ASO offers a complete season of musical and educational programming for the citizens of Austin and Central Texas. Masterworks concerts include a series of eight concert pairs running monthly September through May in the state-of-the-art Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts. Our season also features the Sarah & Ernest Butler Pops Series: October, January & February Pops at the Long Center and December & June Pops at Palmer Events Center. Our mission is to enhance the cultural quality of life for the adults and young people of Austin and Central Texas by providing excellence in music performance and educational programming. We offer programming for the entire family, including a Fourth of July Concert and fireworks show on the shores of Lady Bird Lake, the Halloween Children’s Concert, our “Christmas in the Community” events, as well as the popular James C. Armstrong Youth Educations Programs, which include Children’s Day Art Park, Young People’s Concer...ts, a High School Concert Tour and a variety of other school programs. Each year we are proud to feature a Young Composer’s Competition for student composers 18 years old and younger, sponsored by Ernest and Sarah Butler. STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION The ASO is committed to equity, inclusion, and non-discrimination, and it is our policy and goal to promote the inclusion and engagement of the residents of Austin and Central Texas across all protected classes of people, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, cultural background and experiences, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, socio-economic status, physical and mental ability, and religion in all aspects of employment.

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