Native American Arts Public Programs Specialist

Job Summary: The Native American Arts Center at Idyllwild Arts is seeking a highly organized communicator with excellent correspondence, organization, event coordination and project management skills. The Public Programs Specialist will support public program planning and implementation, as well as day of event organizing, task management, and collaboration alongside the Executive Director of the Native American Arts Center, as well as colleagues throughout the organization to support various public-facing programs led by a variety of Idyllwild Arts departments. 

This position reports directly to the Executive Director of the Native American Arts Center and works closely with the Native American Student Coordinator, Student Services, the Summer Program, Admissions, and Development.  The role encompasses logistical, communications, technical, and administrative works, as well as creative thinking around organization, strategic, and program implementation goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Programming

• Under the oversight of the Executive Director of the Native American Arts Center, co-curate a vast schedule of public programs designed for both on-campus programming, public programming, and remote programming in and around Southern California Indian communities. 
• Assist in conceptualizing, organizing and executing any and all public programs year-round and during the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program, the Native American Arts Workshops, and Native American Arts Festival Week. 
• Coordinate invitations to artists, scholars, and knowledge bearers, schedule meetings and itineraries for program speakers, guest artists, participants, and co-facilitators as well as vendor and event coordination. 
• Process honoraria and travel reimbursements for program speakers, participants, artists, co-facilitators, and vendors. 
• Support Program data tracking for periodic and annual reporting to the Native American Arts Advisory Committee, Board, and leadership. This position will work closely with the Office of Research & Impact.
• Participate in Programming meetings and strategy sessions, take notes, and share with other departments and in Team meetings, as needed.
• Contribute to the maintenance of the Programming calendar, event ticketing and tracking platforms, and coordinate public-facing materials and event copy with the Marketing Department for timely promotion.
• Act as a liaison between Programs and other Departments (Academy, Summer Program, and the Center for Creativity and Social Entrepreneurship) to solicit materials, input, and scheduling in preparation for event promotion and implementation.
• Work to draft and send emails and letters to supporters and prospective supporters, and facilitate vendor follow-up.
• Organize and manage the summer Native American Scholarship Committee. This role will also manage applicants and award amounts to scholarship applicants. 

Events & In-Person

• With the Executive Director of the Native American Arts Center, and in collaboration with other Departments, assist in coordination, hosting, and co-development of public & relational events throughout the year, including logistics, invitation management and tracking, vendor relations, site visits, and on-site event coordination and support.

• Provide support onsite and in-person, as needed, for administrative tasks such as mailings and inventory management.

• Attend weekly in-person staff meetings and Idyllwild Arts Staff/Faculty Meetings

Operations

• (Finance) Work with the Executive Director of the Native American Arts Center to track monthly Public & Relational Program expenses. These responsibilities will include detailed clerical tasks such as receipt tracking, invoice submission and processing, expense coding, and preliminary budget reviews.
• (Gen Ops) Participate in weekly team meetings and be present in the Native American Arts Center (Birchard Office) during office hours when assigned.

Required Education, Skills, and Experience:

• Extensive experience with event coordination, in both planning and on-site implementation
• Commitment to hospitality, hosting, and increasing accessibility to a variety of public events

• Demonstrated organizational and administrative skills

• Strong written and verbal communication

• Task management and self-directed in setting priorities 

• Demonstrated Discretion in handling confidential and/or sensitive information
• Project management, including budget maintenance, task mapping, and comfort with self-directed implementation
• Database or Ticketing Platform use and management (Eventbrite)
• Strong computer skills and facility with Google platforms, Zoom, Adobe, RegPack, and Padlet are a plus.
• Understanding and/or direct experience with Native American communities across the country and the continent.
• Familiarity with contemporary art, culture, and community leadership and/or community engagement
• Candidate must be based in the Southern California region or be willing to relocate,​​ have a valid driver’s license, and have access to a vehicle for regular use. The candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States

Preferred Qualifications:

This person will have experience and knowledge of how to effectively organize and manage artist residency programs, convenings, and event planning. This position should identify how to manage these programs that will fall in alignment with the Native American Arts Center’s commitment to hosting and reciprocity. This position's work assists in furthering social justice in the context of Indigenous contemporary art and culture. An ideal candidate is comfortable communicating with intention and care across contexts—including with organizational and tribal, and community leaders, staff, program collaborators, and public audiences—and has a keen interest in dynamic relational program development. This role is best suited to someone who enjoys detailed yet autonomous task management and is comfortable working collaboratively to co-facilitate engaging and multi-faceted events. Someone who enjoys working as part of a team, in a responsive and collaborative environment, and is comfortable with both in-person and remote settings.

Personal Qualities/Attributes

• Respects the guidelines and goals of the Native American Arts Center and Idyllwild Arts Foundation.
• Sensitive to the culture and needs of students within an arts boarding community, participates in and leads social and cultural events, and acts as an enthusiastic supporter of school events.
• Sensitive to gender and economic diversity.
• Acts as a model of integrity
• Understands professional boundaries between students and teachers
• Respects confidentiality
• Has a sense of humor and keeps things in perspective
• Exercises patience and good listening skills
• Flexible and has the ability to work under pressure
• Keeps a positive attitude

Other Requirements

• Ability and desire to work within the Idyllwild community, Riverside County, or commute a reasonable distance, which does not impede on-time arrival during winter months.  
• Obtain and maintain a valid California Driver’s License, pass a criminal history background check as required by California Education Code Section 44237, and pass a TB questionnaire/test.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• Specific vision abilities include close, distant and color vision perception and the ability to adjust eye focus.
• Reaching with the hands and arms and use of hands to manipulate a computer keyboard and mouse; to use tools in demonstrating and teaching all areas of math or science, is required.
• Additionally, the incumbent must be able to converse in clear English both written and orally, over a telephone and in person, and be able to make public presentations.
• Work hours vary and may include days, nights, and weekends.
• Occasionally, incumbent may be required to lift up to 25 pounds, traverse uneven terrain and climb stairs while moving about campus, bend and stoop, and/or show visitors campus facilities.
• Provide their own transportation for local and remote events.

Reasonable accommodation will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Interested candidates should submit a CV/Resume (PDF or Word doc format, only) and a letter of interest addressing their skills, abilities, and experiences relevant to this opening.

Idyllwild Arts is an Equal Opportunity Employer