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Thursday, October 20, 2005

Shannon Stewart is leaving Vera.

Posted by on October 20 at 16:34 PM

It’s true. Sadly, Shannon Stewart, co-founder of the Vera Project, has just announced that she is leaving. She’s going to stay into the new year while Vera searches for her replacement (so there’s plenty of time for good-byes), and if you think you have what it takes to follow up Shannon’s amazing work, then check out the job posting below.

CLOSING DATE: November 4th, 2005 5:00pm

The Vera Project seeks a highly skilled and ambitious professional to be part of leading this young and growing non-profit organization in Seattle, WA. Established in 2000, the Vera Project is an all ages community-based music-arts center run by and for youth. By engaging participants in all levels of music production and community organizing, Vera strives to fulfill its mission to fuel personal and community transformation through the vehicle of popular music shows produced in partnership with young people in Seattle. The Vera Project operates with a progressive participatory structure in which the Executive Director, Program Director, Board of Directors and Vera members work collaboratively on programming and sustaining this organization. In partnership with the Executive Director, a small staff team, the Board of Directors and Vera members, the Program Director will lead this organization that engages more than 13,000 people annually. The ideal candidate will assume responsibility for programming oversight of the organization and will work with the staff, Board and Vera membership to remain responsive to the needs and interests of the Seattle youth community especially related to music, art and civic engagement.

Working with organizational partners and the youth program committee, the Program Director is responsible for inventing or turning youth inspired program concepts into Vera programs.

The breakout of program management is as follows:
· Music Event Programming
· Conference/Workshop/Class Management
· Summer Programming
· Community Partnerships and collaborative programming
· New program design, development and implementation
· Master Scheduling of Vera's program, partnerships and facility
· Devising promotion plans using all possible affordable and effective outlets to promote Vera Programs, workshops and classes
· Performing annual program evaluation to be presented to the Board of
Directors.

The Program Director also acts largely as a Human Resources Manager overseeing staff, interns, members, volunteers and overseeing two committees.

As part of the leadership of Vera, the Program Director works with the Executive Director on budgeting, strategic planning, office management and community relations. The Program Director is also called on to participate in Board development, Board meetings and retreats, City of Seattle relations, fundraising, and acts as the secondary contact for people working with the Executive Director.

The ideal candidate will have a strong combination of the following skills:

Youth Advocacy
Direct experience working with young people (ages 13-20) in an advocacy position. Sharing leadership and taking leadership from youth involved at Vera is integral to the Program Director's position.

Knowledge of local music and art scene
The Program Director oversees booking and promotions and must be up to date on current trends in artists and promotion methods, and must additionally know how to compete and collaborate with other local art and music organizations. Experience working with bands, booking agents and artist managers is a plus.

Communications
Strong written and verbal communications skills, well-developed interpersonal skills, presentation skills, networking and community-building skills and ability to interface with diverse populations

People Management
Ability to work in a cooperative environment with Vera staff and volunteers, working to inspire, empower, and take feedback from and be consistent with Vera's staff and constituents while upholding Vera's values.

Facilitation and Consensus
Experience facilitating meetings and decision-making processes. Knowledge of how to gather everyone's input and make decisions based on consensus.

Commitment to social justice, community organizing and activism
The Vera Project's ability to be a safe environment for people from diverse backgrounds depends on Vera's leaders reflecting and protecting those values. The Vera Project is an environment set up to foster community change as deemed necessary by youth in Seattle.

Program Management/Development
Experience in creating, developing on managing a multi-faceted program.

Evaluation/Analytical Skills
Ability to quantitatively and qualitatively measure success in programming and communicate findings to Board, Members, and community at large.

Outreach and Partnerships
Knowledge or experience in effective outreach and successful partnership building.

QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate with have a Bachelor's or advanced degree in Community Development, Social Work, Youth Studies, Teaching, Public Policy, Arts Administration, English, or Fine Arts. The ideal candidate will have 2 or more years of non-profit administration or relevant business or community organizing experience. Significant relevant work experience may be substituted for education.

COMPENSATION Salary based on experience plus health insurance

APPLICATION PROCESS:
Please submit cover letter and resume by November 4th, 2005 to:
Program Director Search Committee
The Vera Project
1122 E. Pike #849
Seattle, WA 98122
Electronic submissions are highly preferred. Please send submissions to directorsearch@theveraproject.org and FOLLOW up with a phone call to make sure it was received. If you need a hard copy of the job description, please call (206)956-8372.

Please address the following questions in your cover letter:
How would you evaluate and improve upon Vera's current programming? What are the essential elements of sustaining a youth led program? Why is an organization like the Vera Project important to a community?