Rural Program Manager

POSITION TITLE: Rural Program Manager
POSITION STATUS: Full time, exempt, regular position
SALARY RANGE: $50,000 – $55,000, excellent benefits
REPORTS TO: Rural Program Director
SUPERVISES: Contractors
*This is a remote/WFH position

POSITION PURPOSE
To manage and implement Springboard’s rural programs. Springboard’s rural office in Fergus Falls, MN was launched in 2011 and has become a hub for thought and action about arts-based community development and creative placemaking in rural settings. Our rural programs include local, state and national projects: the Rural Arts and Culture Summit, Artists on Main Street, and the Hinge Arts Residency Program. The rural program staff collaborates closely with Springboard’s St Paul staff to ensure relevance, impact and representation of rural artists in its organization-wide programs. In 2021, Springboard will launch a new fellowship program for rural artists in the upper midwest, which will be a significant component of the Rural Program Manager position responsibilities.

This position is based in Fergus Falls, MN, however, for the right candidate we are open to discussing a hybrid remote/in-person position. The ideal candidate will live no more than a 2 hour drive from Fergus Falls and be willing to spend time in the office at least two days per week, and occasionally for several days at a time to staff programs and events. (note: currently, due to the pandemic, all Springboard staff are working remotely until further notice).

Fergus Falls is a community of 13,700 people in West Central Minnesota, located three hours north of the Twin Cities, and one hour south of Fargo, North Dakota. Fergus Falls is the county seat of Otter Tail County, which is home to two state parks, Glendalough and Maplewood, more than 1,000 lakes, and a wide range of arts and culture activities and organizations. Learn more about living in Otter Tail County: www.ottertaillakescountry.com/local-living/

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Collaborate with Rural Program Director, partners, and other Springboard staff to develop, plan and evaluate rural programs, including:
○ Rural Regenerator Fellowship (new program to be launched in 2021)
○ Rural Arts and Culture Summit (a biannual national rural arts conference)
○ Hinge Residency (an artist residency program based in Fergus Falls)
○ Ongoing Rural Artist Resources and Economic Opportunity efforts
• Manage and implement rural programs and partnerships by:
○ Overseeing program logistics, ensuring projects stay on time and on budget
○ Organize and support program planning meetings with partners, artists and staff
○ Support and supervise contractors
○ Assist with communication, storytelling/documentation and evaluation tasks
• Support and/or facilitate rural program events/workshops (both online and in person)
• Informal consultations with rural community leaders/artists looking for support and guidance
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Required qualifications:
• 3-5 years (formal or informal) experience in project, event and/or program management
• Demonstrated experience and familiarity with rural community and economic development, rural arts and culture leadership, and/or rural community organizing
• Familiarity with asset-based community development, place-based community organizing, social justice, arts and nonprofits.
• Excellent writer and communicator.
• Track record of organizing and managing complex, collaborative projects, including communicating with artists, partners and stakeholders, creating planning timelines, keeping projects on schedule, and delegating tasks.
• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of racial equity and equitable community development practices.
• Ability to work well in a team and also autonomously.
• Willingness and ability to learn and grow to meet the changing requirements of the job.
• Interest in creating and managing new programs to meet the needs of a highly innovative, entrepreneurial, and creative organization.

Qualified applicants must be friendly, organized, have a sense of humor and patience, experience with artists and the arts community and be unafraid to ask questions. Experience as a practicing artist, creative worker or culture bearer from a rural community highly preferred. We are looking for someone who brings the project management skills and knowledge of rural artist and community needs to help us build on our recent success and ensure the continuing health, vibrancy and growth of Springboard. Some travel, mostly regional and some national, is required for this position. We estimate that travel will be 10 – 15% of this position.

High levels of verbal and written communications will be required in this job. Day-to-day, this role will use MacOSX, MS Office Suite, and Zoom. Ability to work well in a team and also autonomously.

HOURS, COMPENSATION, AND BENEFITS
* Full time, 40 hours a week
* Salary range: $50,000-$55,000 + excellent benefits
* Benefits: 100% employer paid health insurance for employee and 50% employer paid for family members
* 100% employer paid dental insurance for employee
* Simple IRA with 3% employer contribution
* Paid time off, sick leave, vacation and holidays
* Flexible work schedule
* Creative, artist-led work environment

Application Instructions

Upload your application by 11:59pm Friday, February 5, 2021 using this form.

Please name your files:
* Lastname_Firstname_Rural _Program_Manager_Cover.pdf
* Lastname_Firstname_Rural _Program_Manager_Resume.pdf

Cover letters can be addressed to Michele Anderson, Rural Program Director

No phone calls, please.

Springboard for the Arts is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer.