Program Officer, Arts & Education Partnerships en Arts Science & Cultural Council of Charlotte-Meckl

Description

OUR MISSION | REMARKABLE IMPACT

Remarkable impact is the heart of Foundation For The Carolinas’ mission, and the driving force behind our mission is the collective impact of thousands of nonprofits, families, companies, and organizations who partner with us to amplify the power of giving. 

The Arts & Science Council, a supporting organization of Foundation For The Carolinas, nurtures Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s cultural ecosystem by supporting local creatives and nonprofits. Its mission is to foster community retention, drive economic growth, and enhance residents' quality of life. As both a funder and fundraiser, ASC offers grants, manages public art, supports community-led programs like Culture Blocks, and provides educational programming for PreK-12 students. As an advocate and resource, ASC also provides funding support, workshops, and cultural education. ASC’s work aims to remove barriers, ensure cultural access for all, and promote upward mobility. 

HOW YOU’LL ADVANCE OUR MISSION | POSITION OVERVIEW

The Program Officer, Arts & Education Partnerships, is a full-time, exempt role responsible for leading and managing ASC’s grant programs that specifically fund in-school educational offerings provided by local creatives and nonprofit organizations across Mecklenburg County. Under the supervision of the Vice President of Community & Artist Support, this Program Officer will play a pivotal role in ensuring equitable access to high-quality arts and science education experiences for Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools, with increased emphasis to serve Title I schools. The Program Officer will serve as the primary point of contact for grantees, monitor program effectiveness, and contribute to the strategic evolution of ASC's education funding priorities.

 HOW YOU’LL ADVANCE OUR MISSION | POSITION OVERVIEW 

Grant Program Leadership & Management (70%)

• Design, launch, and manage a new grant program focused on increasing arts, science, history & cultural programming within Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools, with priority and elevation given to Title I schools.
• Oversee the full portfolio of assigned Arts Education grant programs, including program design, application development, marketing, review processes (via a separate community-based grants panel), and award notifications.
•  Develop, manage and refine grant guidelines, criteria, and reporting requirements to align with the specific needs and desired impact of educational programs serving K-12 students in public school settings.
• Provide guidance and technical assistance to prospective and current grantees on application procedures, program requirements, and best practices in arts education.
• Facilitate objective and thorough grant review processes, including recruiting and training panelists, synthesizing panel feedback, and preparing recommendations for approval to the Grants Committee and ASC Board of Directors.
•  Monitor grantee progress, performance, and compliance through site visits, reports, and engage in ongoing communication with programming vendors and school staff.
• Track and analyze program data to assess impact, identify trends, and inform future funding strategies.

Community Engagement & Relationship Building (20%)

• Cultivate strong, collaborative relationships with education departments of nonprofit organizations, individual creatives who offer school-based programming, CMS school leaders, and central office administrators for the district. Serve as a community connector between these stakeholders.
• Act as a resource and advocate for arts education, connecting creatives and organizations with resources, partnerships, and professional development opportunities.
• Organize and facilitate professional development opportunities for educators, building their capacity to integrate arts into their teaching practices. These would ideally be on teacher workdays within the public school calendar to allow for interactive, hands-on workshops.
•  Represent ASC at community meetings, workshops, and events.
• Identify emerging needs and opportunities within the arts education landscape of Mecklenburg County.

Strategic Contribution & Evaluation (10%)

•  Contribute to ASC’s philanthropic advocacy through analysis of quantitative data and storytelling through qualitative data, including the collection of grantee statistics and appropriate grant-related data, on all ASC grant programs.
• Participate in cross-functional teams within ASC to align arts education grants with broader Community & Artist Support departmental goals and community development efforts.
• Prepare reports and presentations on program outcomes, impact, and lessons learned for internal and external stakeholders, including the ASC Board of Directors.
• Ensure all grants follow IRS regulations and ASC policy.
• Monitor developments best practices, research, and trends in arts education, state arts standards, and innovative, impactful program offerings.

Working Conditions

• The ASC team works in a hybrid environment, with 4 days per week at the Foundation for the Carolinas office (220 N Tryon).
• This role will include frequent site visits to participating schools. Must have access to reliable transportation. A mileage budget will be provided by ASC.
• This position requires attendance at events outside regular office hours, and the ability to occasionally lift up to 20 lbs. 

Requirements

 WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR SUCCESS: QUALIFICATIONS   

• 5+ years of experience in program management, grant-making, or arts education within a nonprofit or school-based setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of arts education principles, methodologies, and best practices.
• Familiarity with the art education landscape across the county and state is highly desirable.
• A passion for fostering a vibrant, diverse, and accessible K-12 arts education programming in Mecklenburg County.
• Excellent communication skills (bilingual in English/Spanish preferred), problem-solving, strategic thinking, education program management, and organizational skills.
•  Proficient in MS Office Suite; experience with databases is a plus (ASC uses Blackbaud Grantmaking). 
• Strong commitment to service, ability to manage multiple priorities, and understanding of the impact of cultural planning on economic development.