Job Description

STATUS: Full time

DIVISION: Kresge Arts in Detroit

REPORTS TO: Director, Kresge Arts in Detroit

SUPERVISES: 3 Full time Staff

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

Position Description

The Assistant Director is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of KAID’s program activities and communications. The position works—as a connector and skilled administrator—in concert with the Director to evolve Kresge Arts in Detroit’s (KAID) artist support and advocacy program, and serves as the primary point of contact for awarded artists. This position is full-time, with benefits. It is grant-funded, with a high likelihood of continuation.

Program Background

Administered by the College for Creative Studies, Kresge Arts in Detroit (KAID) represents one aspect of The Kresge Foundation’s investment in Detroit, providing support to artists living and working in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. Since 2008, Kresge Arts in Detroit has awarded over $9 million through 16 Kresge Eminent Artist Awards, 302 Kresge Artist Fellowships, and 62 Gilda Awards ($5,000 each). The fellowships are currently $50,000 each and the Eminent Artist Award is $100,000.

Learn more: kresgeartsindetroit.org

Position Accountabilities and Essential Functions:

• Duties & Responsibilities.
• Lead the design and delivery of KAID’s artist support work—ensuring program goals and deadlines are met—and serve as primary contact and service provider for awarded artists.
• Maintain artist support calendar and budget, coordinating as needed with KAID award recipients, staff, program partners, and contracted production and promotional supports.
• Set and attain communications goals for email updates, social media, and program announcements and events.
• Write, edit, and proofread digital and print copy, such as website content, newsletters/eblasts, social media posts, press releases, reports, and fact sheets.
• Manage up to 3 full-time staff, and external contractors as needed.
• Possess the ability to prioritize conflicting needs; handle matters expeditiously and proactively; follow through on projects to successful completion, often with deadline pressures.
• Work in partnership with the Director to set the vision for the next chapter of the KAID program.
• Remain informed of ideas, trends, and concerns in Detroit and nationally that relate to arts and culture, philanthropy, and individual artist support.
• Serve as an ambassador and advocate for the program.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Leadership experience in the arts and culture sector.
• Strong project management skill acute attention to detail, and the ability to handle multiple disparate projects effectively, and with care.
• Demonstrated experience implementing artist engagement and/or educational programming.
• Demonstrated knowledge in local and national arts and culture, community development, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors.
• Able to manage and manage up, as well as work independently and collaboratively with other team members.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate effectively on complex topics both orally and in writing.
• Ability to interact with a broad range of people with diverse backgrounds and possess excellent constituent relations.
• Adept at anticipating and avoiding potential problems, and to responding calmly and effectively when unexpected circumstances arise.
• High emotional intelligence and excellent interpersonal skills; must employ good judgment, diplomacy and discretion; take initiative while being a supportive and observant learner.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, including racial equity.
• Tech savvy, proficiency with Zoom, Google Workspace, and MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

Desired Qualifications:

• High level of interest in the nonprofit sector and experience with nonprofit organizations.
• Demonstrates compassion, humility, and integrity with personal warmth and generosity of spirit.
• Interest and aptitude for learning new skills and new content.
• Shows initiative in finding data and researching issues.
• Experience with Quickbooks and database programs.
• Solutions-oriented, responsible, and empowered in approach to individual and team responsibilities.

Work Environment:

• This job operates in a professional office and college campus environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to maintain a stationary position, use a computer and other office equipment, and communicate effectively in person, by phone, and virtually.
• Frequent interaction with others, including staff, faculty, students and third parties is required.
• The employee may occasionally be required to move files or other objects weighing up to 25 pounds, including from low and high places.
• The ability to move around within the office and between buildings on campus, attend off-site meetings and events, and travel between Ford Campus site to Taubman Center site are required.
• CCS will make reasonable accommodations that will allow individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

About CCS

The College for Creative Studies (CCS) is a nonprofit, private college authorized by the Michigan Education Department to grant Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. CCS, located in midtown Detroit, strives to provide students with the tools needed for successful careers in the dynamic and growing creative industries. CCS fosters students’ resolve to pursue excellence, act ethically, engage their responsibilities as citizens, and learn throughout their lives. With world-class faculty and unsurpassed facilities, students learn to be visual communicators who actively use art and design toward the betterment of society. The College is a major supplier of talent to numerous industries, such as transportation, film and animation, advertising and communications, consumer electronics, athletic apparel, and many more. Its graduates are exhibiting artists and teachers, design problem solvers and innovators, as well as creative leaders in business.

To apply

Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. The search will close when a suitable candidate is hired. Interested candidates should submit the following in PDF format: Resume, letter of application, and two professional writing samples should be submitted to: hr@collegeforcreativestudies.edu

CCS website:

The College for Creative Studies, a leading college of art and design, represents a community composed of individuals with many perspectives, personal experiences, values, identities and worldviews and we value the diversity this brings to our organization. CCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, height, weight, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

The College for Creative Studies subscribes to the principle of equal opportunity in its employment, admissions and educational practices and strives to provide an environment and workplace free from unlawful harassment or discrimination. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are part of our Core Institutional Values and we encourage applications from all individuals.

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