ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, THE ART INSTITUTE
Poughkeepsie, NY
THE ART EFFECT
The Art Effect empowers youth to develop their artistic voice to shape their futures and bring about positive social change. Based in Poughkeepsie, we help young people in the Hudson Valley explore, experience, and excel in the arts, introducing them to visual arts and media, giving them the opportunity to develop real skills in these fields, and guiding them toward achieving their academic and career goals.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Associate Director, The Art Institute provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for The Art Institute, The Art Effect’s tuition-based, pre-college arts education pathway for ages 5-19. This position is responsible for advancing the quality, growth, sustainability, and impact of The Art Institute through curriculum development, management of teaching staff, student and family engagement, college partnerships, and tuition revenue strategy.
The Associate Director oversees all aspects of The Art Institute’s programming, including course development, scheduling, instructor recruitment and coaching, student advising, budget management, event management, and program operations. This position reports to the Director of Programs and works collaboratively with Development, Communications, and Operations departments to ensure The Art Institute remains a high-quality, accessible, and financially sustainable pathway for young artists.
The ideal candidate is an innovative arts educator and leader who understands youth mentorship, portfolio development, and the value of preparing students for creative careers and higher education opportunities.
RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES
- Program Leadership & Strategic Growth
- Provide vision, leadership, and strategic direction for The Art Institute in alignment with The Art Effect’s mission and goals
- Develop and implement annual program goals, benchmarks, and growth strategies
- Evaluate program effectiveness through student outcomes, enrollment trends, family feedback, and financial performance
- Identify opportunities to expand and strengthen tuition-based educational offerings
- Develop and maintain systems that support student recruitment, retention, engagement, and success
- Ensure The Art Institute continues to meet the evolving needs of students pursuing creative career pathways
- Collaborate with Communications on marketing strategies, enrollment campaigns, and storytelling
- Curriculum Development and Educational Quality
- Develop and oversee course curriculum, schedules, and learning objectives
- Build pathways that support student growth, portfolio development, creative exploration, and technical skill-building
- Collaborate with teaching artists to maintain high-quality instructional standards
- Review and assess student outcomes to continually improve program quality
- Teaching Artist Management and Evaluations
- Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, and train a staff of approximately 10 part-time professional artists and educators
- Provide supervision, feedback, evaluation, and professional development opportunities for instructional staff including interns and teaching assistants
- Manage teaching artist contracts, schedules, and program expectations
- Budget and Tuition Program Management
- Work with the Program Director and Associate Director of Administration to develop, manage, and monitor The Art Institute budget and fiscal responsibility
- Oversee tuition revenue goals, enrollment targets, and financial sustainability of program
- Develop strategies to increase enrollment, retention, and earned revenue
- Assist the Program Director and Development Manager in grant proposals and reporting requirements, including compliance with funder guidelines
- Support the Development Manager in identifying sponsorship and donor engagement opportunities related to The Art Institute
- Student/Family Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention
- Build meaningful relationships with Art Institute students and families
- Evaluate and advise students on potential opportunities for growth and recognition, including competitive submissions such as Scholastic awards
- Teach at least one advanced-level course per semester supporting students in developing artistic confidence, technical skills, and personal voice
- Recruit and oversee The Art Effect’s ArtsBridge, college access program, and chapter of the National Art Honor Society
- Curate the planning and execution of student exhibitions such as Teen Visions and Senior Project in collaboration with program staff
- College and Community Partnerships
- Develop and maintain relationships with representatives of art colleges, universities, and creative institutions
- Coordinate college representative engagement and opportunities for students
- Lead planning and implementation of Hudson Valley Regional Portfolio Day
- Manage ArtsBridge, The Art Effect’s college access program for first-generation high school students by providing integrated, year-round support that combines advanced visual arts instruction with comprehensive college readiness services
TO APPLY
This is a full-time position, with flexibility to work from home 1–2 days per week, offering medical and dental benefits, 401K, paid time off, and others.
Salary range: $65,000-70,000
Please email cover letter, resumé, link to artistic portfolio, and 3 references to [email protected]. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. No phone inquiries will be accepted.
Pay: $65,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
