Position Summary

The Community Learning Coordinator (CLC) is a member of the Learning & Community Engagement team and plays a crucial role in implementing specialized youth programming for the organization. Reporting to the Senior Manager of K-12 Learning, the CLC will be the lead educator and coordinator for a portfolio of specialized learning programs at the Center, collaborating cross-departmentally to define and implement a programmatic vision aimed at reaching and cultivating new audiences with learning and community engagement at the forefront. This role is a grant-supported position with the possibility of annual renewal. A successful candidate will assist the Learning Team in providing high quality community youth programming, reporting on metrics, with the goal of attracting sustained funding. In collaboration with numerous Center departments (Curatorial, Marketing, Exhibition Design, learning etc.), the CLC will integrate CAC’s strategic goals into education programming, and introduce innovative, inclusive programs to foster new audiences and community connections.

The CLC will foster an inclusive culture in the Learning Department and be a champion for identifying ways for CAC to engage new visitors, students, educators, and families. The CLC will contribute to the strategic discussion around the development of the Center’s learning initiatives and specialized program goals, with input and support from senior management, staff, community partners, and other constituents. It is important for the CLC to seek a deep understanding of the characteristics and needs of CAC’s local, regional, and national communities. Collaborative and innovative, the CLC will possess a strong understanding and practice of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and access) values within cultural institutions.

Roles and Responsibilities

Organizational Collaboration and Departmental Leadership

• Establish productive working relationships with staff, colleagues, and community partners; sustain and strengthen a culture of trust, communication, entrepreneurship, teamwork, and integrity.
• Design programming and learning experiences that foster a culture of belonging and engage students of all backgrounds, in collaboration with colleagues in other departments, i.e., curatorial, collections, exhibition design, etc. Specifically: the Girls Build! program, No Small Plans portfolio, Chicago Public Schools, and newly developed partnerships. 
• Partner with the Senior Director of Learning and Community Engagement and Senior Manager of K-12 Learning on fundraising initiatives; identify current and potential sources of program funding and pursue them in close coordination with the appropriate leaders within the advancement group.
• Work with the Finance Department to develop and manage specific program operating budgets with long-term planning and revenue generation opportunities in mind.
• Grow new and strengthen existing relationships with schools, universities, patrons, volunteers, and other community groups, and with other museums through innovative collaboration, partnership, and civic engagement programming.

Program Implementation

• Facilitate high quality learning programming with K-12 youth (with a focus on middle grades and high school).
• Recruit and engage with participating youth and families.
• Evaluate programming, to support continuous quality improvement.

Strategic Vision and Leadership

• With support from the Senior Manager of K-12 Learning, unite the various programs of the Department under a unified philosophy and mission aligned with CAC’s mission, resulting in overall programming that is cohesive and coherent.
• Actively participate in the arts and design education learning field and adopt current models and best practices.

Traits and Characteristics

The CLC will be an innovative, collaborative educator adept at inspiring people while fostering a harmonious, inclusive learning environment for students and a culture of belonging for CAC’s diverse learning communities. Driven by new ideas, methods, and opportunities, the CLC will work closely across departments and the organization to deepen and expand programming that delivers measurable outcomes and impact with adequate financial and human resources.

Other key competencies include:

• Diplomacy and Teamwork – The dexterity to effectively and tactfully handle difficult issues in a manner that demonstrates sensitivity and respects differences while modeling and cultivating a culture of collaboration, accountability, joy, and excellence.
• Personal Accountability and Planning/Organization – The potential to establish courses of action, to ensure that work is completed effectively while remaining answerable for one’s own actions.
• Leadership and Project Coordination – The capability to organize and inspire people to believe in a vision while living and modeling the Center’s values, creating a sense of purpose, and cooperating with others to meet objectives, as well as identify and oversee all resources, tasks, systems, and people to obtain results.
• Time and Priority Management – The capacity to prioritize and complete tasks to deliver desired outcomes within allotted time frames.

• 3+ of professional experience in an education, nonprofit, or coordinator role leading learning and community engagement initiatives and strategies in a museum, school, or cultural nonprofit setting is required. 

• A background in architecture, urban planning, gender, or civic engagement is encouraged. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and experience in program, budget, and project coordinating are essential. 

• Experience designing curriculum and programming serving a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and learning styles, including a range of evaluation tools and strategies to inform program revision, improvement, and/or expansion is key. 

• A demonstrated understanding and practice of IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, and access) values within cultural institutions is essential.