Who We Are

Founded in 1964, Craft Alliance is a nonprofit art center dedicated to nurturing creativity and engagement, educating and enriching our community through contemporary craft. Located in the Delmar Maker District of St. Louis, Missouri, Craft Alliance offers exhibitions, education classes for all skill levels, free community programs, artist residencies, and a gallery shop.

Position

The Education Manager develops, manages, and implements a cohesive group of educational programs that link schools, families, and community audiences of all ages with the Craft Alliance mission. This position is an integral member of the program development process and will work closely with the Education & Programs Director and key staff members to manage educational programs. The Education Manager is committed to developing innovative and hands-on educational programs for adults and youth, introducing the community to craft.  The Education Manager works with signature Craft Alliance programs such as, but not limited to, Free Family Saturday, School Residencies, annual Summer Camp programming, Third Fridays, Crafting a Future, and ArtSmarts.  

 

Overview:

  • Works with the Education and Programs Director to develop programs, including K-12, community, homeschool, and adult programs. Manages education and community programs in terms of budget tracking, administrative documentation, arranging and organizing payment, audience surveying and evaluation, and program facilitation. 
  • Develops and implements interdisciplinary programming (on-site, off-site, mobile settings, and virtual) based on craft studios and exhibitions for various needs including early childhood programs, school field trips, alternative educational settings, outreach programs, and weekend and summer camps. Builds and sustains relationships with K-12 teachers and administrators across the Saint Louis Metro area. This includes the ability to lead hands-on demonstrations in various media and discuss educational strategies. 
  • Builds and sustains relationships with diverse community partners to foster arts engagement in the community and Craft Alliance. Develops committed partners and collaborators as the foundation of education programming.                                            

                               

Responsibilities:

  •  Design, staff, and supervise ongoing core education programs, including but not limited to: 

    • Free Family Saturdays, a studio experience for youth and families 
    • Crafting a Future, a studio and portfolio experience for high school students 
    • ArtSmarts, a studio experience field trip for area schools 
    • School Residencies 
    • Tuition-based Youth Classes and Camps.
    • Studio-based rentals and events.  
    • Third Fridays 

     

  • Create and submit material needs, repair needs, and studio inventories with the Facilities Manager and Studio Technician in a timely manner. 

  • Work with partners to develop and create contracts for partnership programs. 

  • Supervise Teaching Faculty:

    • Assist with recruitment, scheduling and training of youth education faculty.

    • Assist with time tracking and coordination of faculty meetings. 

  • Recruit and review applications for Crafting a Future. 

  • Prepare and share programming numbers, evaluations, and appropriate data with the development and marketing department to meet grantors’ requirements and aid in the creation of marketing materials. 

  • Code and submit invoices, receipts, and purchase orders promptly to the Finance Department. 

  • Collaborate with the Education and Programs Director to establish a budget and expense tracking system for the Community Programs unit. 

  • Attend all Education meetings and staff meetings. 

  • Research local community events. Organize and facilitate a Craft Alliance presence at community events, festivals, and other partnerships. Coordinate with appropriate departments for marketing collateral or supplies. 

  • Document and maintain program curriculum, updating and implementing new curriculum as needed. Collaborate with Education and Programs Director on programmatic priorities.  

  • Communicate regularly with schools, home school cooperatives, programmatic partners, and educators on program expectations, travel, and logistics for programs 

  • Notify and track students who are approved for financial assistance and or scholarships.

  • Work with the Registrar on registering students. 

  • Programmatic support as assigned, including but not limited to on- and off-site program facilitation and mural installations, hosting Third Friday, and assistance with education-based programming activities. 

 

Strong Candidates Will Have:

  • Master’s degree in art education, art therapy, visual arts with teaching experience or comparable overall experience. Minimum requirement: bachelor’s degree with two years of work experience. 
  • 2-3 years of experience in community programming, education/arts education related fields, or educational program administration. 
  • Two years minimum teaching experience with a variety of students in both traditional and non-traditional settings. 
  • Experience or background in craft or visual arts. 
  • Strong oral and written communication skills. 
  • Strong organizational skills. 
  • Strong resource and time management skills. 
  • Demonstrated ability to plan and implement programs or projects. 
  • Office computer skills (Microsoft Suite, Google Workspace). 
  • The ability to travel within the St. Louis region. 
  • The ability to work evenings and weekends as needed. 
  • The ability to work evenings and weekends as needed. 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities.  

 

Relationships:

  • Reports to the Education & Programs Director.  
  • Supervises teaching artists and faculty. 
  • Regular communication and collaboration with Studio Coordinator and Registrar on scheduling and studio needs. 
  • Regularly communicates with the Development Manager, Marketing & Communications Manager, and Special Events Coordinator on advertising needs, programmatic grants, and reporting. 

 

Benefits:

  • 21 Paid Time Off (PTO) days (includes sick leave and vacation time) and major holidays 
  • Employer pays 80% of individual insurance (health, dental, vision) 
  • Life Insurance 
  • Retirement plan with employee match 
  • Discount on purchases in the gallery and shop 
  • Tuition Waivers and discounts on adult classes, workshops, and camps 

Status: Exempt/Full-Time 

(Updated December 2024)

 

To Apply: Please submit a resume, cover letter outlining your qualifications as they relate to this position, and three professional references to Bryan Knicely, Executive Director, at bryan.knicely@craftalliance.org       

Diversity Statement

We celebrate diversity at Craft Alliance, and we hope you will be part of our creative team!

Craft Alliance is committed to embracing diversity in all its forms, fostering an inclusive work environment where a wide-range of characteristics, backgrounds, and perspectives thrive. We believe that by valuing and leveraging this diversity, we drive innovation, creativity, and the success of our organization. We strive to promote diversity and inclusion on our board, among our staff and volunteers, and in our programming.

Craft Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Research shows that people from historically excluded communities apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.