Careers at Craft Alliance

Education & Programs Director

Craft Alliance is a premier nonprofit maker space dedicated to empowering our community through the craft of the handmade. We are seeking a visionary, organized, and community-minded Education & Programs Director to lead our artistic mission. This role is the heartbeat of our organization, bridging the gap between our studio walls and the vibrant community we serve.

As the Education & Programs Director, you will oversee the strategic development and execution of all educational initiatives, from youth summer camps to professional-level workshops. You will lead a dedicated internal team, manage a diverse roster of faculty, and ensure our exhibitions reflect the excellence and diversity of contemporary craft. As a visionary leader, you will govern all aspects of a comprehensive program of craft education curricula and events for the organization, including planning, implementing, and evaluating tuition-based education programs, classes, camps, and workshops to fulfill the mission of the organization. The Education & Programs Director is an important leadership position reporting to the Executive Director, serving as a member of the Leadership Team, and understands the role of board and committee relations within the context of the organization. As a full-time position, the Education & Programs Director must be able to work flexible hours as needed and work onsite with the team.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Program Development & Content Creation

• Design and implement a comprehensive curriculum for year-round classes, intensive workshops, seasonal camps, and community outreach partnerships.
• Innovate new program models that respond to current trends in the craft world and the needs of our local community.
• Ensure all educational content aligns with the organization’s mission of accessibility and artistic excellence.
• Knowledge of learning and teaching methodologies.

Team Leadership & Faculty Management

• Directly manage and mentor a core administrative team of education and program staff members.
• Recruit, hire, and supervise a rotating roster of expert faculty members and teaching artists.
• Conduct performance reviews and provide professional development opportunities for staff and instructors.
• Coordinate and manage the Board’s Program Committee.
• Coordinates with leadership for cross-departmental needs related to events, programs, funding, grants, budgets, etc.

Exhibition Oversight

• Collaborate with curators and staff to oversee the gallery’s exhibition schedule.
• Ensure a seamless connection between classroom learning and gallery inspiration, integrating exhibition themes into educational programming.

Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Act as a primary ambassador for Craft Alliance, representing the organization at community events and professional conferences.
• Proactively build and maintain strategic partnerships with schools, local nonprofits, and civic organizations.
• Identify opportunities for off-site programming and collaborative projects to expand our reach.

Administrative & Budgetary Management

• Develop and manage the annual budget for the education and exhibitions departments.
• Oversee program registration systems, data collection, and impact reporting for grant requirements.

Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of leadership experience in arts education, nonprofit management, or a cultural nonprofit setting.
• Leadership: Proven track record of managing teams and fostering a collaborative work environment.
• Knowledge: Deep familiarity with craft media (e.g., ceramics, fibers, metals, paper, wood, glass) and contemporary art trends.
• Communication: Exceptional public speaking and networking skills; ability to connect with diverse stakeholders.
• Flexibility: May work evenings and weekends as required and experience with nontraditional students and/or community-based education.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Art Education, Arts Administration, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).

Benefits/Salary

• Salary Range starting at $70,000.
• Paid Time Off (PTO), health, vision, and dental insurance, discounts on educational classes, workshops, and camps, discounts on purchases in the shop and gallery.

Why Join Craft Alliance?

You will have the unique opportunity to shape the creative landscape of our region. We offer a competitive nonprofit salary, a flexible and creative work environment, and the chance to work alongside a community of passionate makers.

Craft Alliance Craft Alliance is a nonprofit visual arts organization nurturing and inspiring creativity as we educate and enrich our community through contemporary craft. Nationally recognized as one of the premier craft organizations in the country, Craft Alliance is the only organization of its kind in the region solely dedicated to contemporary craft. Craft Alliance offers classes in craft techniques, artist residencies, community programs, exhibitions, and a gallery shop. Craft Alliance has studios for ceramics, metals, blacksmithing, fibers, glass, wood, print and paper arts, and an Artists-in-Residence program.

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.

To apply, please send cover letter, resume, and three references (including relationship and contact info – they will not be contacted unless you move forward through the interview process) in a single PDF to Bryan Knicely, Executive Director at bryan.knicely@craftalliance.org with the subject line Education & Programs Director. Your cover letter should outline your skills as they align with this position along with your passion for craft. 

Development Manager (Grants & Institutional Giving focus)

Reporting to: Development & Communications Director

POSITION SUMMARY

The Development Manager is a key storyteller and strategist for Craft Alliance, primarily responsible for securing institutional support through expert grantwriting and relationship management. This role manages the full lifecycle of corporate, foundation, and public grants while assisting the Development & Communications Director in implementing a comprehensive development program.

Working closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors, the Development Manager ensures that the organization’s mission is compellingly articulated to institutional funders to meet the ambitious goals of the Strategic Plan. While additional duties may be assigned from time to time, the following is a list of the core roles and responsibilities:

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Grantwriting & Institutional Giving (Primary Focus)

• Grant Lifecycle Management: Lead the preparation, writing, and submission of high-quality grant proposals, letters of inquiry (LOIs), and reports for private foundations, corporate giving programs, and public agencies (local, state, and federal).
• Strategy & Research: Proactively identify and research new institutional funding prospects. Maintain an annual grants calendar to ensure 100% on-time submission of proposals and reports.
• Compliance & Reporting: Work with program staff to gather data and narratives for grant reporting; ensure all grant-funded project requirements and recognition credits are met.
• Corporate Partnerships: Solicit corporate prospects for both programmatic grants and event sponsorships, aligning corporate social responsibility goals with Craft Alliance initiatives.
  Individual Giving & Stewardship
• Portfolio Management: Manage a portfolio of individual donors ($250–$500 range), focusing on cultivation and retention through personalized communications.
• Data Integrity: Manage assigned donor information in the database, tracking giving history and entering interactions to identify high-value prospects for the “donor journey.”
• Progress Tracking: Prepare monthly institutional giving and individual donor progress reports for the Development Team.

Board & Staff Engagement

• Culture of Philanthropy: Work across departments to translate program needs into fundable opportunities, ensuring an optimal fit between organizational goals and donor interests.
• Collaborative Marketing: Partner with the Marketing Team to integrate development messaging into sponsorship decks and collateral materials.
• Organizational Support: Demonstrate a commitment to teamwork and the Craft Alliance mission, complying with all policies and assisting with special events as required.

REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Experience: 3–5 years of professional experience in nonprofit development, with proven success in grantwriting and institutional fundraising.
• Technical Writing: Exceptional writing skills with the ability to synthesize complex program information into clear, persuasive proposals.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to analyze donor data and grant trends to forecast revenue and identify growth opportunities.
• Systems Proficiency: Experience with CRM/Donor databases (e.g., DonorView, Bloomerang, Raiser’s Edge), Microsoft Office Suite (strong Excel skills required), and grant research tools, including AI.
• Project Management: Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and cross-functional contributions from staff and volunteers.
• Financial Literacy: Familiarity with nonprofit budgeting and a willingness to work with the finance department on grant reconciliation.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• A sincere passion for the arts and Craft Alliance’s role in the St. Louis community.
• An engaging communication style capable of building rapport with diverse stakeholders.
• Unfailing discretion and ethical judgment when handling sensitive donor information.
• A “best-in-class” approach to detail and excellence.

Status: Exempt/Full-Time

Salary Range starting at $50,000.

Benefits

Paid Time Off (PTO), health, vision, and dental insurance, discounts on educational classes, workshops, and camps, discounts on purchases in the shop and gallery.

Why Join Craft Alliance?

You will have the unique opportunity to shape the creative landscape of our region. We offer a competitive nonprofit salary, a flexible and creative work environment, and the chance to work alongside a community of passionate makers.

Craft Alliance Craft Alliance is a nonprofit visual arts organization nurturing and inspiring creativity as we educate and enrich our community through contemporary craft. Nationally recognized as one of the premier craft organizations in the country, Craft Alliance is the only organization of its kind in the region solely dedicated to contemporary craft. Craft Alliance offers classes in craft techniques, artist residencies, community programs, exhibitions, and a gallery shop. Craft Alliance has studios for ceramics, metals, blacksmithing, fibers, glass, wood, print and paper arts, and an Artists-in-Residence program.

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.

To apply, please send cover letter, resume, and three references (including relationship and contact info – they will not be contacted unless you move forward through the interview process) in a single PDF to Bryan Knicely, Executive Director at bryan.knicely@craftalliance.org with the subject line Development Manager. Your cover letter should outline your skills as they align with this position along with your passion for craft.