Education Programs Manager

LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is a community hub where people gather to celebrate Latinx culture through transformative exhibitions, music, dance, culinary arts, and multigenerational art-making and storytelling experiences.

Housed in two historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles, LA Plaza is adjacent to Olvera Street at El Pueblo de Los Angeles. It includes a museum, a 30,000-square-foot outdoor space with a performance stage, an edible garden, and LA Cocina de Gloria Molina, a teaching kitchen and flexible event space that spotlights the history, culture, and influence of Mexican and Mexican American cuisine.

Established in 2011, LA Plaza is a Los Angeles County cultural institution and a Smithsonian affiliate museum. More information is available at  https://lapca.org/. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Education Department at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes offers K-12 grade students, educators, and families the opportunity to explore the history, art, culture, and contributions of Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and Latinos in Southern California. Education programs at LA Plaza create a pathway to cultural self-discovery and foster the appreciation of personal, family, and community heritage.

Reporting to the Director of Education, the Education Programs Manager will support the innovative development, implementation, evaluation, and promotion of LA Plaza’s diverse range of education programs. The Manager will serve as an advocate for culturally-relevant teaching and curriculum, arts integration, and will support the development of standards-based curriculum and materials.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as a leader in shaping and modeling innovative pedological techniques and strategies, with an emphasis on culturally-relevant teaching and learning.

• Contributes to and supports the design of quality education programs through project and program development, implementation, data collection, and evaluation.

• Oversees field trip reservations and manages the operations of booking, scheduling, and welcoming school groups to LA Plaza.

• Oversees the implementation and allocation of LA Plaza’s bus grant program for Title I schools.

• Works collaboratively with education advisors, content specialists, and community organizations to oversee and support the development of curriculum, lesson plans, and educator materials aligned to California State Content Standards and Visual and Performing Arts Standards.

• Oversees the development of content for marketing use (e.g., website, social media, and newsletters) and is responsible for submitting to Marketing & Communications Department.

• Collaborates with Director of Education to develop and implement strategies to publicize and promote education programs and opportunities to school districts and educators.

• Supervises full-time content specialists and art educators, as well as independently contracted artists.

• Cultivates professional relationships with schools, education administrations, and education policy stakeholders, working in partnership to expand the reach, accessibility, and implementation of programs and resources.

• Additional duties as assigned.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

·        Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in managing education programs or community engagement programs, or comparable experience as an educator in formal or informal learning environments.

·        Demonstrated experience creating and overseeing education programs or initiatives that address the needs of diverse student communities, including developing learning opportunities that engage students with a range of learning styles and cognitive, developmental, and physical abilities.

·        Competency in creating and implementing standards-aligned programs for K-12 students and educators, including the development of curriculum aligned to the History-Social Science Framework and/or Visual and Performing Arts Standards.

·        Demonstrated success in managing team members in a constructive and cooperative manner.

·        Demonstrated awareness of, sensitivity to, and competence in communication with and about culturally and socioeconomically diverse populations.

·        Excellent prioritization and organization skills and a proven ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.

·        Internet competency and strong computer proficiency, including the Microsoft Office software suite and a familiarity with database software.

·        Fluency in Spanish, written and spoken is strongly desired.

Benefits

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

• Full Time, Exempt
• Hybrid schedule that includes office work at LA Plaza in downtown Los Angeles, with occasional evening and weekend activity.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS PACKAGE

• Salary $65,000 per year
• $50.00 monthly cell phone/internet stipend 
• Free parking
• Individual health, dental, and vision care
• Non-match 401K
• Direct Deposit of paycheck
• Employee discount in LA Tienda
• Optional AFLAC coverage
• 90-day introductory period
• Mileage reimbursement
• Facility rental fee waived for one (1) personal event per year.
• Paid holidays (13), five mental health days annually, plus two-weeks paid time off the last week of December and first week of January annually. For 2025, Thanksgiving closure Monday, November 24, to Wednesday, November 26, in addition to the scheduled holiday closures on Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

·        Extensive interaction with the public of all ages.

·        Office environment in a museum setting. 

·        Significant computer work (repetitive movement – typing).  

·        Ability to perform the physical requirements of the job, including frequent sitting standing, walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, climbing stairs, lifting, pulling, and carrying up to 30 pounds. 

·        LA Plaza will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the responsibilities of the position.