Words & Music Manager

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Words and Music Manager (Full Time, Exempt)

FLSA Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has an opening for a full-time, exempt Words & Music Manager in the Education Department.

Company Overview:

Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum documents and interprets the history of country music-a musical genre and culture central to the identity of the city, the state, and the nation. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the museum proudly combines subject expertise, ambitious research, and preservation of an unparalleled collection with expressions of creativity in music, art, and history. The museum collects artifacts that illustrate the evolving history and traditions of country music and provides diverse learning opportunities through educational programs, publications, and exhibitions. The core exhibit follows the story of country music from its folk beginnings through its evolution as a commercial art form. Rotating exhibits examine a broad range of topics, from country classics to contemporary and emerging artists in American Currents. The museum owns Hatch Show Print, a letterpress print shop opened in 1879, and it operates Historic RCA Studio B, where Elvis Presley and many others recorded.

What We Offer for Full-Time Staff:
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance Options
Competitive Pay
Paid Vacation and Sick Days
Paid Holidays (13) and Floating Holidays (2)
401(K) with Up to 3% Employer Match
Employee Assistance Program (Free Counseling and Legal Services)
Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
FREE 24/7 Downtown Parking and Transit Benefits
Continuing Professional Offerings
Complimentary Museum Admission (For Yourself, Family, and Friends)
Reciprocal Partnerships with Local Venues (The Nashville Zoo, Dollywood Theme & Water Parks, National Museum of African American Music, tours at The Opry and The Ryman Auditorium, and more)
Up to 25% Discount in Retail Stores and Onsite Restaurant Venues
Opportunities to Attend Exhibit Openings, Concerts and Special Events
Employee Engagement Activities and Opportunities
FSA and Dependent Care Options
Dog Friendly Work Environment
Volunteering and Community Engagement Opportunities

Departmental Overview:

Charged with the mission of educating varied audiences about country music, the Education Department develops programs and resources that illuminate the stories, themes, and music explored in the Museum's galleries. Traditionally serving more than 236,000 people per year through 1,200+ programs, the Education Department supports students of all ages, from school groups and families who engage in hands-on learning activities to general Museum guests who experience performance presentations during their visit. A creative and curious team, Education staff is composed of traditional and nontraditional educators, including classroom teachers, visual artists, historians, museum educators, and professional musicians. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum educators share a passion for country music, popular culture, and lifelong learning, and they regularly collaborate to develop and implement dynamic educational offerings commensurate with one of the most-visited history museums in America.

Job Overview:

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum seeks a music educator with exceptional organization and communication skills to assist with management and facilitation of the Museum's flagship education program Words & Music. This position provides essential administrative, logistical, and facilitation support, including scheduling, internal and external communications, songwriter on-boarding, departmental record keeping, and assessment. This passionate educator will also lend expertise to guiding programs, revising and developing resources, and making recommendations for on-going program development and service.

About Words & Music:

With service to thousands of students each year, Words & Music: Teach Language Arts Through Lyric Writing encourages creative expression through writing and aligns to English Language Arts and Music curriculum standards for grades 3-12. Outside of the classroom, Words & Music provides meaningful songwriting experiences for pre-literate children, military veterans, corporate audiences, pre-service teachers, young adults, and other specialized audiences. Words & Music has been a cornerstone school program for the Museum since 1979. In the foundational experience, students learn the basics of songwriting by composing lyrics through a step-by-step, 10-lesson unit instructed by their classroom teacher. Words & Music culminates with an experience led by a professional songwriter, who add melodies to a selection of student lyrics and performs finished compositions for the class in an interactive workshop. To provide students with an introductory songwriting experience, Songwriting 101: Introduction to Words & Music is available for all grade levels and culminates in a group songwriting workshop led by a professional songwriter. Adaptations of the foundational program serve audiences beyond the traditional classroom. Extensions include experiences tailored to the target audience's developmental stage, social emotional learning needs, or stage of musical growth and/or interest. Adaptations include Words & Music for Early Learners , Words & Music for CreatiVets, Words & Music: Journey of a Song , and Words & Music school partnership programs.

Specific Job Duties:
Manage all Words & Music and Songwriting 101 programs for school audiences and support Words & Music programs for specific audiences and/or partners including Words & Music for Early Learners and school partnership programs.
Oversee all inquiries and program requests for Words & Music, including responding to emails and phone calls from teachers, answering questions about the Words & Music lesson guides and support materials, scheduling workshops, and sending confirmation letters and day-of details.
Oversee all logistics of confirmed Words & Music workshops, including requesting and receiving student song lyrics, reviewing lyrics once received, and sharing lyrics with contract songwriters.
Coordinate all internal logistics associated with Words & Music workshops, including booking rooms, drafting/reviewing internal communications paperwork, attending weekly meetings related to the program calendar, and effectively communicating workshop production and operations support details.
Facilitate Words & Music programs as needed, including Words & Music Outreach in Middle Tennessee schools.
Schedule and contract songwriters for Words & Music workshops and assist with timely payment of honorariums.
Manage recruitment, on-boarding, and training of new songwriters for the teaching artist roster.
Manage stewardship for Words & Music songwriters.
Manage supplies, gear, technology, and instruments needed for Words & Music.
Manage Words & Music evaluation, including sharing assessment tools, requesting participation, analyzing and sharing evaluation information and data, and making recommendations to ensure Words & Music is meeting intended learning outcomes.
Oversee sharing and organization of all Words & Music workshop audio recordings, including post-session communication between schools.
Manage all historical record keeping of Words & Music, including proper filing of student song lyrics and Words & Music workshop audio recordings.
Manage Words & Music Night, an annual event performed by local students and Nashville songwriters, including communication, rehearsals, and performance logistics.
Assist with the development of lesson guides and web resources for the teacher resource portal, the Museum's digital hub for exhibit and program-based curriculum supports and lessons.
Assist with Words & Music areas on the Museum website and school programs marketing initiatives.
Assist with Words & Music professional development workshops for teachers, including reservations, planning, and logistics.
Support instruction with Words & Music for CreatiVets.
Assist with summer Songwriting Camp planning, communication, logistics, and instruction.
Support other songwriting programs throughout the education department, including Songwriting Tune-Up, as requested.
Manage the Instrument Trunk program, including coordinating drop-off and pick-up with schools and developing lesson materials.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in education, music, humanities, communications, or related field
A minimum of 3-year work history in a museum, school, or similar educational or non-profit environment
Proficiency on a musical instrument and/or a proficiency in songwriting
Previous experience in a teaching role
Knowledge of K-12 curriculum standards

Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with audio recording and command of GarageBand or similar recording software
Knowledge of STEAM curriculum and Social and Emotional Learning and Development
Passion for and knowledge of country music and awareness of popular music in general, including contemporary music across genres
Proficiency in Spanish or other language
Knowledge of current music copyright and royalty laws
Experience with Tessitura database
Experience with formal program assessment and evaluation

Key Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):
Exemplary written and verbal communication skills
Strong organizational and time management skills
Knowledge of American history and American music history
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Ability to work with accuracy and close attention to detail
Experience and passion for children and interest in their learning and development
Comfort with public speaking and presenting to youth and adult audiences

Conditions of Employment:
Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends
Willingness to travel to schools throughout Davidson County and Middle Tennessee
Driver's license and vehicle with willingness to transport equipment to and from programs
Ability to lift 25 lbs. or less

Notes to Applicant:

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is an equal opportunity employer. We respect the varied attributes, characteristics, and perspectives that make each person unique, and we believe that fostering a culture of inclusion is essential to institutional excellence. The museum promotes an environment of respect, communication, and understanding, while actively seeking opportunities to learn about and establish practices that further facilitate equity. The museum does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), national origin, political affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information or characteristics, age, membership in an employee organization, military or veteran status, or other non-merit factor. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

We are a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer that welcomes all qualified candidates to apply for open positions. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its staff and visitors. All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and employment verification, including federally mandated E-verify processes, as required for position.

Due to the high volume of applications received for this position, hiring managers will only contact candidates they are interested in scheduling for an interview. Please refrain from calling to inquire about the status of your application.

Please upload a resume and cover letter when applying for the position.

Applications are only accepted online on our career page: https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/careers
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