Senior Director Of Programs

Senior Director of Programs

Reel Works | Brooklyn, NY

The Details

Location: Hybrid; New York City Metro Area
Start Date: April 2024

Salary Range: $125,000 - $140,000

Travel: The position requires travel to our physical location that is located in Brooklyn, NY

Reports To: Co-Founder & Chief Program Officer 

Application Deadline: February 26, 2024

Please note the application deadline is February 26th 5PM PST. We will not actively screen those who apply after the deadline. However, if you apply after the deadline and the position is not filled, we will review your application.

The Opportunity

Reel Works is seeking a Senior Director of Programs responsible for the overall success of our educational programs that empower high school students with skills, mentorship, and tools to tell their stories, creating a lasting impact on their lives post - graduation. Leading a team of diverse programming professionals, you will oversee the entire programming lifecycle, including ideation, development, implementation, evaluation, and iteration. The Senior Director of Programs will contribute to the mission and vision by cultivating, innovating, and continuously improving the culture within the Education Department while shaping the future of education for students. 

Key Responsibilities 

40% - Program Development and Management

• Oversee and manage multiple concurrent programs, including Reel Works After School and Reel Works In School, ensuring smooth operation and timely delivery.
• Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of program strategies aligned with Reel Works’s mission, strategic goals, and values. Ensure programs are inclusive, accessible, culturally responsive, and engaging for students.
• Manage program evaluation and reporting process to assess effectiveness, impact and opportunity for program improvements that are aligned with programmatic goals.
• Stay informed about industry trends, identifying opportunities for innovation and program refinement. 
• Support the team in preparing and presenting regular reports on program outcomes and impact to internal and external stakeholders, including Reel Works leadership and Board.

30% - Team Leadership and Management

• Inspire, lead, and mentor a team of programming professionals to deliver exceptional results, fostering positive collaboration, open communication and an inclusive work environment.
• Provide performance evaluations, check-ins and professional development opportunities for staff that motivate and empower team members to achieve their full potential.
• Recruit, onboard, and train program staff in accordance with Reel Works’ culture, policies and standards, including Reel Works instructors, to ensure diversity of educators in classrooms and equity throughout the hiring and onboarding process.

30% - Partnership Building and Budget Management

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including teachers, students, parents, administrators, and community members and organizations, and industry partners to expand program reach and impact. 
• Represent Reel Works in the community and at industry events, advocating for youth media education and career readiness.
• Attend educational conferences, meetings, and events on behalf of Reel Works to support securing funding for our educational programs and initiatives.
• Develop and manage the Education Department budget, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to meet program goals and sound financial management practices are observed. 

The Skills You’ll Need

Success in the Senior Director of Programs role will require a deep commitment to Reel Works mission and core values, and dedication as a strategic and visionary leader. The ideal candidate should possess strong managerial skills, experience in the film and production industry, and interest in fostering programming that has a long-lasting impact on the lives of the students we serve. 

The ideal candidate will also bring the following skills, attributes and experiences:

• 10+ years of experience in education, youth development, administration media studies, or related field
• At least 5+ years in a leadership role
• 5+ years of proven experience working in media arts, media production and filmmaking 
• Proficient in Google Apps [Drive, Calendar, Sheets, Docs, Hangouts and Mail] and experience with tools such as Zoom and Salesforce
• Experience, and passion for inclusion and working effectively with a diverse group of people, including experience working with BIPOC communities
• Experience managing budgets and negotiating contracts
• Strong written and verbal communicator with good interpersonal skills; comfortable establishing and building good, productive working relationships with a variety of people (students, parents, industry professionals, staff at all levels and various other internal and external stakeholders)
• Deep commitment to DEIB beliefs, emotionally intelligent leadership, and a desire to cultivate a strong and equitable workplace culture 

Additionally, you may be aligned with this role if you see yourself in the following examples:

• Alignment and passion for our mission [Change the Story Tellers, Change the World!] and our core values [Growth, Trust, Empathy, Community, and Self-expression]
• Proven track record of success in developing, executing and evaluating successful programming strategies
• Strategic thinking visionary able to see and communicate the big picture in an inspiring way; determining opportunities and threats through comprehensive analysis of current and future trends.
• Operational/business mindset with a proven track record of building processes for managing program workflows and competing priorities
• Organizational leader with a high degree of comfort and confidence stepping up as a thought-leader across the entire organization
• People manager with a proven track record of successfully building, retaining and developing diverse teams, and of consistently employing inclusive and race-intentional leadership practices to engage and grow reports

The People

The Senior Director of Programs will be under the supervision of Co-Founder & Chief Program Officer. You will supervise the Director of Programs, Director of Education, and the Manager of Schools and Community Partnerships and frequently work with the CEO, Development, and the Communications teams on department initiatives. 

The Organization

Reel Works is dedicated to mentoring, inspiring and empowering underserved youth in New York City. Through the transformative medium of filmmaking, we provide a  unique, one-on-one mentoring model that builds vital skills in literacy, leadership, and self-confidence. This approach serves as a springboard for successful careers in the media and beyond, fostering productive futures for the youth we support.   

Our services are available year round through our “After School” and “In-Schools” programs, led by professional film educators focused on storytelling, hands-on filmmaking, and building a supportive community of peers. Our target audience is comprised of NYC students, ages 13-19 who are interested in film and come from diverse cultures, ethnicities, gender identities, physical and cognitive abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds. 

 

In 2019, Reel Works launched the MediaMKRS program to address the crisis of inclusion in the media industry. MediaMKRS is a consortium of industry and education leaders. It aims to diversify the media landscape and create equitable solutions by bringing together industry leaders, educators, and government officials to train and credential rising talent. 

For more information, please visit reelworks.org and mediamkrs.org. We are committed to nurturing the next generation or diverse storytellers who will positively impact and reshape the media landscape.

The Next Steps

This search is being led by the team at Imagine Consulting. We are a talent and recruitment firm specializing in placing high-impact people in high-impact roles. If you have questions or need support completing the application, please reach out to our team at careers@imagineimpactllc.com.

Reel Works is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and developing an inclusive staff team. BIPOC, people with intersecting identities - LGBTQIA+, women and non-binary people, people living with disabilities and others with lived experience being part of marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Reel Works is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. For information about when and why we collect personal information on candidates, and how we keep it secure see our privacy policy. 

Historically, people of color, women, transgender, GNCNB, and disabled individuals face insurmountable oppression when engaging with employers and recruiters. At Imagine, we understand that talent is not bound to a single story and that our intersectional identities are value adds in every space we enter. Reel Works and Imagine are committed to building and supporting a diverse staff, and investing in fostering leadership from marginalized communities.

 

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