Cora Dance seeks a Full-Time Studio Director to join a small, multi-talented, deeply dedicated staff of artists, administrators and community members who work to strengthen the organization's mission of equitable access to exceptional arts in Red Hook, Brooklyn and beyond. 

ABOUT CORA DANCE AND THE RED HOOK COMMUNITY:

Red Hook, Brooklyn where Cora Dance is based, is a vibrant and fiercely engaged community of families, artists, small business owners, activists and outspoken, informed and caring community leaders. Red Hook possesses a long history of merging art, social justice, and non-profit work to create positive community change with many local non-profits spearheaded by residents living in the Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn’s largest NYCHA public housing community where nearly 80% of Red Hook residents reside. The waterfront area surrounding the Red Hook Houses - long a hub for maritime activity and visual artists/makers seeking affordable space - has gentrified rapidly over the past 10 years as exponentially more wealth and development enters the area. Hence, “two Red Hooks” exist but do not often intersect in substantive ways. 

Cora Dance - which began as a professional modern dance company in 1998 performing the work of acclaimed choreographer, arts educator and long-time Red Hook resident, Shannon Hummel - opened a space in Red Hook in 2008 to merge its professional, educational and community-engagement work under one roof. Seeking to understand and address Red Hook’s divisions and the inequities that cause them in authentic and lasting ways, Cora became home for Hummel’s professional choreographic work with her company and a pay-what-you-can dance school based on her inclusive, collaborative practice of making dances. From the start, the studio has remained focused on two central pursuits: 1) to invest in exceptional programming led by working professional artists devoted to actively practicing their discipline, moving it forward, and understanding and paying tribute to its history; and 2) to understand and invest in removing impediments many individuals face that bar them from having an equal chance to engage, grow, thrive, and achieve their desired goals within those programs. Thus, during its 23 year history - the last 12+ in Red Hook - Cora has not only secured a permanent facility and added hundreds of professional residences, performances, community partnerships, off-site programs, youth company opportunities, touring engagements, and class offerings but has also provided services such as after school pick up; homework assistance; free shoes and dance attire; apprenticeships; internships; service learning opportunities for artists, students and parents of performing artists; legal aid assistance; social-emotional support; access to scholarships at prestigious institutions across the city; middle school, high school and college application assistance; and other wraparound services to ensure successful outcomes are equally possible for all who take part.

Cora gives priority to NYCHA residents while engaging community members from throughout Red Hook. With trust, collaboration, solidarity, and mutual respect as central values, Cora works in deeply personalized ways to ensure participants have lasting opportunities to engage with dance and with one another. With Cora’s artistic programs as the entry point, community members from “both Red Hooks” are introduced to one another, collaborate, build trust, often become chosen family, and reap the benefits of a strong, unified community. Cora’s student and artist population consistently reflects the demographics of Red Hook. Nearly 80% of students, audience and event attendees hail from the Red Hook Houses, while 20% reside in the surrounding waterfront and/or greater NYC areas. Nearly 90% of Cora’s students are on scholarship and no one is ever turned away from a program, performance or event based on what or if they can pay. The professional and youth companies perform 30+ times annually both locally and across the country. Resident artists, guest choreographers and a broad spectrum of performing artists create in Cora Dance’s home space annually. The result is a sophisticated and beloved arts center that authentically integrates professional artmaking, education and community service.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

This NEW organizational team leader position is created to bring added support, energy, experience and creativity to the fiscal and programmatic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and help Cora chart an enriching, artful, and sustainable path to its future. Cora sees this as a time of great challenges but also great possibilities. This new position offers a candidate experienced in multiple facets of non-profit arts management, administration and/or programming a visionary role in a grassroots, hands-on organization and a chance to make a lasting impact. The SD will be responsible for making conceptual, directorial and fiscal decisions for in-house and Red Hook-based programming, allowing the Artistic Director to engage more with programs and relationships on a citywide and national level. The ideal candidate will become an established and trusted ambassador for Cora’s programs in the Red Hook community and a leadership partner to the Artistic Director.

The SD will be an organizational team leader working closely with the General Manager and Board of Directors to oversee the success of Cora’s development, finance and fundraising efforts; organizational structure; team-building; and general administration; and importantly, work in consultation and partnership with the Artistic Director to make informed choices, spearhead and determine the best path toward implementing local community programs that are safe, inspiring, and relevant to the unique needs of this time. 

The ideal candidate has at least 5-years of nonprofit experience, has held a management position or higher for at least 2 years, possesses a “roll up your sleeves” attitude, and embodies an authentic eagerness to engage with people from all walks of life - maintaining and building on new and existing relationships with local non-profit leaders, elected officials, community partners, schools, artists, students, parents, neighbors and funders of the organization. 

This role is on a potential trajectory to grow into an Executive Director and/or Artistic Director position in the next 1-3 years. The SD will play a major part in shaping the organization’s creative and fiscal paths at the highest level, helping lay plans for the next decade. Thus, the ideal candidate is looking to root themselves in the organization for at least 18 months, ideally longer, and feels committed and eager to thoughtfully participate in a lasting way within the organization. 

This is a full-time position. The Studio Director will begin between November 1, 2020 and January 1, 2021, depending on timing to secure the right candidate. Work takes place Monday-Friday with start and end-of-workday times to be determined in communication with the General Manager and supporting staff, staggered to comply with NY Forward recommendations. Work hours may change between virtual and in-person depending on the continually shifting circumstances and evolving NY State and CDC guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic. At times, required attendance at meetings, events and related activities in support of the organization may occur during weekend or evening hours. At this time, the schedule is fairly flexible and a blend of remote and in-person work is required. 

Responsibilities include the following:

Studio Programming:

 - In partnership with the Artistic Director, Youth Council Chair, Lead Teacher, other appropriate staff and community representatives, spearhead the implementation of safe, relevant, inspiring and COVID guideline compliant programming - both re-shaping existing programs and/or establishing new offerings - within the Cora Dance studio and Red Hook community

 - Manage the hiring and oversight of any new local programmatic and administrative team members as necessary to bring about the aforementioned programs, in consultation with the Artistic Director, Youth Council Chair, Lead Teacher, and other appropriate staff and community representatives

 - Serve as an ambassador for the mission and programs of Cora to the Red Hook community.

 - Participate in conversations and meetings related to non-local, off-site programs and activities led by the Artistic Director, Project Manager, artists, crew and other members of the off-site program team to stay abreast of the full scope of organizational activity and needs.

Finance:

 - In collaboration with the Artistic Director and Board Treasurer, prepare the annual organizational operating budget

 - Direct the approval of expenditures and use of financial resources as they relate to the annual operating budget; 

 - Prepare the annual audit, financial statements, IRS 990 and any other necessary governmental filings in consultation with accounting firm; 

 - Supervise the day-to-day financial work performed by the General Manager which includes tracking expenditures, reconciling accounts, cash flow tracking, invoicing and other activities 

 - Work directly with the Board President and Treasurer to prepare finance, development, and activity reports for the Board of Directors, and assist the Treasurer in tracking the contributions of Board members

Development and Fundraising:

 - Prospect and manage institutional fundraising/development and sponsorships for the organization and, in collaboration with the General Manager, oversee contact with officers, application submission, and maintaining of the development calendar;

 - Co-author the annual appeal and other fundraising requests with the Artistic Director and oversee their dissemination in collaboration with the General Manager.

 - Manage donor gratitude and strategize ways to leverage support toward increased donor interest;

 - Oversee event-based fundraising, hiring and overseeing of needed staff and, in collaboration with the Artistic Director, determine and direct fundraising platforms 

 - Lead grant writing and institutional fundraising efforts, preparing narratives and budgets for applications, final reports and the like and overseeing the submission and supporting efforts provided by the development team which includes the General Manager, select Board Members, and Artistic Director 

 - Serve as the direct contact for foundation officers and larger donors

Other Duties:

 - Serve as the administrative team leader to a 3-5 person staff, supervising all aspects of the organization’s administration carried out by other personnel (including HR, contract preparation, events, facilities, day-to-day procedures and protocols, organizational visibility, programs, and the like) to ensure the smooth, safe and compliant functioning of the organization.

 - Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.

 - Attend institutional events and assist in support of these events as needed.

 - Other duties as may from time to time be necessary to support the successful operation of the organization.

SALARY & BENEFITS:

 - This position is Full-Time, exempt. 

 - Salary is $60-$64K annually, depending on experience.

 - Health insurance benefit contribution by the employer (contribution is $7000 annually and generally covers 80+% of premium costs for individuals) 

 - TransitChek MetroCard benefits

 - Access to limited use of free rehearsal space.

 - Paid time off:

      - 3 Weeks Paid Vacation: 2-weeks paid vacation in July (exact dates to be mutually agreed upon by staff) plus 1-week paid vacation during the non-holiday weekdays between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. 

      -Paid time off for the day after Thanksgiving. 

      -Cora observes and provides paid time off for all federal holidays

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

 - 5 years non-profit administrative experience with at least 2 years in management or higher level required.

 - Bachelor’s degree in arts, non-profit administration, and/or related fields required. 

 - Expertise with Quickbooks and G Suite required. Experience working in Salesforce a plus.

 - Strategic, positive, patient, motivating, mature and forward-looking manager of people and resources.

 - Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

 - High emotional intelligence, willingness to learn and share, and an ability to build relationships within a socio-economically and culturally diverse community a must.

 - A desire to work in an intimate, hands-on, grassroots, arts and service oriented environment that is often busy, bustling, noisy, and deeply rewarding.

 - Cora is led by a diverse body of artists, administrators and Board members. Persons of color strongly encouraged to apply. 

 - Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus.

 - Previous experience living or working within a NYCHA community a plus. 

TO APPLY:

Candidates should email a current resume with a cover letter as separate PDF attachments to jobs@coradance.org. Please write STUDIO DIRECTOR in the subject line.

The application period will remain open through October 16, 2020 or until the desired candidate is secured. Candidates are encouraged to apply early.