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AfterSchool Art Program Seeking Assistant Director
Gabriel's Art Kids
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Are you ready to lead the creative chaos that transforms kids' afternoons into artistic adventures?
Gabriel's Art Kids is seeking an ASAP Assistant Director who thrives where education meets imagination, where paint-stained hands signal success, and where the sound of 30+ kids creating art is music to your ears.
The Reality Check
This isn't a desk job. You'll be on your feet for hours, managing multiple classrooms of energetic artists-in-training while juggling licensing requirements, parent communications, and the occasional glitter explosion. You'll need to pivot from comforting a frustrated kindergartener to coaching a teaching artist through classroom management to explaining program philosophy to a skeptical parent—sometimes all within the same hour.
You'll oversee two locations, manage a team of passionate teaching artists, and be responsible for maintaining enrollment targets, budget compliance, and program quality—all while ensuring every child experiences our four pillars: Create, Educate, Entertain, and Inspire.
This job IS for you if:
You believe arts education can change lives (and have the patience to nurture that change daily)
You can maintain calm authority while surrounded by creative chaos
You get excited about spreadsheets AND paintbrushes equally
You see DCYF regulations as quality guidelines, not bureaucratic burdens
You find joy in mentoring both children and adults
You're energized by ambitious goals and measurable outcomes
You can celebrate messy creativity while maintaining operational excellence
This job is NOT for you if:
You prefer predictable, quiet workdays
You need everything to stay clean and organized
You're looking for a traditional management role with minimal hands-on involvement
You're uncomfortable with being held accountable to specific metrics
You see documentation and compliance as unnecessary paperwork
You prefer working independently rather than leading a diverse team
What You'll Actually Do
25% Program Leadership: Design innovative curricula, plan showcase events (First Friday Gallery, Bizarre Bazaar), ensure every child experiences 5+ art mediums per semester
25% Staff Management: Lead, mentor, and retain a team of teaching artists, conduct quarterly reviews, provide professional development opportunities
20% Operations: Manage budgets with 3% variance tolerance, oversee two facilities, maintain inventory systems, ensure transportation and safety compliance
15% Quality & Student Experience: Track artistic growth for 90% of students, reduce behavioral incidents, implement culturally diverse art techniques
10% Parent & Community: Build partnerships, manage volunteer programs, increase engagement by 20%, respond to all communications within 24 hours
5% Camp Planning: Convert 45% of students to summer programs, develop themed camps, coordinate seasonal transitions
The GAKtributes We Need
We're looking for someone who embodies our core values:
Positive - Finding silver linings in spilled paint and seeing potential in every child
Collaborative - Building bridges between artists, educators, families, and kids
Dependable - Being the steady presence families and staff count on (92% team meeting attendance!)
Growth-minded - Constantly evolving your practice and helping others grow
Innovative - Turning licensing requirements into creative opportunities
The Fulfilling Parts (Why This Job Rocks)
When a shy third-grader finally shares their artwork with pride, when your retention numbers hit that 85% target, when parents tell you their child now loves school because of your program—that's when you'll know why this work matters. You'll have concrete proof of your impact: enrollment numbers, retention rates, student growth metrics, and most importantly, the daily joy of 50+ young artists discovering their creative voices.
You'll lead events that become community traditions, mentor teaching artists who'll remember you throughout their careers, and build systems that ensure GAK's sustainability for years to come.
The Details
Position: ASAP Assistant Director (Site Director)
Hours: 30 hours/week, primarily afternoons (12:30-6:30 PM)
Locations: Dupont St, Bellingham, WA
Compensation: $25-30/hour ($39,000 - $46,800 annually)
Benefits: Health insurance, professional development funding, tuition discounts
Performance Reviews: Quarterly scorecards with clear metrics and annual reviews
Minimum Requirements:
18+ years old
12 college credits at hire (additional 18 within 5 years)
Complete required DCYF training
First Aid/CPR certification (within 3 months)
Food Worker card (within 30 days)
Cleared DCYF background check
Preferred Qualifications
While not required, ideal candidates will bring:
Leadership & Management Experience
2+ years supervising creative teams or educational staff
Experience managing multiple locations or program sites
Track record of improving team retention and morale
Success mentoring early-career educators or artists
Educational & Youth Development Background
Classroom teaching experience with elementary-aged children
Experience managing groups of 20+ children in creative settings
Background in arts education, art therapy, or creative youth development
Understanding of social-emotional learning through the arts
Experience with positive behavior intervention strategies
Operational Excellence
Budget management experience
Fundraising experience for arts/education programs
Inventory management and cost reduction initiatives
Experience with state licensing requirements or DCYF compliance
Creative Chaos Management
Demonstrated ability to thrive in high-energy, unpredictable environments
Experience juggling multiple priorities without losing your cool (or your smile)
Comfort with glitter, paint spills, and the beautiful mess of creativity
Ability to find zen in the eye of an elementary school hurricane
Track record of turning "disaster moments" into learning opportunities
Community & Communication Skills
Experience building family engagement programs
Volunteer coordination and management
Partnership development with schools or community organizations
Bilingual capabilities
Social media management for educational programs
Bonus Points For:
Current First Aid/CPR certification
Experience with neurodiverse learners
Background in multiple art mediums (ceramics, printmaking, fiber arts, etc.)
Summer camp planning and execution
Experience transitioning between temporary and permanent facilities
Ability to fix a paper jam while mediating a kindergarten dispute while answering a parent email (simultaneously)
We value diverse experiences and encourage candidates who meet the minimum requirements to apply, even if they don't check every preferred qualification box.
Ready to Make Your Mark?
If you read this and thought "ambitious but achievable," we want to meet you. Send us:
Your resume
A cover letter that shows us how you'd tackle one of our specific challenges (enrollment, retention, or program innovation)
Brief examples of measurable successes from your past work
Bonus points: Share a creative solution to a common after-school program challenge or tell us about a time you turned chaos into achievement.
At Gabriel's Art Kids, we measure success in both masterpieces created and metrics achieved. Join us in building something extraordinary.
- Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.