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Art Center College

Associate Director, Creative Entrepreneurship Job at Art Center College in Pasad

Art Center College, Pasadena, CA, United States


ArtCenter College of Design is searching for an experienced Associate Director, Creative Entrepreneurship to join our team.

The salary range for this position: $68,000.00 - 80,000.00

Finalsalary is based on education, experience, skills relevant to therole, and internal equity.

About ArtCenter
Foundedin 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a globalleader in art and design education and has had an international reputation forits rigorous, transdisciplinary curriculum, faculty of professionals, strongties to industry, and commitment to socially responsible design. ArtCenter is aprivate nonprofit fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and UniversityCommission (WSCUC).

Every positionat ArtCenter plays an important part in carrying out the values, goals,strategic vision, and mission of the College. This includes diversity,equity, inclusion, access, belonging (DEIAB) and culture.

Reporting to the director of Creative Careers, the associate director of Creative Entrepreneurship will be a key partner in the strategic development, execution, and management of entrepreneurship programs, resources, and student advising. The incumbent will ensure that students gain the skills, resources, and networks needed to succeed as freelancers and creative business owners. This position will play both a strategic and operational role, collaborating with faculty, external partners, and other campus stakeholders to align programming with the College's broader goals and student outcomes.

This is a full-time in-region position. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position is eligible for flexible scheduling and can be performed hybrid with the expectation of at least 3 days in the office or required as a condition of employment. The college reserves the right to modify schedules as needed to meet the business needs with appropriate notice.

Essential Functions

Program Development and Operational Leadership - 50%

  • Partner with the director of Creative Careers to shape and launch the strategic direction of Creative Entrepreneurship programs and resources within the division
  • Plan and execute strategic initiatives and project objectives set by the director
  • Design, plan, implement and maintain a suite of entrepreneurship-focused programs, workshops, events and programs covering topics like personal branding, freelancing, business management, startup formation, pathways to gallery opportunities, obtaining grants/residencies and more.
  • Provide effective delivery of services; initiate periodic review and revision of format
  • Manage existing services and programs, ensure the delivery of high-quality services and programs oriented to the success of students; evaluate the programs and procedures for efficiency
  • Develop strategies to engage students in creative entrepreneurship and oversee marketing campaigns and materials related to Creative Entrepreneurship
  • Promote creative entrepreneurship through presentations and resources at new student orientation, family orientation and first year experience programs
  • Collaborate closely with all members of Division to ensure strategic alignment in programming, advising, and services related to Creative Entrepreneurship
  • Actively participate in Department and Division strategy and planning meetings
  • Collaborate with all student affairs offices and academic departments in providing comprehensive services to students
  • Research new digital tools to enhance creative entrepreneurship offerings
  • Coordinate, organize, manage, train and track student workers, authorize and submit copies of Student Employment Authorization Forms to Employee Experience
  • Ability to enforce and implement policies and procedures
Educational Support and Outcomes - 40%
  • Oversee the development of entrepreneurial toolkits, resources, and materials to enhance student learning and career outcomes
  • Manage these resources on the department website, in office, and across the college
  • Provide advanced one-on-one and group advising for students interested in launching creative businesses or freelancing careers
  • Serve as a thought leader and primary resource for students interested in pursuing creative entrepreneurship pathways by connecting them to entrepreneurial tools, funding opportunities, and industry expertise
  • Collaborate with Career Advisors on how to best support students in applying creative entrepreneurship skills to their individual career paths
  • Partner with faculty to develop and lead in-class workshops collaborating with the creative careers team on entrepreneurial topics
  • Implement professional learning opportunities through various delivery models including, structured workshops, virtual presentations, classroom activities and digital platforms
  • Collect and analyze data related to program and advising outcomes, entrepreneurial success stories, and entrepreneurial activities to assess program effectiveness and make data-driven improvements and enhance student outcomes
Partnership Development and Outreach - 10%
  • Build and maintain strategic relationships with alumni entrepreneurs, industry leaders, guest speakers, and external partners to create a robust network of mentors and opportunities for students
  • Work with ArtCenter's alumni and development teams to engage successful alumni in entrepreneurial programming
  • Effectively present Creative Entrepreneurship services to organizations and students
  • Stay abreast on industry trends, needs and opportunities in industries and markets related to the field
  • Keep current on educational trends, competitors, and best practices related to creative entrepreneurship
  • Oversee special projects and events such as recruitment events and mentorship programs
Non-Essential Duties - 5%
  • Maintain memberships and active involvement in applicable professional organizations
  • Serve on educational or college-wide committees, work groups, task forces and/or councils
  • Other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in business, arts management, education, or a related field Marketing from an accredited college or university or equivalent combination of education and experience
  • At least 3 years of experience in entrepreneurship, creative arts management, higher education career services, or a related field
  • Knowledge of the career aspirations of artists and designers, as well as the challenges and opportunities in creative entrepreneurship and freelancing
  • Experience advising, teaching, or mentoring young adults, particularly in entrepreneurship, freelancing, or business development
  • Proven experience designing, delivering, and evaluating programs in an educational or organizational environment
  • Strong leadership and supervisory experience
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and inspire students and partners. Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, industry leaders, alumni, and other stakeholders
  • Ability to handle multiple tasks with close attention to detail and prioritize effectively to meet deadlines
  • Ability to handle confidential information with tact and discretion
  • Strong computer skills, with a proficiency in Microsoft Office
  • Flexibility to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed
  • Demonstrated experience in cultivating the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging into work practices within Art Center's diverse communities
  • Ability to enforce and implement policies and procedures
Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's degree in business, arts management, education, or a related field from an accredited college or university
  • Experience developing entrepreneurship educational content for creative professionals
  • Direct experience freelancing or running a creative business
  • Familiarity with intellectual property (IP) law, contracts, and licensing agreements
  • Understanding of entrepreneurship funding mechanisms such as venture capital, grants, and residencies
  • Awareness of global trends in creative entrepreneurship

Physical Demands and Working Environment

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with frequent interruptions and distractions; extended periods of time viewing computer monitor; interactions with other individuals. Due to the nature of the work environment, there is regular exposure to fumes, dust and noise.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight (up to 10 pounds); to operate modern office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Regular and consistent attendance are required for most positions. Ability to travel between campuses.

Vision: Must be able to have the visual capacity to perform activities such as preparing and reading reports, viewing a computer terminal and other normal office work with or without correction.

Hearing: Must be able to communicate effectively in the course of normal office communication or exchange ideas with or without correction.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the employee assigned to this job; they do not purport to describe all functions. Employees may be assigned other duties, and the essential functions may be changed from time to time as necessary.

Diversity Statement
ArtCenter is fully committed to fostering a culture that values diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging not only in vision but in practice. Our path forward is predicated on our belief that multiple points of view, life experiences, ethnicities, cultures and belief systems are essential to academic and creative excellence. We strive to learn more about difference while respecting the rich diversity in our world, attending to important questions about racial injustice and decolonizing our curriculum. Our campus environment must be vigilant in supporting the full participation of students, faculty, and staff of every race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, socioeconomic status and political viewpoint.

Equal Opportunity EmployerArtCenter is committed to a policy of equalemployment opportunity and does not discriminate against its employees orapplicants on the basis of race (including hair texture and protectivehairstyle), color, religion (includes religious dress and grooming practices),sex/gender (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and/or relatedmedical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, maritalstatus, medical condition (genetic characteristics, cancer, or a record orhistory of cancer), military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry,disability (mental and physical, including HIV/AIDS, cancer, and geneticcharacteristics), genetic information, request for family care or medicalleave, age (over 40), criminal background (Fair Chance Act), reproductivehealth decision-making, off-duty and off-premisescannabis use, or any other actual or perceived characteristic protected byapplicable state or federal law. Equal employment opportunity is extended toall persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, includingwithout limitation, recruitment, hiring, upgrading, learning and professionaldevelopment, promotion, compensation, benefits, leave of absence, transfer,discipline, layoff, recall and termination. This commitment applies to allpersons involved in the operations of ArtCenter and prohibits unlawfuldiscrimination by any employee of ArtCenter. Applicants who wish to request an accommodation for a disability may contact the Office of Employee Experience and Engagement at (626) 396-2470.

Applicant Rights (Prior Cannabis Use)
ArtCenterwill not request information from an applicant relating to the applicant'sprior use of cannabis. ArtCenter will not use information obtained from acriminal history about an applicant or employee's prior cannabis use, unlessArtCenter is permitted to consider that information under applicable law.

Employment At-Will
All employment with ArtCenter is for anunspecified term and is "at-will." Employees are free to resign at any time,with or without reason, and with or without prior notice. Similarly, ArtCenterhas the right to terminate the employment relationship at any time, with orwithout cause, and with or without prior notice. This "at-will" employment,which includes the College's right to transfer, discipline, demote, or changethe conditions of employment with or without cause and with or without priornotice, cannot be modified, amended orwaived by any oral or implied agreement, and may be modified or altered only byan express individualized written employment agreement signed by both theemployee and the College president

ArtCenter Employees have a Mandatory Duty to Report
All employees who know or have reason to know of allegations or acts that violate ArtCenter's Title IX Policy prohibiting discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking shall promptly inform the Director, Title IX Compliance and Programs or designee, or the Associate Dean of Students or designee. Faculty, who have a mandatory duty to report, are required to disclose all information including the names of the parties, even where the person has requested their name remain confidential.

Pursuant to the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), all employees who know of or have reason to suspect child abuse or neglect involving alleged victims under age 18 shall promptly inform local law enforcement or the county welfare department.