Reel Works is hiring: Summer Animation Teaching Artist in New York

Salary: $40-$50/hr

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reel Works is hiring a Podcasting Teaching Artist to teach a 4-week course on 2D or 3D animation to high school students.

Location: This position requires candidates to be based in the New York City Metro area. The physical office is located in Brooklyn, NY.

Reports To: Director of Education

Compensation: Part-time 20 hours per week; $40-50/hr

Estimated Start Date: Jul 7, 2025

Application Deadline: April 15, 2025

ABOUT REEL WORKS

Reel Works mentors, inspires, and empowers underserved NYC youth to share their stories through filmmaking, creating a springboard for successful careers in media and beyond. Using a one-on-one mentoring model, Reel Works challenges teens to tell their stories and have their voices heard. In turn, students build literacy, leadership, and self-confidence skills to create productive futures. Reel Works serves 1,000 youth annually from middle school through college to launch careers in media.

SUMMER ANIMATION LAB (July 7 - August 7, 2025)

The Summer Animation Lab consists of a month-long workshop for high school students. The program provides participants with foundational skills in animation, offering hands-on experience and fostering creativity and storytelling.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Under the supervision of the Director of Education the Animation Teaching Artist will support the mission and vision of Reel Works by leading an Animation course in 2D and 3D animation teaching foundational animation skills to high school students. This role involves leading weekly, in-person workshops, focusing on storytelling, character design, and animation techniques. You will create and deliver engaging lesson plans while fostering a creative and collaborative learning environment for students.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lesson Plan Development:

• Design sequential, hands-on lesson plans tailored to students strengths and creative ideas.
• Develop lessons that provide foundational skills in 2D and 3D animation, including character design, storyboarding, and basic motion principles.

Teaching:

• Lead dynamic and interactive in-person workshops, ensuring students are actively engaged in learning.
• Provide constructive feedback to support students growth and confidence in animation.
• Schedule: Monday - Thursday workshops from July 7 to August 7, 2025. From 10am-3pm
• Teach key concepts in:
  • Storytelling
  • Character design
  • Animation techniques (2D and 3D)
  • Use of animation software

Collaboration and Community Building:

• Foster a welcoming and inclusive community where students feel supported in their creative pursuits.
• Collaborate with Reel Works staff and stakeholders to enhance the program's effectiveness and outreach.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• In collaboration with the Director of Education, create lesson plans for a group of up to 10-14 students.
• Proficiency in animation software such as Adobe Animate, Toon Boom, Blender, or similar tools.
• Experience in both 2D and 3D animation.
• A strong understanding of animation principles, storytelling, and character development.
• A robust portfolio showcasing animation expertise, including industry or professional work (preferred).
• Experience in teaching or mentoring students; prior classroom experience is a plus.
• Excellent communication, organization, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to engage with diverse students and adapt teaching methods to meet their needs.
• A background in animation or a related field is highly preferred.
• Multilingual abilities are a plus but not required.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and work sample via Reel Works online portal link.

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.

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, the application for all positions at Reel Works includes the option to respond to questions regarding gender, ethnicity, disability, and veteran status (learn more here). This information will not be used as selection criteria in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Self-reporting of personal identifiers is voluntary. While we appreciate your cooperation as we aim to ensure we attract a diverse candidate pool, we respect your right to decide whether to share your personally identifiable information. If you'd rather not share this information, feel free to select "Decline to Answer".

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.