Job: Associate Director of Cultural Development

Primary purpose is to assist the Director in designing, implementing, and evaluating public policy and programs that nurture a culturally rich community, offering Newton residents opportunities to participate in cultural programs that support the activities of Newton artists, musicians, and cultural organizations.

Nurture strong working relationships within the Department/City, especially those departments that participate in the activities of the department i.e.: public works, police, building, fire, health, law departments and others. Foster strong working relationships outside the Department/City: including but not limited to the Cultural Council, performers, parents, volunteers, and citizens at large.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Participate in a culture of ongoing learning, collaboration, innovation, creativity, and community engagement. Act as an advocate for the arts community championing arts/culture causes and working towards enhancing the vibrant arts environment in Newton. Position includes work on evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Primary Responsibilities (including, but not limited to the following):

Assisting with:

  • Day to day operations of the Cultural Development office i.e.: phone, email, website, postal mail
  • Planning and implementing multiple events and programs including Annual Sponsorship Appeal, Public Art Programs, Family Funfest, 4th of July Celebration, Summer Concerts, Halloween Window Painting, Holiday Lighting, Holiday Craft Show, Time for Partners program, and other events/programs deemed necessary and appropriate throughout the year.
  • Cultivating and managing a vibrant data base of volunteers and artists.
  • Creating and delivering engaging social media content and other marketing materials.
  • Envisioning and delivering a high standard of care to all individuals who interact with the department, including city workers (elected and staff), residents and non-residents alike.

Additional Responsibilities:

Assisting with:

  • Choosing, supervising, and evaluating performers, entertainers and groups for festivals, concerts, and special events.
  • Choosing, supervising, and evaluating quality of craftspeople for festivals and craft shows.
  • Choosing, supervising, and evaluating prospective faculty members and lecturers.
  • Sourcing and investigating new exciting and relevant programs and events for our city.
  • Writing/creating press releases and flyers, brochures, social media content and other promotional materials for all events. Distributing brochures and flyers: Managing public relations and advertising with print and electronic media.
  • The maintenance of the centralized Newton Arts Calendar, collecting data and troubleshooting.
  • Maintaining registration records, confirming registrations of events and programs.
  • Financial management of the department’s income/expense reporting and invoicing.
  • Maintaining calendar of bookings for War Memorial/Cultural Center auditorium and other city locations, and communicate appropriate needs with custodians and IT.
  • Preparing and administering contracts with entertainers.
  • Planning and preparing event sites with the cooperation of various city departments.
  • Administrative work for Newton Cultural Council.
  • Supervising events (includes evening, weekends and holidays).
  • Recruiting, organizing, and managing volunteers to help with events.
  • Providing needed support to the Mayor’s Office when needed.
  • Performing similar or other duties as directed by senior management.

QUALIFICATIONS

A self-motivated, creative, and dynamic professional with a minimum two years of education in recreation, education, culture, arts or related field and progressively responsible work experience in arts and culture administration, program development and implementation. A minimum of two years of non-profit or public-sector/governmental administrative experience, or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Ability to deliver results, facilitate and influence others and problem solve beyond temporary solutions. Event planning experience, outstanding communication and computer skills are required.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

THE CITY:

The City of Newton is a wonderful place to live and work. Newton has safe and attractive neighborhoods, an excellent public school system, an active community life, multiple transportation systems, proximity to Boston and a well-managed and financially strong City government. The City of Newton has a population of approximately 88,900, with 32,600 housing units and occupies a land area of 18.3 square miles. Newton is principally suburban-residential in character. Unlike many other communities that are established around a single Main Street or downtown, Newton is comprised of thirteen distinctive villages. Newton has a diversified economic base with approximately 4,700 establishments employing approximately 79,500 people. Newton is special in many ways. It is home to a variety of private secondary and post-secondary schools including a portion of Boston College, Lasell University, William James College, Hebrew College, and the UMass Amherst – Mount Ida Campus. The longest stretch of the Boston Marathon runs through the City, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham health care system, serves as an important partner to the City. In September 2018, Newton was again ranked #1 in Massachusetts as the best place to live and #12 in the U.S.

OUR GOVERNMENT:

Newton has what is known as a “strong Mayor” form of government with the Mayor having the executive and administrative powers of the City. The legislative branch is comprised of 24 City Councilors. Mayor Ruthanne Fuller was sworn in on January 1, 2018 after serving on the City Council. She ran on a platform of providing Newton’s children with a top-notch education in an inclusive environment where empty nesters, seniors, young families, and people of diverse incomes can live together in vibrant villages and neighborhoods. Mayor Fuller is committed to keeping Newton safe, improving the city’s infrastructure, addressing climate change, providing excellent and responsive city services, and fostering art, culture and community life. The first female Mayor of Newton, she is a tireless advocate for all the city’s residents and is committed to making sure the city is welcoming, inclusive and diverse. The City of Newton was evaluated by Moody’s Investors Services in February 2020 and assigned its highest rating of AAA. Newton was thus well-positioned to weather the pandemic and economic downturn.

AS AN EMPLOYER:

The City of Newton believes that its employees are its greatest asset. To that end, we are committed to supporting our employees by providing competitive wages and growth, a comprehensive benefits package which includes a defined municipal pension plan, quality health and dental insurance plans, generous paid leave benefits, paid holidays, and access to supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation, short term disability plans, flexible spending accounts, and other employee benefits. We also provide access to an Employee Assistance Program and access to employee training and professional development opportunities. We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings. We encourage you to visit our Human Resources Department website to learn more about our organization and benefits which are available to our employees. And as always, you are encouraged to reach out to our dynamic HR Team by emailing hr@newtonma.gov.

HUMAN RESOURCES DIVERSITY STATEMENT

We recognize our workforce is a source of strength that is vital to our ability to effectively serve the City of Newton’s diverse community. We will:

  • Actively recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and talented workforce.
  • Proactively address discrimination through education and in partnership with other departments and leaders.
  • Serve as a role model to celebrate and nurture diversity.
  • Foster inclusion by staying curious and clarifying assumptions.
  • Evaluate and develop policies and practices that reflect the diverse nature of our workforce.
  • Build and strengthen accountability at all levels to support diversity efforts.

To all prospective candidates for this position, the City of Newton has implemented a Vaccine Policy which requires, as a condition of employment, that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or have an approved medical or religious exemption on file with the Human Resources Department, before they begin employment with the City of Newton.

BENEFITS

  • Health insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • 457 Deferred Compensation plans
  • Metro Credit Union
  • Verizon Wireless discount
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Generous paid leave time benefits and paid holidays.
  • City Retirement (Mandatory)
  • Direct Deposit
  • Opportunity to serve the public and join a dynamic team of dedicated employees

APPLY HERE