JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

CULTURAL AFFAIRS COORDINATOR II

DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND SPECIAL EVENTS (DCASE)

CULTURAL GRANTS AND RESOURCES DIVISION

Number of Positions: 2

Starting Salary: $63,780

The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city — to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city — serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago.

The Cultural Affairs Coordinator II positions in DCASE’s Cultural Grants and Resources Division will be responsible for coordinating and supporting several grant initiatives, community engagement, outreach, partnerships, professional development, and technical assistance strategies to strengthen the capacity of Chicago’s arts and culture sector and connect artists and arts organizations with City of Chicago grants, resources, facilities, processes, and procedures. The positions will also require candidates with multi-disciplinary understanding of exhibitions, performance production, public art, and other artistic projects to assess and evaluate grant proposals and provide guidance and advice to applicants and grantees in the planning and execution of artistic projects. In this capacity, the positions will perform the following duties:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

General

• Coordinate and support day to day operations and procedures for Cultural Grants and Resources programs and initiatives
• Coordinate program budgets and expenditures, review financial documents, RFP processes, and work with the department’s Finance and Administration team, Office of Budget and Management, and Law as necessary
• Prepare and present narrative and statistical reports, and assist with DCASE annual impact report and annual budget process
• Organize and conduct technical assistance webinars, info sessions, open office hours, grantee orientation workshops and other training as needed
• Assist with the DCASE annual impact report and work with the Cultural Resources and Marketing and Development teams to spread awareness of the grant programs and timely notification of cycle deadlines through press releases, social media, newsletter updates, partnerships with local organizations, and outreach to Aldermanic offices
• Attend arts performances, exhibitions, events, and programs as DCASE representative
• Respond to inquiries from grantees, the public, and other City departments
• Perform related duties as required

Cultural Affairs Coordinator II, Cultural Grants

• Coordinate and support several key grant initiatives including direct grants to individual artists
• Coordinate grant review processes including training grant review panelists, facilitating panel discussions, and evaluating grant proposals for completeness, eligibility, quality, and feasibility
• Recruit knowledgeable members of the arts community and public to serve on committees that advise and review grant applications and program requirements
• Administer day to day operational procedures for assigned grant tracks, including processing contracts and payment procedures
• Assist with the development of goals, objectives, and policies related to assigned grant tracks, including coordinate and implement grant activities, develop comprehensive timelines, and monitor execution for punctuality and accuracy
• Execute procedures in the city’s grant-making software, CyberGrants, including perform due diligence on applications, monitor grant cycles, prepare quantitative reports, execute detailed data entry procedures, and track communications and interactions with grantees
• Communicate with grantees and potential applicants throughout the year about their proposals and projects, other grant opportunities, and City arts initiatives; respond to applicant and grantee inquiries and facilitate their involvement with DCASE
• Conduct site visits, coordinate recognition opportunities across DCASE events, and attend grantee performances, exhibitions, events, and programs
• Perform related duties as required

Cultural Affairs Coordinator II, Cultural Resources

• Coordinate public/private partnerships, including community ambassadors, to broaden the scope and reach of DCASE’s Cultural Grants Programs and resources throughout the city
• Assist in connecting creative workers, organizations, and businesses to resources across City departments, including capital grant and loan programs
• Support interagency programs and partnerships
• Collaborate and communicate with arts service organizations and philanthropic community to monitor program offerings, gaps, trends, and to connect the arts sector to existing resources and services
• Coordinate contracts, communications, and website updates for the Cultural Resources team
• Prepare and present narrative and statistical reports, and assist with DCASE annual impact report and annual budget process
• Collaborate with Executive Administration team to coordinate and conduct professional development and technical assistance programs
• Support recruitment of members of the arts community and public to serve on committees that advise and assist grant applicants
• Respond to inquiries from the public and other City departments
• Perform related duties as required

Additional duties may be required for this position

LOCATION: Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)

Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602

HOURS: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday

Must be flexible to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Work indoors and occasionally outdoors in extreme weather conditions and noise.

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree, plus two years of program development or administration experience in the area of visual arts, performing arts or creative arts programming, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Equivalencies:

• Master’s Degree or higher from an accredited college or university plus one (1) year of program development or administration experience in the area of visual arts, performing arts or creative arts programming
• Associate’s Degree from an accredited college or university plus four (4) years of program development or administration experience in the area of visual arts, performing arts or creative arts programming
• Six (6) years of work experience in program development or administration experience in the area of visual arts, performing arts or creative arts programming

Disclaimer - "Accredited" means any nationally or regionally accredited college, university, or law school where the applicant is enrolled in or has completed an Associates, Bachelors, Masters, or Juris Doctorate degree program.

NOTE: You must provide your transcripts or diploma at time of processing.

Selection Requirements

This position requires applicants to complete an interview which will include a written exercise as part of the interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral and written parts of the interview will be selected.

Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:

• Paid or volunteer experience working with individual artists, creative workers, cultural organizations, nonprofits, arts businesses, or the arts philanthropic community
• Previous work experience in developing public programs or presenting and producing events
• Previous work experience in grants management
• Previous work experience managing multiple projects or complex processes

Knowledge: Knowledge of the Chicago arts and culture sector including artist communities, cultural organizations, nonprofits, and the philanthropic community. Knowledge of need, assets, and character-defining attributes of Chicago’s neighborhoods and communities. Knowledge of trends in arts and culture philanthropy, civic engagement, and community development in large urban cities. Basic understanding of exhibition and event production process for special events and live performances.

Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills. Strong written and oral communication skills. Proven organization skills. High attention to detail. Strong analytical skills. Critical thinking related to program development, strategy, and implementation. Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and the Internet. Strong profiency with database management.

Abilities: Ability to manage complex processes, accelerated timelines within a fast-paced environment. Ability to provide technical assistance to external grantees/delegate agencies. Strong ability to multi-task and be flexible. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds. Ability to review program proposals for grant compliance. Ability to learn new technology quickly and ability to train others. Ability to plan, manage and follow through on assignments and communicate at all levels of the department in a timely and professional manner. Ability to work independently and as a member of a team with minimal supervision.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer.

City of Chicago Department of Human Resources

Lori Lightfoot, Mayor Christopher Owen, Commissioner

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on Friday, June 2, 2023.