Who We Are

Penland School of Craft is an international center for craft education offering residential workshops, residencies, community education programs, and exhibitions. Located on 420 acres in the NC Mountains, Penland has 16 teaching studios and 60 historic and contemporary buildings. We are an equal opportunity employer with a staff of 70. Penland operates with a $54 million endowment and an annual operating budget of $7.7 million. We are located about an hour northeast of Asheville, NC.  Our mission supports making lives meaningful through making.

 

Commitment to Equity,  Diversity, and Inclusion

Penland welcomes everyone. Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian, and other people who identify as people of color or BIPOC individuals are encouraged to apply, as are people holding other marginalized identities related to gender, sexual orientation, ability, and class background.

 

We believe that equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential to fulfilling our mission. We want to inspire and nurture the human spirit, and we value the perspectives and contributions of all people. We want the Penland experience to include varied ideas, world views, and personal characteristics. Penland is committed to being a community that welcomes and respects everyone regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, race, religion, philosophical or political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality, geographic origin, and socioeconomic status. We are committed to providing an environment free of discrimination. 

 

Position Summary

The Programs Assistant is an early career position, ideal for someone who wants to commit their energy and creativity to the advancement of Penland’s programs and equity initiatives. The Programs Assistant provides daily administrative and logistical support for Penland’s workshops, residencies, fellowships, special programs, equity initiatives and partnerships. They will work closely with a small and versatile programs team as well as coworkers in various departments to provide clear communication and efficient planning across the organization. They report directly to the programs manager and additionally support the studio operations manager and creative director.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provides administrative support for programs department to meet deadlines and strategic goals
• Supports clear communication and customer service for resident artists, core fellows, winter residents, invited artists, instructors, committee members, and program partners before their arrival and throughout their stay at Penland
• Develops a thorough understanding of Penland’s programs, schedules, and policies, to be able to handle routine inquiries or redirect them to the appropriate programs staff member as needed.
• Depending on the applicant’s skill set, may serve in a support role for Penland’s annual HBCU Craft School Tour, planning and coordinating activities and providing a consistent point of contact for HBCU partners
• Provides planning and logistics support for orientations, meetings, professional development opportunities, and events for core fellows, long-term residents, and special programs
• Provides administrative assistance and general support to programs staff, committee members, and applicants throughout application and review processes
• Tracks and summarizes evaluations, data, and budget details for grant writing and reporting
• Coordinates arrival and departure for invited artists; sends paperwork, confirms housing and meals, schedules slide lectures, communicates studio needs
• Manages document retention and basic organization of archival materials; collects and compiles information to keep internal and shared program information accurate and up to date
• Assumes other responsibilities upon request and as may be appropriate to the position
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Commitment to advancing Penland’s mission, educational philosophy, and equity, inclusion & diversity efforts and goals
• Professional goals that align with an administrative role in support of artist-centered programs; inclination to serve in a support role and prioritize programmatic goals
• Energy and enthusiasm to welcome artists to Penland and build relationships with diverse groups of people at a range of career stages, bringing professionalism and respect to all interactions
• Applicants with experience working with HBCUs or underrepresented students/groups are especially encouraged to apply
• Experience as a resourceful problem-solver who is able to work independently, meet deadlines, keep project contributors informed and on task, and make informed decisions in the moment; also important, the capacity to recognize when to ask for advice
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as strong planning, administrative, and organizational skills; attentive to detail; the capacity to juggle multiple projects/tasks simultaneously
• A team player who will actively participate in the work that needs to be done; though this is primarily an administrative position, there will be opportunities to take the lead on seeing a project through to completion
• Interpersonal skills required to handle sensitive and confidential situations, application materials, and institutional knowledge
• Functional ease with Google Suite; SlideRoom and/or similar application program; internet research; video conferencing; ability to prepare and handle digital images and give visual presentations in PowerPoint and/or similar programs

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to be in a stationary position and work on a computer using hands and fingers.  They need to  move unaided up and down hills and over uneven terrain. They need the ability to observe details at close range along with the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

 

Compensation

This is a full-time (32-hours per week), non-exempt, year-round, benefits-eligible position. The salary range for this position is  $16.20 to $18.01 and is negotiable based on the skills and experience you bring to the position. 

 

Benefits

We take care of our staff through a wide range of benefits. For your wellness, we offer multiple medical plans, vision, dental, long-term disability, life insurance, and an EAP program. This includes generous vacation, sick, extended sick, floating holiday leave programs, access to studios, free classes, two paid sabbaticals,  meals during programming, and other discounts. New staff are offered interim housing if you are moving into the areas. We have other generous benefits that we can explore more during the interview process. 

 

To Apply

The position will remain open until filled.  Please apply at https://penland.slideroom.com/#/permalink/program/75291/VTf64VPlKR October 15, 2023.