Center Director

Destiny Arts Center•Oakland, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Destiny Arts Center seeks an experienced, visionary, and collaborative leader to provide strategic, artistic, and operational leadership for its center-based programming, including community classes, Performance Companies, summer camps, and family and community engagement. As a senior member of the program leadership team, the Director will shape the Arts Center into a vibrant, welcoming, inclusive community hub and build a cohesive continuum of opportunities for young people—from introductory classes to advanced training, Performance Companies, mentorship, and leadership roles. The Director is responsible for program quality, enrollment and retention, staff development, community engagement, and continuous improvement, working closely with the Deputy Director and other organizational leaders. The role oversees strategy, program development, Performance Companies, center operations, enrollment and community engagement, staff leadership, finance, evaluation, and compliance. It supervises program leaders and operational staff, manages budgets and systems, supports youth safety, and collaborates across organizational teams and with external partners. The position is based on-site at Destiny Arts Center in Oakland. It is an exempt, salaried role that may require occasional evenings and weekends for workshops, performances, or family events, with flexibility to manage time and workload. It is not eligible for overtime compensation under the FLSA.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in arts administration, education, social work, youth development, nonprofit management, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
At least 5 years in arts education, creative youth development, nonprofit management, or community programming.
At least 5 years supervising teams and developing staff.
Experience managing multiple programs, budgets, and complex operations, plus strategic planning and evaluation.
Experience with enrollment, recruitment, or retention strategies.
Strong understanding of creative youth development and culturally responsive, inclusive arts education.
Excellent leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
Commitment to racial equity, social justice, and youth voice.
Proficiency with databases, spreadsheets, and program management software.
Availability for occasional evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

Experience supervising managers or directors is strongly preferred.
Master’s degree.
Experience leading a community arts center or youth performance program.
Familiarity with movement arts such as dance, martial arts, or theater.
Experience with earned-revenue program models.
Knowledge of Oakland and East Bay communities.
Spanish-language proficiency.

Responsibilities

Set strategic direction, annual goals, budgets, and work plans aligned with Destiny’s mission and strategic plan.
Build a continuum connecting community classes, advanced training, Performance Companies, mentorship, and youth leadership.
Oversee planning, evaluation, and improvement of Arts Center programs, including classes, camps, Performance Companies, and family programming.
Strengthen curriculum and instructional quality and identify opportunities for innovation and expanded access.
Supervise and support the Directors of the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company and Destiny Junior Company, setting shared artistic, educational, and youth development goals.
Ensure Performance Companies provide high-quality, culturally rooted, youth-centered experiences and are integrated into other Destiny programming.
Strengthen recruitment, retention, family engagement, and pathways from classes into the Performance Companies.
Supervise the Arts Center Manager, Arts Center Coordinator, and Production Manager; oversee logistics, scheduling, facilities, supplies, and administrative systems.
Oversee Camp Destiny, showcases, orientations, daytime programming, resident companies, and merchandise operations.
Maintain policies and systems that keep the Center safe, welcoming, and inclusive.
Oversee the Center budget, staffing, and production schedules, and support major events including the Gala, Love in Action, and Moving for Peace.
Set and meet enrollment, retention, and family engagement goals, using attendance and capacity data to guide planning.
Identify and address barriers to participation, particularly for youth and families from historically marginalized communities.
Ensure timely, welcoming communication with parents and caregivers, and oversee orientations and open houses.
Build partnerships with schools, community organizations, and artists, and coordinate outreach with the Communications team.
Partner with Destiny’s CARE Team to integrate wraparound support into Arts Center programs.
Coach and manage direct reports with clear expectations, annual goals, and regular feedback.
Build an accountable, collaborative team culture rooted in Destiny’s values and the Warrior’s Code.
Ensure training and support for teaching artists, teaching assistants, and camp counselors; partner with HR on hiring and personnel matters.
Work with the Deputy Director and Director of Finance to develop and manage budgets and earned revenue, balancing sustainability with equity and access through Destiny’s pay-what-you-can model.
Use enrollment, retention, satisfaction, and outcome data to evaluate programs and drive continuous improvement; supply impact data to Development and support proposals and reports as needed.
Ensure compliance with laws, policies, and youth safety requirements, including safety protocols and incident reporting.
Collaborate across the Deputy Director, School & Community Programs, Development, Communications, and Finance/HR teams, and represent Destiny externally.