Creative Arts Coordinator

Cook County • Chicago, IL

8h • Onsite

About The Position

Reporting within the Cook County Department of Corrections (CCDOC) Programs Department, the Creative Arts Coordinator will oversee the development and implementation of creative arts programs and activities for individuals in custody (IICs) within CCDOC. The Creative Arts Coordinator will also work directly with IICs providing art programming across the CCDOC.
Serves as the primary point of contact for all creative arts volunteers, including coordinating programming schedules, volunteer and contractual staff application processing, credentialing and equipment pass needs. Conducts quality assurance evaluations of programming to make sure that all volunteer programming is both in alignment with CCDOC programmatic goals and security parameters as well as with the volunteer organization’s objectives and mission.

Requirements

• Experience in in-house creative studio or similar environment.
• Knowledge of social media platform, Instagram, and brand management.
• Ability to establish and maintain appropriate rapport and boundaries with participants, work with integrity and treat others with respect.
• Possess excellent listening skills, with the ability to communicate effectively, speaking in an understandable way that conveys tact and courtesy with a diverse population.
• Skill in maintaining highly detailed, efficient and accurate documentation and record keeping.
• Possess excellent listening skills, with the ability to communicate effectively, speaking in and understandable way that conveys tact and courtesy with a diverse population.
• Skill in maintaining highly detailed, efficient and accurate documentation and record keeping.
• Possess strong writing skills, including the ability to translate reports, attendance sheets and progress notes into succinct, clear sentences.
• Possess a passion for working closely with the justice-involved population, a strong sense of compassion and patience and an interest in serving an underserved population.
• Knowledge of computer hardware and software, including Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, as appropriate and required.
• Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment; ability to multi-task and remain organized.
• Ability to walk long distances or stand for extended periods of time throughout the course of the assigned shift.
• Possession of a bachelor's or higher degree, from an accredited college or university, in Photography, Creative Arts, Graphic Design or a closely related field.
• Two (2) or more years of full time, professional work experience in a Creative Arts or closely related setting.
• Intermediate proficiency in the Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Intermediate proficiency in still photography and videography.
• Intermediate proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Premiere).
• Ability to work within the Cook County Department of Corrections, including the ability to work directly with the individuals in custody population.
• Ability to walk long distances or stand for extended periods of time throughout the course of the assigned shift.
• Ability to work varied shifts and schedules, including evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

• Possession of a master’s or higher degree, from an accredited college or university, in Photography, Creative Arts, Graphic Design or a closely related field.
• Five (5) or more years of full time, professional work experience in a creative arts or closely related setting.
• Possession of bilingual language skills.
• Previous internship at the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the development and implementation of all creative arts programmatic activities provided within the CCDOC, including but not limited to art programming, concerts, guest speakers and guest facilitators.
• Conduct regular communications and meetings and serves as the primary contact for volunteers and contractual program facilitators; ensures an enriching and seamless volunteer or contractual experience within the CCDOC, including (but not limited to) coordinating IDs, access letters, scheduling and program participant lists.
• Work varied shifts and schedules, including evenings and weekends to oversee volunteers and programs.
• Assist in the development, coordination and the oversight of special programs and events.
• Recruit, orientate, train and supervise interns and programmatic volunteers administering programming within the CCDOC.
• Generate monthly reports indicating all existing and new programmatic efforts and facilitators and ongoing programmatic activities, including progress toward defined objectives, refinement of curriculum and content and quality assurance evaluation data.
• Assist in the development, implementation, scheduling and facilitation of orientation and training sessions for new contractual employees and all divisional volunteers.
• Work with management personnel to ensure appropriate Memorandums of Understanding, contracts, liability waivers and any other pertinent documentation or contracts are vetted and approved for all volunteers and organizations facilitating programming within CCDOC.
• Report any breaches of ethics or policy observed in services to the Director for appropriate and needed follow up activities, as it relates.
• Propose, plan and implement new initiatives in order to strengthen services provided to the population at CCDOC.
• Provide consistent feedback to supervisor on ways of continually improving and elevate the depth of CCDOC creative arts programming.
• Provide strategic, innovative solutions that facilitate fresh, compelling creative concepts. Demonstrate through hands-on execution.
• Lead and manage multiple projects simultaneously in fast-paced environment, and assist with managing social media account Live From Cook County Jail.
• Design and facilitate creative arts programs. Develop tactics which bring creative concepts and programs to life.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Procurement and coordination of therapeutic events, guest speakers and concerts.

Benefits

• Health Insurance Program – Health insurance coverage includes medical, dental and vision care and is available for an employee and his/her eligible dependents.
• Holidays – Thirteen (13) Holidays are granted in each Fiscal Year. Employees who are active at the beginning of the fiscal year (December 1st) also qualify for a floating holiday.
• Sick Leave – Granted sick leave is earned and accrued at the rate of one (1) day for each month of service and may be accumulated up to one hundred and seventy-five (175) working days.
• Vacation Leave – Granted Vacation leave is earned and accrued, with employees having the opportunity to accrue fifteen (15) days within the Fiscal Year; Vacation leave accruals increase based on an employee’s anniversary date of employment.
• Life Insurance – Basic term life insurance, equal to one (1) time the employee’s annual salary, is offered to every employee at no cost and the employee may elect to purchase supplemental coverage.
• Pension Plan – Employees contribute into the Cook County Pension Fund and earn a prescribed percentage for each year of service; employees may be eligible for an annual annuity after ten (10) years of service and upon reaching a certain age based on when the employee started employment.
• Deferred Compensation Program – Employees may elect to enroll in a deferred compensation plan, a tax deferred plan which may be used as a supplemental retirement option.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level