Cultural Space Project Manager

City of Seattle•S. and S. King St, WA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) is dedicated to fostering a vibrant, connected, and equitable city where artists and cultural organizations can thrive. With increased investments and community partnerships, ARTS advances programs that strengthen cultural infrastructure, prevent displacement, and maintain arts and culture in neighborhoods. The Creative Placemaking Division within ARTS supports arts-based community development, focusing on cultural spaces, Arts & Cultural Districts, place-based arts activations, and the creative economy. This division integrates arts and culture into local planning, promotes community development, and reinforces cultural anchors, guided by the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI). The Cultural Space program specifically works to preserve, create, and activate cultural square footage, assist artists and organizations with space planning, and collaborate with developers to include arts and culture in new projects. The Cultural Space Project Manager will be instrumental in overseeing the Cultural Facilities Fund and Arts & Cultural Districts programs, nurturing community and district partnerships, and managing the programs, budgets, and processes essential for maintaining vibrant and accessible cultural spaces in Seattle.

Requirements

Grant management, arts administration, project management, and/or a closely related field
Contract oversight, budgeting, and compliance within grant programs
Work involving place-based initiatives such as urban planning, transportation, neighborhood planning, or cultural infrastructure
Managing projects related to arts funding, cultural facilities, or community development
Community outreach, coalition building, and engaging with underrepresented communities
Writing for varied audiences, including legislation, memos, and public-facing communications
Navigating complex systems and translating technical information for non-technical audiences
Ability to build trusting, collaborative relationships with culturally diverse communities
Ability to work alongside partners to align goals and deliver shared outcomes
Ability to organize complex projects, manage timelines, and balance multiple priorities
Ability to synthesize community input, data, and program insights into clear, actionable recommendations
Ability to maintain strong organization and attention to detail
Ability to navigate technology, learn new systems, and provide technical assistance to constituents

Nice To Haves

Transferable skills, lived experience, growth mindsets, and nontraditional career paths

Responsibilities

Facilitate grant selection processes, organize community peer-review panels, and ensure equitable distribution of funding.
Provide applicants and awardees with technical assistance, project development support, and contract compliance guidance.
Gather, maintain, and present information on navigating City processes, supporting or expanding cultural space, and accessing cultural space assets and resources.
Work with the Seattle Arts Commission, City departments, and community partners to implement programs.
Negotiate awardee contracts, collect final reports, and process invoices for grant-funded projects.
Build relationships with artists, cultural organizations, and the public, ensuring broad and equitable participation in funding opportunities.
Manage budgets, schedules, program design, and evaluation to ensure program success and compliance.
Prepare blog posts, memos, reports, and presentations for community groups and elected officials, and participate in community outreach efforts on behalf of the department.