Folklife Director - NCAC60083916

State of North Carolina • Wake County, NC

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ Arts Council Division is seeking a Folklife Director to oversee programs benefiting traditional artists, local communities, arts organizations, government agencies, universities, public schools, and the general public. The position manages programs and grant offerings that support folklife, Indigenous, authentic, and emergent cultural practices and help preserve rural and traditional communities. It sets Folklife Program priorities in alignment with the agency’s strategic plan, maintains and develops partnerships, monitors grantees, and creates opportunities for collaboration.

The Folklife Director develops professional resources and technical assistance for artists and arts organizations, provides information about professional opportunities in the arts and cultural sector, and supervises a summer intern and others working on Folklife Program tasks. The position is based at 109 East Jones Street in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is eligible for hybrid telework under DNCR policy. The typical schedule is Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; occasional evening and weekend work and in-state and occasional out-of-state travel are required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in art, English, one of the performing arts, or arts administration, depending on the program assignment, from an appropriately accredited institution, and three years of experience directly related to the program area, including two years in a consultative or administrative capacity within an arts organization; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to travel in state and occasionally out of state.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience planning logistics for events, workshops, or other public programs.
• Demonstrated experience with folklife research and documentation methods, such as interviewing, transcribing, audio, video, or photo documentation, and writing.
• Demonstrated experience organizing and administering program workflows and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Oversee grant offerings for discipline-specific arts organizations and other organizations providing folklife, Indigenous, authentic, and emergent cultural programs that support rural and traditional communities.
• Work with the Deputy Director and Marketing Team to update grant guidelines and develop communications plans for their rollout, coordinating with other teams’ guidelines.
• Oversee virtual office hours and webinars that help applicants understand grant guidelines and application forms.
• Oversee grantee monitoring using the Risk Assessment worksheet and ensure timely review of final reports.
• Conduct site visits to high-risk grantees and, when needed, contract with outside evaluators to visit grantees and report on their activities.
• Assist the Grants Office with collecting grant contract components; approve revised budgets for grantees that did not receive full funding; and send rejection letters to unfunded applicants in the portfolio.
• Develop and implement professional resources and technical assistance opportunities for individual artists and discipline-specific arts organizations.
• Collaborate with statewide service organizations to identify field needs and priorities and partner on professional resources for artists and discipline-specific organizations.
• Meet with individuals to provide information and general assistance on arts and cultural sector opportunities, including funding, board and governance, sharing work, and marketing.
• Supervise a summer intern, develop work plans, and provide coaching and direction through frequent individual meetings.
• Supervise interns, contracted vendors, and individuals hired for specific Folklife Program tasks; complete paperwork, monitor deliverables, and process invoices.

Benefits

• Paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and foster care.
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for employees with student loans.

What This Job Offers

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