School Programs Manager

AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATRE FOUNDATION • San Francisco, CA

1d • $75,000 - $80,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Education Program Manager is a strategic, mission-driven leader who serves as a vital thought partner to the Director of Education and Community Programs. This role goes beyond day-to-day administration to actively shape, critique, and elevate A.C.T.’s school-based initiatives, including in-school, after-school, and summer residencies. A.C.T.’s Education & Community Programs inspire transformational growth through high-quality theater experiences, arts education, and collaboration with diverse communities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. We value transformational learning, inclusion, participation, and rigorous fun. The Manager must possess the deep instructional expertise and emotional intelligence required to build immediate trust with Teaching Artists, school partners, and internal executive stakeholders.

Requirements

• A robust, proven background as a Teaching Artist or instructional coach who deeply understands the realities and joys of the public school theater classroom. (Candidates with extensive artistic or classroom background may have the opportunity to directly teach or direct within our programs, in a limited capacity).
• Bachelor’s degree in education, theater, nonprofit management, or a related field (or equivalent experience), plus 3–5 years of progressive experience in arts education administration (direct classroom teaching or theatrical directing experience is a strong plus, and can be integrated into the role).
• Demonstrated experience with event production, including behind-the-scenes operational details (budget management, line producing, and more).
• Demonstrated experience as a collaborative leader who is comfortable sharing a strong perspective, backing it up with expertise, and acting as a thought partner.
• Exceptional emotional intelligence with a track record of cultivating inclusive, equitable, and trust-based relationships with Teaching Artists, colleagues, stakeholders, underserved youth, teachers, and school administrators.
• Experience in and familiarity with the complexities of the local arts education ecosystem is required. Knowledge of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and the SF Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families (DCYF) is preferred.
• Strong skills in Microsoft Office and Google Suite are required.
• A heartfelt passion for the transformative power of theater and arts education. Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity, understanding cultural differences, and actively contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment in strict alignment with A.C.T.’s core Mission and Values.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in and a sophisticated understanding of professional theater is preferred.
• Experience in Adobe Creative Suite, Asana and Slack is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervise & mentor Teaching Artists: Serve as the primary instructional leader for the Teaching Artist cohort. Provide deeply informed, constructive pedagogical feedback and consistent professional support to ensure high-quality classroom experiences.
• Lead talent pipelines: Direct the strategic hiring, onboarding, and contracting processes for Education & Community Programs Teaching Artists. Co-lead Teaching Artist orientations.
• Conduct observations & evaluations: Visit classes regularly to observe instruction, assess quality, and provide actionable feedback using established evaluation rubrics.
• Refine instructional curricula: Review and provide critical feedback on Teaching Artists' residency overviews, lesson plans, and performance-making processes.
• Drive professional development: In collaboration with the Director of Education & Community Programs, coordinate, curate, and co-lead advanced training sessions and workshops that inspire Teaching Artists to excel in their pedagogy.
• Ensure timely compensation: Track, verify, and approve biweekly payroll submissions for active Teaching Artists, in collaboration with the Department’s Operations Manager, ensuring alignment with allocated residency hours.
• Lead instructional practice (Optional/Based on Expertise): Depending on the candidate’s background, this role may directly teach, direct, or facilitate select classes, masterclasses, programs, and/or professional development sessions to model advanced pedagogy for the cohort.
• Execute residency logistics: Efficiently manage day-to-day operations and multi-stakeholder communication for intensive residency schools, including Downtown High School, AccessSFUSD: The Arc, Mission High School, Jerry Rosenstein Arts Project Middle Schools, as well as community partners including 826 Valencia, Galing Bata Filipino Education Center, and more.
• Produce student showcases: Serve as project manager and creative producer for student performances and exhibitions, in collaboration with the rest of the Education & Community Programs team, the school partners, and A.C.T.’s Production Department.
• Collaborate on integration: Partner directly with classroom teachers and Teaching Artists to develop robust arts and arts-integration curricula.
• Budget management: Track expenses and resource allocation for each school residency. In collaboration with the Director of Education & Community Programs, manage each project budget.
• Deepen partner impact: Facilitate rigorous pre-residency planning and end-of-year reflection meetings with school and community partners to evaluate program success.
• Steward public funding: In collaboration with the rest of the Education & Community Programs team, manage a ~$120,000 annual grant from the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families (DCYF), ensuring strict compliance and budget health.
• Drive compliance reporting: Monitor student enrollment and attendance metrics and gather program highlights and challenges in order to author narrative reports and lead the monthly invoicing process in the DCYF Contract Management System (CMS).
• Measure program impact: Design, distribute, collect, and analyze departmental evaluation surveys for students, teachers, and Teaching Artists, in collaboration with the Department’s Operations Manager.
• Collaborate on strategy: Act as a core strategic partner to the Director, offering informed opinions, experience, and creative solutions to evolve the department's impact.
• Represent the department: Drive cross-organizational alignment in A.C.T. meetings including advocating for space allocation, artistic collaboration, and more, with a goal of connecting school programs with Mainstage productions, Conservatory programs, and other A.C.T. initiatives.
• Advocate for arts education: Champion educational access, equity, and student needs both internally and externally. This includes daily advocacy within A.C.T. to reframe our mission around training creative thinkers, as well as representing our educational values externally to donors, foundations, and patrons during public and special events.
• Work cross-departmentally: Partner with A.C.T.’s Marketing, Finance, HR, and Development teams to ensure organizational alignment and programmatic success.
• Champion departmental programs: Offer hands-on support for community-wide education initiatives as needed, including the A.C.T. OUT Tour, the Student Matinee Program, Teacher Preview Nights, and special events.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous paid time off (PTO), including designated holidays.
• 403(b) retirement plan with optional employee contributions.
• Complimentary tickets to A.C.T. productions and frequent special events, occasional team meals and professionally-facilitated retreats, discounts on studio rentals, plus opportunities for professional development, including classes in the Conservatory.

What This Job Offers

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