Creative Manager Jobs in New York

Enjoy making a difference? Join the team at FREE, enriching the lives of others, one individual at a time.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.

POSITION SUMMARY
The Creative Arts Manager develops, coordinates, and delivers inclusive theater and performing arts programming for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Manager develops and facilitates opportunities for participants to engage in theater, acting, music, movement, improvisation, storytelling, stagecraft, and performance while promoting self-expression, creativity, confidence, social connection, and community inclusion. The Manager oversees day-to-day program operations, coordinates productions and creative arts activities, and collaborates with staff, families, volunteers, vendors, and community partners to support effective program delivery. This exempt position maintains a regular, full-time work schedule of five (5) days per week and eight (8) hours per day, unless an alternative arrangement is documented and approved by leadership.
DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops and implements theater arts curriculum and activities within established program and organizational goals and guidelines.
• Creates accessible opportunities for participants to engage in acting, improvisation, storytelling, music, movement, dance, and stage performance.
• Adapts theater activities to accommodate individual communication, sensory, physical, cognitive, and behavioral needs.
• Develops programming that promotes independence, creativity, self-expression, and personal choice.
• Incorporates evidence-informed and person-centered approaches into theater programming.
• Develops and directs theatrical productions, showcases, performances, and community presentations.
• Guides participants through all stages of production, including auditions, casting, rehearsals, set design, costumes, props, music, choreography, and performances.
• Identifies participant strengths and interests and creates meaningful roles for individuals with varying abilities.
• Ensures each participant has an opportunity to contribute to productions in a meaningful way.
• Coordinates performance, schedules, venues, and related logistics.
• Coordinates vendor relationships and services supporting creative arts programming in accordance with organizational procedures.
• Collaborates with staff, families, volunteers, and community partners to support program activities and productions.
• Coordinates with outside vendors that provide instructional dance, acting, art, and drumming.
• Provides direction, guidance, and support to staff and volunteers assisting with theater programming and productions; coordinates with volunteers and guest artists as needed.
• Establishes and communicates clear expectations for rehearsal and performance support.
• Identifies and recommends professional artists, actors, musicians, choreographers, and other arts professionals as appropriate for activities and productions.
• Ensures that all required documentation (paper and electronic) is completed and processed appropriately, in a timely manner, and meets quality and compliance thresholds.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities of All FREE Employees

• Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
• Complies fully with FREE’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees.
• Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk.
• Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/ meetings/ reviews/ committees, including ones outside of standard working hours.
• Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance.
• Adheres to FREE’s standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations.

Responsibilities of FREE Employees in Leadership/Management Positions:

• Ensures compliance with FREE policies, procedures, and operating standards.
• Implements a continuous quality improvement process for department services and administrative functions.
• Assists in the development, implementation and administration of Human Resources policies and programs including compliance with Equal Employment Opportunities and Affirmative Action Programs.

Please note the above duties, responsibilities, and essential functions are a non-exhaustive list, and may be changed by FREE at any time, with or without notice to the employee.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education & Experience:
• Must meet one of the criteria below:
• Bachelor's degree in Theater, Performing Arts, Arts Education, Special Education, Recreation, Human Services, or a related field with a minimum of two (2) years of experience developing inclusive or adaptive theater programming, directing musicals, large-scale, or community-based productions, and/or working in professional or community theater with experience in improvisational theater, music, dance, or other performing arts disciplines.

OR

• Associate’s degree in Theater, Performing Arts, Arts Education, Special Education, Recreation, Human Services, or a related field with a minimum of four (4) years of experience developing inclusive or adaptive theater programming, directing musicals, large-scale, or community-based productions, and/or working in professional or community theater with experience in improvisational theater, music, dance, or other performing arts disciplines.
• Some experience with OPWDD-funded or certified programs required.
• Some experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities required.
• Supervisory experience preferred
• Specialized Training, Licenses, Certifications:
• Not required, training will be provided upon hire as needed
• Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities:
• Knowledge of adaptive communication and accessibility strategies.
• Ability to maintain vendor relationships and coordinate vendor contracts and services.
• Ability to direct performances and oversee productions from auditions and rehearsals through final performance.
• Ability to use creative, person-centered approaches to promote participation, self-expression, and meaningful roles.
• Ability to effectively guide and collaborate with staff, volunteers, families, vendors, and community partners.
• Knowledge of theater and related disciplines, including acting, improvisation, music, dance, movement, and storytelling.
• Strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
• Other Requirements:
• Valid driver’s license and satisfy criteria to be an agency driver required,
• Ability to work a standard, full-time schedule of five (5) days per week and eight (8) hours per day
• Ability to work a flexible schedule based on production and program needs, including weekends and evenings as needed.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
This role is performed in-person at FREE’s Day Program locations and community locations across Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens counties. Travel to FREE and community locations required.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Employee is required to sit, walk and stand for prolonged period of time (at least 8 hours).
• Employee is required to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Employee is required to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, fax and filing cabinets.
• Employee might be required to lift/move light items.

Notwithstanding the above listed physical requirements of this position, FREE will provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the essential functions of the position, provided such reasonable accommodations do not cause undue hardship on FREE.

FREE is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected characteristic. In addition to federal law requirements, FREE complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in all of its locations. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises’ affirmative action efforts related to protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are set out and described in our affirmative action plan for protected veterans and individuals with a disability. If you have any questions or would like to view the affirmative action plan, please visit our website www.familyres.org