Education Specialist

Summary Description Grounded in the belief that the arts have the power to transform individuals and communities, the Education Specialist plays a key role in supporting Des Moines Performing Arts’ education programs. This position provides essential coordination services for the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards (IHSMTA) as its primary focus. Successful candidates will bring a combination of theater knowledge, administrative strength, and a demonstrated ability to learn quickly, build relationships, and support high-quality educational experiences. Job Details Grounded in the belief that the arts have the power to transform individuals and communities, the Education Specialist plays a key role in supporting Des Moines Performing Arts’ education programs. This position provides essential coordination services for the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards (IHSMTA) as its primary focus. Successful candidates will bring a combination of theater knowledge, administrative strength, and a demonstrated ability to learn quickly, build relationships, and support high-quality educational experiences. This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position. The role is paid hourly and eligible for overtime. Additional hours, including evening and weekend work, and occasional travel are required to support programs and events, particularly during peak program periods. Essential Functions And Responsibilities IOWA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER AWARDS (IHSMTA) Adjudication Coordinate key aspects of the IHSTMA adjudication process, including form creation, adjudicator scheduling, and collection and review of feedback & scores. Serve as a primary liaison for adjudicators, supporting recruitment, onboarding, training, and feedback collection. Prepare and distribute regular e-newsletters and communications for adjudicators and contribute to ongoing communication strategies that strengthen engagement. Prepare feedback packets and score documents to share with schools, reviewing materials for accuracy, quality, and alignment with program expectations. Track and process all adjudicator payments, including honoraria, mileage, and reimbursement requests, while supporting efficient financial and administrative practices. Awards Administration Support the annual award determination process, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and adherence to established program guidelines. Coordinate the fabrication, proofreading, and approval of all physical awards and certificates. Learning Opportunities Provide administrative and logistical support for the planning and delivery of skill-development workshops for students and educators across performance, technical theater, and business areas of musical theater. Awards Showcase Support the planning and execution of the annual Awards Showcase with responsibilities that may vary based on program needs and individual skills and experience. Schedule pre- and post-production meetings with relevant collaborators and maintain documentation. Track all student participant data and verify during student check-in. Request materials extensions for school productions from licensing houses. Support the creation of the annual Event Guide and other reference materials for schools. Coordinate logistics for select specialty tracks of the program,the Behind-the-Scenes, Assistant Stage Manager, and Technical Theater Scholarship tracks. Support additional Awards Showcase initiatives, special projects, and operational needs as assigned. Program Operations Maintain and help optimize digital tools that support IHSMTA, including relevant website sections, awards management platform, and project management platform. Contribute to the continuous improvement of IHSMTA processes and systems by identifying opportunities to increase efficiency, effectiveness, and participant experience. Other Support colleagues with the planning and implementation of school and community-based programs to help achieve organizational goals. Seek out and embrace new strategies to increase access and belonging within education program areas. Participate in the staffing and execution of Education Department programs and events as assigned. Perform other duties as assigned. Education/Experience Requirements Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in theater, arts administration, education, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. Working knowledge of theatrical disciplines and production processes or demonstrated aptitude for quickly developing subject matter expertise. Experience participating in or supporting educational programs, workshops, productions, camps, or community arts initiatives. Demonstrated understanding in educational assessment, feedback, and experiential learning. Critical Success Competencies Diversity & Respect – Possesses universal respect for views, ideas, backgrounds, attributes, and appearances different from one’s own. Communication Skills – Demonstrates outstanding interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills, conveying information clearly, professionally, and effectively to a variety of audiences. Collaboration – Works effectively with team members and stakeholders, fosters positive working relationships, and willingly assists others to achieve shared goals. Attention to Detail – Maintains a high degree of accuracy, quality, and efficiency in all aspects of work. Customer Service Orientation – Provides exceptional service and support to internal and external stakeholders, responding professionally and effectively to needs and concerns. Initiative and Accountability – Takes ownership of responsibilities, follows through on commitments, demonstrates sound judgment, and proactively identifies and addresses needs and opportunities. Organization and Time Management – Effectively manages multiple priorities, maintains organized work processes, and consistently follows through on commitments and deadlines. Analytical Thinking – Evaluates information objectively, identifies patterns and issues, and uses sound judgment to support decision-making. Problem Solving – Identifies challenges, develops practical solutions, and implements improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Technology Agility – Demonstrates strong aptitude for technology, including spreadsheets, databases, and cloud-based applications. Able to independently learn new systems and troubleshoot complex workflows. Schedule and Availability This position generally works a standard business schedule; however, evening and weekend work is required throughout the year to support educational programs, events, and the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards (IHSMTA). During adjudication weeks, the employee must maintain flexibility to address urgent program needs outside of regular business hours, including adjudicator cancellations, emergency substitutions, and weather-related disruptions. Workload varies throughout the year, with significantly increased time commitments during the month of May through early June, for the annual Awards Showcase. Physical Demand/Work Environment The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. This position is primarily office-based and requires extended periods of sitting and frequent computer use. Depending on the time of year, the role may involve working with students, teachers, and artists in active educational and event settings requiring sitting, standing, walking, crouching, and lifting materials weighing up to 50 pounds. Work is performed primarily indoors, with occasional work outdoors and potential exposure to varying weather conditions, including inclement weather. Noise levels may vary based on office operations, educational programming, and event activities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. #J-18808-Ljbffr Des Moines Performing Arts