Title: Education and Community Engagement Manager
Reports to: Executive Director
Hours: Variable; approximately 20 hours/week
Remote Position: No
Compensation: Salary Range $18,000-$25,000/yr, to be negotiated
Deadline: August 15, 2025
The Education and Community Engagement Manager is responsible for the creation, implementation, management and evaluation of educational and community engagement programs designed to increase the public value of the KWS beyond concert attendees. This is an opportunity for the successful candidate, in collaboration with the KWS’ senior leadership, to help shape a long-term strategy, to forge essential partnerships, and build broad-based support for the KWS among educational and civic institutions. The successful Manager will draw upon the resources of the orchestra (musicians, artistic staff, volunteers and board) in expanding the KWS’ educational, community engagement, fundraising and strategic goals. As a focus of future programming, the Education and Community Engagement Manager will envision how our resources can support new initiatives in the areas of youth instrumental performance, expansion of diversity- and equity-based programming, and engagement with economically challenged communities.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Oversees all Kitchener Waterloo Symphony education programs, and executes their day-to-day operations. Creates music education programs for school aged children (K-12) and music appreciation programs for the community at large.
- Develops and maintains relationships with local student performing organizations, public school districts leadership and local music educators from pre-school through collegiate level to identify needs and effectively develop, administer, and modify programs to meet those needs. Initiates and maintains relationships with schoolteachers to increase awareness of and participation in KWS’ programs.
- Creates or sources “Teacher’s Guides” and similar support materials where appropriate, and manages distribution to schools and partners.
- Engages with KWS artistic and administrative leadership and musicians to develop plans for educational and community engagement initiatives.
• Develops annual operating plans with action items, timelines and budgets. - Develops and administers Community Engagement programs that meet the KWS’ goals of being more relevant and committed to stakeholders not historically engaged with the KWS, including diverse immigrant and First Nations communities.
- Working with the Marketing Department, forges partnerships with key civic and educational leaders and organizations in support of Community Engagement goals.
- Utilizes musician services to accomplish educational and general institutional goals efficiently and effectively. Works with KWS Personnel Manager and Artistic Advisor to hire KWS musicians for education and community programming
- Develops revenue and expense budgets for each Education and Community Engagement program, monitors progress of each and adjusts as necessary. Sets revenue goals and creatively seeks opportunities to meet those goals.
- Manages program evaluations and gathers feedback from community partners.
- Acts as the KWS’ primary spokesperson in education matters; contributes to communications that promote the value of Education and Community Engagement programs.
- Serves as contact and supervisor for community and educational events.
