Job Opportunities

Handmade Arcade Youth Maker Program Coordinator (Contractor) 

 

Position Type: Independent Contractor (contractor will receive a 1099)

Contract Dates: September 2024 – May 2025

Reports to: Executive Director 

Position Summary: The Youth Maker Program Coordinator is responsible for implementing HA’s Youth Maker Accelerator (YMA) program, which provides youth makers interested in creative entrepreneurship with education, financial resources, mentorship, and real-world sales experience.

 

About Handmade Arcade:

Founded in 2004, HA provides craft-based artists, designers, and makers with opportunities to sell products, build community, network, and share their artistic practice. HA is a pioneer in Pittsburgh’s flourishing maker movement, catalyzing and transforming the region’s landscape of small arts and crafts businesses. Handmade Arcade has connected over 3,000 craft and makers businesses with more than 215,000 shoppers at in-person shopping events over the past two decades. Since 2004, the organization has produced 19 Holiday Markets, five Spring Markets for new and emerging makers, eight Virtual Markets and Catalogs, seven Youth Maker Accelerator program cohorts, and many educational workshops that support small business growth and sustainability. This has led to makers reporting over $4 million in sales at Handmade Arcade-hosted markets alone. Handmade Arcade continues to make year-round contributions that directly impact makers’ quality of life and economic success by bridging the gap between creators and their customers. 

Mission: Handmade Arcade (HA) empowers makers of all ages by providing them with professional development and connections to customers. 

Vision: Handmade Arcade envisions an inclusive artistic community where all makers are empowered to share their craft and to achieve their creative potential and financial goals.

 

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Implement HA’s YMA program, being mindful of best practices for quality out-of-school time programs 
  • Update and prepare all YMA lesson plans, resources, learning materials, and evaluation plans
  • Manage communication with YMA participants, parents/guardians, YMA Maker Mentors, and HA staff and volunteers about the YMA program
  • Create a YMA program milestone timeline for participants
  • Keep timely and accurate records of YMA participant attendance and milestone achievement (i.e. permission forms, goal setting, workshop attendance, supply order forms, etc.) 
  • Manage HA’s YMA Maker Mentors, including tracking clearances, managing contracts, and managing mentor onboarding
  • Lead all virtual and in-person YMA workshops with individual and group YMA participants (approximately five, two-hour sessions)
  • Host virtual 30-minute 1:1 meetings with each individual YMA participant
  • Participate on HA’s Advisory Committee as the representative of the YMA program 
  • Provide in-person support to YMA participants during load-in and sales day of Holiday Market on December 6-7, 2024 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center
  • Manage all post-Holiday Market YMA participant surveys and exit interviews alongside HA’s Executive Director 
  • Alongside HA’s Executive Director, develop a plan for expanding the YMA program into a year-long program to be implemented by the end of 2025

 

Time and Compensation:

The Youth Maker Program Coordinator will be paid $6,000. We estimate that the role will require an average of 4-5 hours of work per week. Hours will fluctuate based on workshop and event schedules. Some weekends and evenings will be required. Contractor will ideally have some flexibility in their schedule allowing for daytime collaboration with the Executive Director. Work outside of collaborative meetings will be managed and completed by the independent contractor.

  • Advisory Committee Set Dates (all from 6:00-7:30 PM on Zoom): September 12, September 25, October 9, October 21, November 6, November 18, December 12
  • Proposed Youth Maker Workshop Dates (These dates are changeable and can be discussed with the YMA Coordinator):
    • October 3 (6 – 8 PM): Youth Maker Kick-Off Meet-and-Greet (in-person, location TBD)
    • October 5 (11 AM – 1 PM): Youth Maker Workshop #1 (in-person, location TBD)
    • October 27 (1 PM – 3 PM): Youth Maker Workshop #2 (in-person, location TBD)
    • November 9 (11 AM – 1 PM): Youth Maker Workshop #3 (in-person, location TBD)

 

Minimum Qualifications & Skills: 

  • Commitment to HA’s values of anti-racism, equity, transparency, financial sustainability, and collaboration 
  • 2+ years of experience working directly with youth ages 13-19 through youth programming, teaching artistry, youth mentorship, arts education, etc.
  • Excellent written and communication skills 
  • Ability to self-direct work and resourcefully work through challenges
  • Independent in managing time and working toward goals

 

Desired Qualifications & Skills: 

  • 1+ year of experience with or exposure to selling at in-person craft markets  
  • 1+ year of experience building or managing collaborative partnerships with youth-serving organizations 

Handmade Arcade is committed to maintaining a team that is reflective of our region’s diverse make-up of makers, customers, and collaborators. Candidates with disabilities, candidates who are BIPOC, and/or candidates who are members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community are encouraged to apply.

 

Requirements (Handmade Arcade will pay for these if necessary): 

  • Act 34 Criminal Clearance
  • Act 114 FBI Clearance
  • Act 33 PA Child Abuse Clearance 

 

How to Apply: 

Qualified candidates can email the following to to Kelsey Ford, HA’s Executive Director, at kelsey@handmadearacde.org, by September 12, 2024: 

  • Resume
  • Statement of Interest that includes an explanation of relevant or related experience, and examples of your commitment to Handmade Arcade’s values
  • Three references or examples of similar work or projects alongside a brief explanation of the work that was completed

 

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