Cultural Arts Program Manager

Creativity, community, and connection are at the heart of Hillsboro’s Cultural Arts program. The Cultural Arts Program Manager for the City of Hillsboro plays an important role in ensuring the livability and vitality of our city.

Located on Main Street in Hillsboro’s Cultural Arts District, and housed inside the historic Walters Cultural Arts Center, the position oversees an innovative team of professionals that provide direct service to the community.

The Walters Cultural Arts Center

The Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Art Center, celebrating its twentieth anniversary, has become a regional hub for art education, creative expression, and live performance.

The Cultural Arts division is housed in this red stone building originally completed in 1949 as a Lutheran church. The iconic stones were quarried along the Columbia River in Camas, Washington and the original stained-glass windows and vaulted arches inside the former sanctuary (now theatre / event space) remain intact.

It is an extraordinarily beautiful and unique venue, to say the least. Renovated in 2004 to become a state-of-the-art community cultural facility, the center boasts a 220-seat theater, fine art galleries, classrooms, fully equipped ceramic studios, and a variety of community event spaces.

On any given day the Walters is abuzz with activity, welcoming people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

About This Role

The Cultural Arts Program Manager for the City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department plays an important role in ensuring the livability and vitality of our city.

Reporting to the Senior Parks Manager for Arts, Culture and Events, this individual will guide and direct the team that programs the Walters Cultural Art Center, a beautiful state-of-the-art facility offering live performances, fine art galleries, workshops, public and private events, and a wide variety of arts education classes.

Also under the jurisdiction of this manager is oversight of our thriving public art program that facilitates rotating exhibitions, a citywide mural program, and public art installations, while also maintaining the City's public art collection.

The Public Art Program works with other City departments as well as partners throughout the community in creating a welcoming Hillsboro by bringing art to public spaces throughout the city.

Our Public Art Collection includes over 80 pieces of artwork from locally, nationally, and internationally known artists.

In addition, this position provides guidance to the Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council, a City Council appointed advisory body that oversees policies and programs pertaining to arts and culture for the City.

The Hillsboro Arts and Culture Council facilitates an annual community grant program offering support for arts and culture projects, core operations of local arts and culture organizations and for performing groups to take the stage during the Walters performance series.

The arts are thriving in Hillsboro and the Cultural Arts Program Manager is a guiding force, collaborating with community partners and across city departments to ensure a thriving and vibrant Hillsboro.

Leaning heavily upon the City’s Cultural Arts Action Plan as the foundation for the work, the program manager will work to nurture a creative, vibrant, culturally authentic, and sustainable Hillsboro.

The Cultural Arts Program Manager directs programs, oversees operations, activities, events, and serves as an arts advocate for the community and region.

Traits for Success

• A seasoned arts administrator and purpose driven leader who actively demonstrates inclusion and respect for diverse voices, backgrounds, and ideas.
• A strategic planner with demonstrated ability to innovate / deliver community programs related to visual and performing arts, public art, arts education, and other activities that will represent and serve a diverse and growing community.
• Understands and has experience managing and operating a facility which serves the community. Applicant must also demonstrate experience with staffing, programming, marketing, and scheduling of rentals, activities, and special events.
• Has supervised staff including workflow prioritization, conducting performance evaluations, professional development support and guidance, and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.
• Has a proven track record of empowering staff members under their supervision, and creating a culture of teamwork, respect, communication and collaboration.
• Has the ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with peers across diverse roles, local and regional organizations, non-profits, institutions, municipalities, and recreation service providers for the purposes of collaborative programming, information sharing, advocacy, and sponsorships.
• Has a demonstrated ability to collaborate, build relationships, and work well with others.
• Has knowledge of emerging trends in arts and culture with a specific focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Has the skill and experience to work with complex budgets and cost recovery.
• Can orchestrate multiple activities at once, and can organize, advocate for and marshal resources to accomplish goals.
• Must have a strong social skills and proven ability to communicate well both in writing and verbally.

Acceptable Experience and Training

Bachelor’s degree in arts or business administration, public policy, performing or visual arts, or closely related field, with a minimum of 5 years of arts or facility programming experience and management including 3 years of supervisory experience or an equivalent combination.

• Supervisory and managerial skills
• Advanced Microsoft office skills
• Experience with budgeting and contract management
• Understanding of public art administration best practices
• Experience with community grants administration
• An understanding of public safety / risk policies and emergency plans
• A valid driver's license and a safe driving record
• Bilingual preferred, but not required

The ideal candidate will have superior communication skills, flexibility, tact, problem-solving, strong social skills, excellent safety judgment, and a strong commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The City has identified the core competencies for the position to include the following :

• Managing Vision and Purpose
• Organizing
• Strategic Agility
• Integrity and Trust
• Peer Relationships
• Conflict Management
• Customer Focus
• Comfort Around Higher Management

To learn more about this unique visual arts and performance facility, visit the website : .

To learn more about Hillsboro’s public art collection, visit the website : Hillsboro Public Art Program.

To learn more about the Cultural Arts Action Plan and all of the aspects of the City’s cultural arts programming, visit the website : Arts & Culture.