Independent Arts & Media is hiring!
Creative Pulse Fund Program Manager
Anticipated State Date: January 2027
Employment Status: W-2 hourly employee, non-exempt
Schedule: Up to 30 hours per week; nights and weekends may be required
Compensation: $45/hour; anticipated Year 1 compensation of approximately $70,200 (based on an average of 30 hours per week); eligible for health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision
About the Creative Pulse Fund
The Creative Pulse Fund (CPF) is a new three-year pilot initiative designed to expand equitable access to arts and culture funding throughout Contra Costa County.
The Fund responds to findings from the Creative Pulse Report documenting significant gaps in arts and culture funding relative to the County’s size and diversity, including the limited philanthropic access available to many small and community-rooted arts and culture organizations.
The Creative Pulse Fund seeks to:
- Provide direct grants to small arts and culture organizations and individual artists in Contra Costa County;
- Provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to grantees and applicants;
- Engage meaningfully with communities to ensure that funding reflects what communities say they need; and
- Build relationships and partnerships that support the long-term vibrancy of the arts and culture sector countywide.
The program is intentionally designed to evolve over the three-year pilot in response to community outreach, changing needs, program evaluation, and feedback from the CPF Advisory Group.
The Creative Pulse Fund is generously supported by the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation, Zellerbach Family Foundation, San Francisco Foundation, and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Independent Arts & Media serves as a trusted community partner and the administrative home for the Creative Pulse Fund.
Position Overview
The Creative Pulse Fund Program Manager will provide leadership and day-to-day management of the Creative Pulse Fund in partnership with IAM staff, community partners, funders, and the CPF Advisory Group.
The position is centered on three interconnected responsibilities:
- Design and manage the CPF grantmaking and technical-support programs;
- Lead community outreach and engagement to develop meaningful relationships throughout Contra Costa County; and
- Coordinate feedback, learning, and evaluation cycles, including engagement with the CPF Advisory Group.
This is a dynamic program-management role requiring strong relationship-building, thoughtful program design, excellent organization, and the ability to adapt as the pilot develops. The CPF Program Manager will work closely with IAM staff and resources to support financial administration, grant disbursement, technology, communications, professional development, and other program infrastructure.
The strongest candidate will help to build the program, bringing both the ability to develop effective systems and a willingness to listen, learn, and change those systems when community experience demonstrates a better path forward.
Qualifications
- Strong commitment to the mission and values of Independent Arts & Media and the goals of the Creative Pulse Fund;
- Lived experience with communities in Contra Costa County;
- At least three years of relevant experience in nonprofit program management, grantmaking, community engagement, arts administration, or a related field;
- Experience designing, coordinating, or managing programs involving multiple stakeholders;
- Demonstrated commitment to equitable, community-centered, and participatory approaches to program design and grantmaking;
- Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to engage authentically with people from diverse backgrounds and communities;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
- Strong organizational, project-management, and prioritization skills;
- Strong attention to detail and follow-through;
- Ability to synthesize community input and translate it into practical program recommendations;
- Comfort working in an evolving environment where program design and priorities may change in response to learning and community feedback;
- Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism when working with applicants, grantees, community members, partners, funders, and colleagues;
- Demonstrated flexibility in dealing with unpredictable pressures and a variable flow of work activity with a small staff;
- Comfortable learning new technologies;
- Proficient with Microsoft Office programs, Google Suite, Zoom, and cloud-based record-management systems (Google Drive, Dropbox, Box).
Physical Requirements
With or without reasonable accommodation(s), the essential functions of this position may require: sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, lifting (up to 25 lbs.), typing, reading, writing, speaking, and hearing in English. All qualifications and responsibilities outlined above are essential job functions. Employees may be required to perform other duties subject to reasonable accommodation consistent with applicable law.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Independent Arts & Media is an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating an inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and identities.
IAM strongly encourages individuals with lived experience in the communities of Contra Costa County, as well as people from communities historically underrepresented in philanthropy and arts leadership, to apply.
TO APPLY
Please send your resume and 3 professional references to admin@artsandmedia.net with the subject line “CPF Program Manager.” In the body of your email, please address why you think you are a good fit for our organization.
Applications accepted until position filled.