Center Director

About Destiny Arts CenterDestiny Arts Center (DAC) is a nationally recognized leader in creative youth development and a vital cultural institution in Oakland. For nearly four decades, Destiny has been an artistic home for thousands of Bay Area youth and families, a place where young people find their voices, build their talents and relationships, and experience belonging.Our mission is to inspire and ignite social change through the arts. Through dance, martial arts, theater, and other movement arts, we support young people in becoming peaceful, powerful, and creative individuals who contribute to stronger, healthier communities.Position SummaryDestiny seeks an experienced, visionary, and collaborative Director of Center Programs to provide strategic, artistic, and operational leadership for our center-based programming: community classes, Performance Companies, summer camps, and family and community engagement.As a senior member of the program leadership team, the Director will shape the Arts Center into a vibrant, welcoming, inclusive community hub. The Director will build a cohesive continuum of opportunities so young people can progress from introductory classes to advanced training, Performance Companies, mentorship, and leadership roles.The Director is responsible for program quality, enrollment and retention, staff development, community engagement, and continuous improvement, working closely with the Deputy Director and other organizational leaders. The ideal candidate is a people-centered leader who combines a strong grounding in arts education and youth development with operational expertise, financial acumen, and a collaborative spirit.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategy & Program DevelopmentSet strategic direction, annual goals, budgets, and work plans aligned with Destiny’s mission and strategic planBuild a continuum connecting community classes, advanced training, Performance Companies, mentorship, and youth leadershipOversee planning, evaluation, and improvement of all Arts Center programs, including classes, camps, Performance Companies, and family programmingStrengthen curriculum and instructional quality, and identify opportunities for innovation and expanded accessPerformance CompaniesSupervise and support the Directors of the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company (DAYPC) and Destiny Junior Company (DJC), setting shared artistic, educational, and youth development goalsEnsure the Performance Companies offer high-quality, culturally rooted, youth-centered experiences and are integrated into other Destiny programmingStrengthen recruitment, retention, family engagement, and pathways from classes into the Performance CompaniesOperations & Program ManagementSupervise the Arts Center Manager, Arts Center Coordinator, and Production Manager; oversee logistics, scheduling, facilities, supplies, and administrative systemsOversee Camp Destiny, showcases, orientations, daytime programming, resident companies, and merchandise operationsMaintain policies and systems that keep the Center safe, welcoming, and inclusiveOversee the Center budget, staffing, and production schedules, and support major events (Gala, Love in Action, Moving for Peace)Enrollment, Retention & Community EngagementSet and meet enrollment, retention, and family engagement goals, using attendance and capacity data to guide planningIdentify and address barriers to participation, particularly for youth and families from historically marginalized communitiesEnsure timely, welcoming communication with parents and caregivers, and oversee orientations and open housesBuild partnerships with schools, community organizations, and artists, and coordinate outreach with the Communications teamPartner with Destiny’s CARE Team, including the Youth and Family Support Specialist and the Academic & Career Coordinator, to integrate wraparound support into Arts Center programs so every young person and family has the resources they need to thriveStaff Leadership & DevelopmentCoach and manage direct reports with clear expectations, annual goals, and regular feedbackBuild an accountable, collaborative team culture rooted in Destiny’s values and the Warrior’s CodeEnsure training and support for teaching artists, teaching assistants, and camp counselors; partner with HR on hiring and personnel mattersFinance, Evaluation & ComplianceWork with the Deputy Director and Director of Finance to develop and manage budgets and earned revenue, balancing sustainability with equity and access for every family through Destiny’s pay-what-you-can modelUse enrollment, retention, satisfaction, and outcome data to evaluate programs and drive continuous improvement; supply impact data to Development and support proposals and reports as neededEnsure compliance with laws, policies, and youth safety requirements, including safety protocols and incident reportingCollaborate across the Deputy Director, School & Community Programs, Development, Communications, and Finance/HR teams, and represent Destiny externallyQualificationsRequiredBachelor’s degree in arts administration, education, social work, youth development, nonprofit management, or a related field, or equivalent experience5+ years in arts education, creative youth development, nonprofit management, or community programming5+ years supervising teams and developing staff (experience supervising managers or directors strongly preferred)Experience managing multiple programs, budgets, and complex operations, plus strategic planning and evaluationExperience with enrollment, recruitment, or retention strategiesStrong understanding of creative youth development and culturally responsive, inclusive arts educationExcellent leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills; commitment to racial equity, social justice, and youth voiceProficiency with databases, spreadsheets, and program management software; availability for occasional evenings and weekendsPreferredMaster’s degree; experience leading a community arts center or youth performance programFamiliarity with movement arts such as dance, martial arts, or theater; experience with earned-revenue program modelsKnowledge of Oakland and East Bay communities; Spanish-language proficiency Work Environment & ScheduleThis role is based on-site at Destiny Arts Center in Oakland, working alongside teaching artists and programming rather than in a school or county office. As an exempt, salaried position, the schedule may require some evenings or weekends for workshops, performances, or family events, with flexibility to manage time and workload accordingly. This role is not eligible for overtime compensation under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)Powered by JazzHRPjjrEJ8QwI