Program Director

Job Title: Program Director

Reports to: Deputy Director of Policy & Programs

Supervises: Program Manager

Location: Pasadena, California

Classification: Full-time, Exempt, Hybrid

Salary Range: 91K - 105K

Position Summary

Create CA seeks a dynamic and strategic Program Director to lead our statewide advocacy capacity-building, drive youth engagement initiatives, manage collaborative programming, grow our network, and align community-focused work with statewide policy and collective impact initiatives. The Program Director will be part of the senior team and co-lead the advancement of systems change through programming that centers equitable access to arts education for all public school students in California.

Key Responsibilities

Advocacy Capacity Building & Community Engagement

• Develop and oversee statewide programs, including Arts Now, that build capacity among students, educators, parents, and local community members to effectively advocate for quality arts education in their schools and districts.
• Enlist specialists to co-design and deliver trainings and develop resources to increase community knowledge and engagement in advocacy, policy and promising practices to increase access to arts education.
• Facilitate strategic partnerships with organizations and school districts to grow Create CA’s grassroots network, increase our reach and strengthen collective impact efforts.

Youth Leadership & Campaign Development

• Manage and support a statewide Youth Advisory Council, guiding them in the creation and execution of youth-led student engagement campaigns.
• Facilitate youth leadership development opportunities throughout the organization’s work and foster a collaborative, inclusive culture among the Youth Advisory Council.
• Develop strategies to engage youth through our programs and initiatives.
• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of Student Arts Advocacy Day(s), including logistics, outreach, programming and speaker recruitment. Ensure the events center on student priorities and advance arts education policy priorities.
• Identify potential partners and explore collaborations with youth-serving organizations that share our commitment to youth empowerment to amplify impact, develop collective actions and strengthen statewide youth advocacy.

Legislative & Policy Advocacy

• Work closely with Create CA’s Deputy Director and contracted lobbyist to support legislative tracking, analysis and strategy development.
• Work with the Deputy Director on developing and activating the annual policy and legislative agenda.
• Coordinate youth and community participation in legislative actions, hearings, meetings with lawmakers, and public comment opportunities.
• Contribute to developing policy briefs, testimony, and communications that clearly articulate Create CA’s arts education policy agenda.
• Translate complex policy information into accessible materials and talking points for use by advocates across the state.
• Work with the Deputy Director to convene, design, and facilitate Policy Council meetings, and lead all related administrative functions.

Collective Impact & Strategy Alignment

• Work with the Deputy Director to ensure alignment on programming and broader strategic initiatives.
• Work with the Deputy Director to gather regular input and feedback (through surveys and focus groups) from program participants, Policy Council members and field leaders to improve and inform our work.
• Contribute to Create CA’s collective impact work and provide long-term strategy and evaluation input, including helping update core strategic documents that guide collective work.
• Contribute to the communication strategy and develop strategies for local partners to advance the goals of Create CA’s public will campaign.

General Duties

• Major decision-making related to all aspects of the programs, including strategy, design, budgeting, evaluation, reporting, meeting coordination and contractor management.
• Provide direction, supervision, and support to the Program Manager.
• Report program activities, accomplishments, challenges and needs.
• Represent Create CA to the public and effectively work with constituents, including Board members, Policy Council members, nonprofit arts organizations, independent contractors, vendors, and the general public.

Qualifications

Required Experience and Knowledge

• Minimum 5 years of experience in education policy, advocacy, arts education, community organizing, or program development.
• Proven track record in advocacy and coordination with lobbyists or policy consultants.
• Strong understanding of California’s education system, arts education, policy landscape and key decision-making bodies.
• Experience working with diverse populations and employing culturally responsive, equity-driven approaches.
• Familiarity with collective impact strategies or cross-sector collaboration frameworks.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to provide strategic direction, supportive feedback and coach direct report(s) for success.
• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, or related field preferred; significant relevant experience may substitute for formal education.

Key Skills

• Program design and implementation.
• Strong public speaking and meeting facilitation skills.
• Legislative and policy analysis.
• Strategic communications and policy writing experience (e.g., memos, op-eds, campaign messaging).
• Ability to analyze and communicate complex policy issues to non-expert audiences.
• Excellent strategic planning and project management abilities.
• Proficient in building and sustaining networks and coalitions.

Additional Information

• Occasional evening or weekend availability may be required.
• Travel within California for events and meetings.
• Primarily remote, with the option to work in our Pasadena office; must be able to travel to the office as needed.