Program Manager, Sistema Ravinia

Company Description

Ravinia is North America's longest-running not-for-profit music festival and its most artistically diverse. Over 100 different events by a mix of classical, rock, pop, jazz, R&B, indie, and country performers make up a typical summer season on our two open-air and two indoor stages. Each year the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is featured in six weeks of concerts, many with Chief Conductor Marin Alsop. During the same summer months, the Ravinia Steans Music Institute provides young professional classical and jazz musicians with career-advancing training and concert settings.

Offstage and year-round, Ravinia's Reach Teach Play education programs engage 85,000 children and adults—in schools with little to no music curriculum, in our Chicagoland communities, and at our 36-acre park—in our mission to make music equitably accessible to all.

Ravinia embraces diversity in all forms and is committed to providing an equitable and inclusive environment for all staff, musicians, guest artists, audiences, and community members. Ravinia is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage individuals of all identities and abilities to apply.

Position Summary

The Program Manager oversees the overall program planning and operations for Sistema Ravinia's program sites on the West Side of Chicago. They are responsible for guiding the implementation of programmatic design and operations while cultivating a vibrant community where students, families, staff, and partners thrive. This role combines strategic program leadership with hands-on operational management, ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality music education grounded in El Sistema principles.

As a key member of the Sistema Ravinia leadership team, the Program Manager leads a team of instructors and administrative staff toward shared program goals, guides program quality and growth, and fosters collaborative relationships with school and community stakeholders. The ideal candidate brings exceptional organizational abilities, resourceful problem-solving skills, and clear, approachable communication. They excel at balancing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment, remain adaptable to evolving program needs, and hold an unwavering belief that every child can achieve musical excellence.

Key Responsibilities

People Leadership & Development: 45%

• Lead from a set of shared values and principles that create an inclusive culture

• Instructor recruitment, oversight, and evaluation

• Administrative team management (2 full time and 2 part time staff)

• Evaluate, support, and mentor direct reports including administrative and teaching staff

Program Design & Management: 35%

• Manage program planning, implementing goals and needs within an ascribed budget

• Oversee overall nucleo effectiveness and evaluations with a focus on student recruitment, retention, assessment and well-being

• Collaborate with the Artistic Manager and teachers to implement an innovative curriculum

• Develop yearly program calendars and weekly instructional schedule

• Oversee successful events, concerts, and trips

• Collaborate with the Site Manager and RTP Operations Manager to ensure processes for efficient and effective operations

• Creative and authentic implementation of El Sistema ideals

Stakeholder Relationships & Community Engagement: 20%

• Serve as program liaison for all stakeholder groups

• Partnership development with schools and community organizations

• Parent and family engagement

• Communicate program goals, expectations, schedules and needs to stakeholders

• Developing performance opportunities with community partners and organizations

Knowledge and Skills Required

• Superior interpersonal skills with the ability to facilitate positive interactions

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to initiate, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks

• Access to reliable transportation to travel between program sites and events

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree (Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Education, or Bachelor of Arts Administration/Management preferred) or equivalent job experience

• Three to five years related work experience, including people management experience

• Strong background in music education programs and/or youth programming

Success Factors

• Program Quality & Student Outcomes: high level of student retention, progression, positive feedback from students and families

• Staff Performance & Culture: model and uphold program values, goals, and curriculum outcomes

• Operational Excellence: well developed program calendars, events, processes, and effective project and resource management

• Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership: strong collaborative relationships with school partners and community stakeholders, positive feedback from partner organizations, effective communication of program impact and goals

• People & Program Leadership: Create a collaborative and joyful work environment

Work Environment

• This is a fully in person role working daily at school locations throughout the Austin and Lawndale communities of Chicago. This role also includes occasional work onsite at Ravinia.

• Availability to work weekends and evenings for rehearsals, concerts, and special events as needed

• Fast paced, collaborative, and team-based environment: daily interactions with students, teachers, school partners, and families

Benefits

Excellent health and welfare benefits including comprehensive time off, generous retirement savings plans, learning and mentorship opportunities, access to various staff working groups, and a general admission season pass to Ravinia events.

Ravinia is an Equal Opportunity Employer

As an equal opportunity employer, Ravinia strongly believes that diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives is essential to our success and we strive to create and sustain an equitable and inclusive environment for all our employees. Ravinia does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under federal, state, or local law. We encourage individuals of all identities and abilities to apply.