Application Deadline: November 4, 2022
Harbourfront Centre is a leader in providing internationally renowned artistic, educational and recreational programming across a beautiful 10-acre campus at the heart of Toronto’s waterfront. For more than 45 years, Harbourfront Centre has celebrated the best in Canadian culture and the rich mosaic of cultures from around the world, presenting thousands of events annually from music festivals to contemporary dance, to craft and design, to visual arts and more. Welcoming visitors year-round, there is something for everyone at Harbourfront Centre!
We are currently looking to bring on board an enthusiastic, experienced and creative Education Officer, Visual Arts to deliver a variety of our School Visits programs to a diverse student audience.
Position Title: Education Officer, Visual Arts
Department: School Visits
Reporting To: Manager, School Visits
Type of Employment: Full-time, 35 hours per week. This is a full time, 10-month position that aligns with the school year (full time work from September-June). Annual dates for July-August leave will be adjusted based on the Ministry of Education’s school year and our program start and end dates.
Work Location: Toronto
Role Summary
The Education Officer will lead all initiatives in the Visual Arts portfolio, including daily program execution, development of new programs, evaluation of existing programs, staff training and supply management. In addition, the Education Officer will collaborate with the Education Officer, Performing Arts on program development and review. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of child and adolescent development, possesses a wealth of classroom management strategies, and is able to adapt their teaching style to suit the needs of the diverse communities in the Greater Toronto Area who attend School Visits programs. This position requires creativity and imagination in the planning and delivery of programs. As a resource to new and returning educators, the successful candidate is well versed in current pedagogical trends, and in particular, in the inquiry-based learning model. The ideal candidate will face each day with a positive attitude and understand that each group of students will require a unique approach to ensure optimal student outcomes. A commitment to life-long learning and an ability to remain on task when faced with competing priorities will be key tools for success. Finally, a commitment to infuse equity, diversity and inclusion principles into all aspects of School Visits will be a key component of success for this position.
Duties
- Teach a variety of visual arts workshops to a diverse range of students ranging in age from pre-kindergarten to adult learners, providing a superior customer service experience to visiting teachers and student groups. Teaching may take place virtually in synchronous and/or asynchronous formats, including pre-recorded content and support resources for educators.
- Prepare, monitor and reset all classroom spaces.
- Under the guidance of the Manager, School Visits, purchase all supplies for Visual Arts, Waterfront Explorations and other School Visits initiatives as necessary and monitor spending for Visual Arts supplies, recommending alternative vendors and savings opportunities.
- Provide training and support for new and returning educators in all Visual Arts programs, as well as support co-op students and volunteers as required.
- Monitor student progress, provide assistance and encouragement, and pace workshop to meet students’ needs, ensuring inclusion of all students remains a top priority.
- Liaise with Site Services, Planning, Production and Security to ensure optimal student safety while onsite and take ownership of student safety during an emergency procedure.
- Take the lead in program development, renewal and evaluation for all Visual Arts programs and work closely with the School Visits team to research and develop new program ideas across all disciplines.
- Review and evaluate existing programs while responding to current best practices in Arts Education and revisions to Ontario Ministry of Education Curriculum documents.
- Coordinate all program documentation and teaching manipulatives for Visual Arts programs.
- Develop Creative Edge programs which respond to gallery exhibitions, performances, festivals or external partner programming that may come up throughout the school year.
- Develop pre and post Visit Packages for all new School Visits Visual Arts programs.
- Apply a critical lens to the way in which topics of equity, diversity and inclusion are demonstrated in workshops and our supporting documentation.
- Audit, maintain, order and evaluate the use of all materials as related to the Visual Arts programs.
- Complete daily venue inspection report to ensure setups meet program-specific needs.
- Work with the School Visits team to ensure venue maximization through daily and weekly schedule meetings.
- Support the Manager, School Visits in the recruitment, interviewing, hiring and training of new Educators. Participate in the annual cycle for co-op students, interns and/or student teachers, including interviewing, training, mentorship, feedback, evaluation and liaising with the relevant school and school board representatives.
- Assist with content development for all School Visits marketing initiatives, including web, e-communications and the annual brochure.
- Recommend innovative strategies for revenue generation in all School Visits portfolios.
- Participate in the annual cycle for co-op students, interns and/or student teachers, including interviewing, training, mentorship, feedback, evaluation and liaising with the relevant school and school board representatives.
Qualifications
- Completion of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in a visual arts medium.
- Completion of a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) and/or sufficient experience with teaching, program development and the Ontario Arts Curriculum.
- Minimum of 2 years of teaching experience and/or leading workshops with children in any formal or informal setting (school, gallery, museum, before/after school program, camp).
- Demonstrable competency in drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramic art and other mixed media techniques.
- Ability to work with students of all ages and abilities (Please note: most School Visits workshops are facilitated to students from ages 4-18), with the capability to motivate and engage students during their time in our workshops.
- Ability to work independently and take ownership for all aspects of programming.
- Strong organizational, time management and communication skills (written and oral).
- Computer proficiency and knowledge of various applications (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams).
- In addition to English, oral proficiency in French is considered an asset.
- Must be in possession of valid Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Sectors Screening dated within six months of hire date and/or wiling to obtain before beginning teaching responsibilities.
- Standard First Aid (CPR-C) is considered an asset.
- An Ontario Driver’s License (G Class) with clean driver’s abstract is considered a plus.
- An interest in a performing arts discipline (dance, drama or music) and/or urban studies content (geography, history and/or sociology) is desirable.
- Being a practicing visual artist is an asset.
- Knowledge of Artifax, DayForce, Zoom, Google Meet or similar venue management software is desirable.
- Must be in possession of valid Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Sectors Screening dated within six months of hire date and/or wiling to obtain before beginning teaching responsibilities.
- Must be legally eligible to work in Canada. Non-Canadian applicants must have a valid employment Visa and proper documentation authorizing their ability to work in Canada.
- This role is based in Toronto. Some accommodations for remote work are possible on non-teaching days, however, the vast majority of duties for this position require candidates to be physically onsite at our waterfront campus in downtown Toronto.
- Harbourfront Centre recognizes its heightened duty to protect employees from health and safety risks during the current pandemic. As such, an offer of employment shall be conditional on proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with a vaccine series approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization.
Our Values
Open
We’re friendly, welcoming and inclusive, with an experimental attitude that thrives on collaboration.
Brave
To achieve our bold ambition we empower and support imaginative risk and we always try to learn from our mistakes.
Rigorous
We are committed to excellence in all we do, ensuring every visitor encounter is safe, memorable and enriching.
Kind
We value and respect each other and all our visitors, celebrating difference and striving to realise potential.
How To Apply
Harbourfront Centre values and is committed to diversity and inclusiveness in our teams, creative communities, programmes and services. We invite qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
Acceptable applications must include a current resume and a cover letter indicating salary expectations and why you would be the perfect fit for the role.
Qualified applicants are invited to submit their candidacy by contacting jobs@harbourfrontcentre.com by November 4, 2022. Please quote Education Officer, Visual Arts in the subject line of the application.
We sincerely thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted. Suitable accommodations will be available upon request during the hiring process.