Hiring

Responsible to: NRS Leadership 

Supervises: BumberWorks Workforce Development Program

Collaborates with: NRS Leadership, Workforce Development Cohort and alumni, external consultants, Professional Partner Network.

Position is open until filled, but priority will be given to applications received by June 1st, 2026.

Position Summary: The Education Manager will work closely with New Rising Sun Leadership, community partners and external groups such as The Crocodile to build a strong workforce development program and lasting partnerships to serve young people from communities historically underrepresented in the creative economy. The Education Manager will play a key organizational role by supervising, supporting and continuing to develop the scope and impact of the BumberWorks Workforce Development Program. This position is critical to building coalitions with community organizations, providing effective and supportive leadership to program staff and participants, developing and managing the program budget, and representing the program in the community. This is a Seattle-based hybrid role, with onsite work required when needed.

About New Rising Sun: New Rising Sun, Washington special purpose corporation, was founded in 2022 with the goal of bringing Seattle’s long running Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival back to life as an inclusive and sustainable festival that contributes to the revitalization of the city. Our mission is: To help foster an inclusive, energized, and sustainable arts economy in the Pacific Northwest through young adult education, festival, spectacle, and community driven programming.

The mission of the BumberWorks Workforce Development Program to help remove barriers for communities underrepresented in the arts economy including young BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ folks aged 17-25 by offering the technical, creative, and business skills of concert and event promotion via field training, internships, mentorship, and 1:1 training using “festival as classroom”, and job placement. Program participants will watch our successes and challenges in real time as we program and operate the festival with a vision to elevate Seattle by fostering a more sustainable creative arts ecosystem and produce ticketed and free arts spectacle and live event programming.

Key responsibilities:

Program Development

• BumberWorks works in partnership with UC Theater Workforce development program and employs a concert career pathways curriculum.
• Provide oversight and management of Workforce Development Program
• Collaborate with NRS Leadership and UC Theater consultants to establish program goals, and review and revise procedures and policies in alignment with strategic direction
• Represent BumberWorks at community events, including presentations at local and national conferences and workshops

Participant Support

• Manage and maintain communication systems with program participants, including weekly updates, 1:1 check-ins, feedback sessions, scheduling, and other ongoing engagement practices.
• Manage and oversee participant recruitment and application processes, ensuring equitable outreach and clear pathways into the program.
• Design and coordinate the program calendar, including industry tours, speaker series, workshops, and other hands-on learning opportunities.
• Develop and oversee an alumni engagement program to maintain long-term relationships and track participant outcomes.
• Support career placement efforts by building strong intern-to-employment pipelines and cultivating relationships with industry professionals.

Partnership Development

• Build, cultivate, and manage a network of industry partners to support program growth, including oversight of partner relationships, agreements, and invoicing processes.
• Identify, develop, and steward relationships with prospective and existing partner organizations that align with program objectives and long-term strategic priorities.

Operations

• Track, analyze, and report on key program metrics, including indicators related to equity, access, and social impact.
• Monitor program expenditures within the approved budget and support the development of the annual program budget.
• Contribute to the development of program narratives that support fundraising, grant reporting, and external communications.
• Plan and implement an annual fundraising event showcasing the education and Workforce Development Program in partnership with the New Rising Sun leadership and external partners.

Skills and Experience

• Experience in workforce development, alternative education, and job placement preferred.
• Collaborative team player capable of supporting and implementing program strategies in partnership with the NRS Executive Team, Education leadership, teaching artists, partners, staff, contractors, and volunteers.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate Third Stone’s mission, programs, and impact to partners, stakeholders, and the broader community.
• Demonstrated ability to strategically cultivate and steward relationships with partners, leveraging their expertise, networks, and resources to advance program goals.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and a willingness to engage in personal and organizational reflection, critical dialogue, and growth around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Strong interpersonal skills that foster an open, honest, and collaborative work environment.
• Strategic and creative thinker with a commitment to ongoing professional development and continuous learning.
• Comfortable working in nontraditional environments such as music venues, art galleries, and festival grounds.

Qualifications

• A genuine interest in and a working knowledge/background in arts, workforce development, education and/or social justice work
• 3+ years of relatable experience is preferred
• Knowledge of and/or experience in arts education and workforce development fields are a plus
• Connected and familiar with LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC Pacific NW communities and non-profit orgs
• At least 3 years previous supervisory experience, especially with youth and young people
• At least 3 years of experience creating and sustaining partnerships
• Experience creating and managing budgets
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Technical savvy with databases, word, excel and power point
• Ability to work nights and weekends as needed for festival and program schedule

Compensation

Expected salary is $85,000 - $92,000 depending on experience.

The position includes medical, dental and vision, along with flexible work hours.

Employment Policy

New Rising Sun is an Equal Opportunity Employer. People of color, queer, gay, lesbian and/or bisexual people, transgender, genderqueer and/or non-binary folks are encouraged to apply. This position has a strong center in racial and social justice, encouraging critical thinking and dialogue about how intersecting systems of oppression impacts our work.

New Rising Sun is committed to the personal and professional growth of its employees. We work hard to build a supportive, respectful, and celebratory community among our staff, board, and volunteers. We look forward to finding the next member of our extended Bumbershoot family.

Application Process

Please send your resume and a cover letter (2 pages maximum) addressed to the Search Committee to jobs@bumbershoot.com no later than June 1st, 2026. The position is open until filled; however, New Rising Sun ideally seeks to have a person in place by June 30th, 2026.