Program Manager (Youth Project-Based Learning)

Company: Beam Center

Position: Co-Lab Studios: Program Manager

Compensation: $30/hr

Employment Status: Part-time, Temporary

Location(s): Red Hook, Brooklyn + Governors Island + TBD (most likely midtown Manhattan)

Dates of Employment: December 7th - June 1st

Hours & Schedule:

• Program Prep: December 7th - December 23rd:
  • Location: Red Hook, Brooklyn
  • Monday - Wednesday, 10am-3pm (15 hours per week)
  • All roles
• Program Prep/Training Youth Staff: January 4th - February 5th:
  • Location: Red Hook, Brooklyn and Governors Island
  • Role 1: Monday - Friday, 2pm-7pm (25 hours per week)
  • Role 2: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 2pm-7pm (15 hours per week)
  • Role 3: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 2pm-7pm (15 hours per week)
• Program Facilitation: February 8th - May 28th:
  • Location: Red Hook, Governors Island, or TBD (most likely midtown Manhattan)
  • Role 1: Monday - Friday, 2pm-7pm (25 hours per week)
  • Role 2: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 2pm-7pm (15 hours per week)
  • Role 3: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 2pm-7pm (15 hours per week)

About Beam Center: Beam builds bold projects that show the power of creative cooperation. Our team is a mix of adaptable, curious makers and problem solvers, including artists, performers, teachers, fabricators, activists, and engineers. Our staff of 30-plus brings diverse backgrounds and is united by a commitment to hands-on creation, equity, and community. We work in person across New York City in classrooms, fabrication labs, and public spaces. More than 96 percent of the young people we serve identify as youth of color or newly immigrated, and our work is designed to support their creativity and sense of belonging, and to create a pathway to future career-connected opportunities.

About the Program: Co-Lab is a foundational Beam program that introduces youth to collaborative project design through hands-on making and the development of technical and professional skills. This year’s programming will focus on participatory research on climate issues through project-making unfolding through three phases of programming:

1. Foundations: Participants will ground themselves in a full understanding of climate as well as be welcomed into Beam’s learning community through introductory project-making surrounding climate topics, technical skill development, SEL, leadership development, community building, and goal setting.
2. Domains: Youth participate in workshops led by guest artists exploring current climate questions. Allowing for in-depth questioning of specific practices and broadening the field beyond the Beam Center.
3. Design Lab: Youth work collaboratively to generate ideas and design projects in small groups, incorporating core components of the Beam project design framework (project ideation, prototyping, and presentation).

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Facilitate the existing curriculum and recommend improvements based on program goals, youth needs, and your expertise.
• Manage inventory of program materials in alignment to budget.
• Supervise and support (2-3) youth assistant instructors
• Lead instruction of projects and participatory research for a cohort of 20-25 youth (aged 16+)
• Learn new skills as required by project goals (i.e. learn how to solder with the intention of being able to teaching soldering as an aspect of a project)
• Facilitate knowledge exchange between climate experts/guest artists and participants
• Maintain attendance and program paperwork (documentation of lessons, facilitation notes, student feedback, team meeting notes, etc.)
• Participate in regular team meetings to share ideas and feedback

Qualifications of a strong candidate:

• Curious, lifelong learner
• Imaginative, able to be flexible and resourceful
• Highly independent, able to set and manage personal goals, expectations, and schedule
• Highly collaborative, able to ask questions, offer insight, professional opinions, and celebrate teamwork
• Experience with youth participatory research spaces.
• Experience facilitating and engaging youth in non traditional learning spaces
• Familiarity with STEAM craft practices and education (woodworking, textiles, circuitry)
• Bias for action - takes initiative to ensure a positive participant experience
• Bilingual English and Spanish proficiency is a requirement.
• Previous experience supervising early career staff or youth in leadership positions strongly preferred