Project Impact Manager
Title: PROJECT IMPACT MANAGER
Supervised by: Director of Programs
Supervises: Program Coordinator(s), Art
Therapists and Intern(s)
Classification: Exempt, Full-Time, Salaried
JOB DESCRIPTION: Project Impact Manager
WHO WE ARE: SkyART is a permanent fixture in the vibrant cultural landscape of Chicago's South and West Side communities. Founded in 2001, with creativity at the center of everything we do, SkyART provides free, safe, open spaces where people are empowered and connections are made. SkyART continues to fulfill its mission from our flagship studio in South Chicago and beyond, reaching young people through three pillar programs: SkyWAY, for ages 7-13; Project 3rd Space, for ages 14-24 and Project Impact, our art therapy program. In 2020 SkyART announced an expansion to Chicago’s West Side and began providing school programs in Austin, Garfield Park and Humboldt Park. In 2024 we purchased a 7,500 sq ft building in Garfield Park for SkyART West, our second permanent location. Driving our mission is a deep understanding of the transformative power of art and its capacity to enhance intellectual, emotional and social development.
WHO WE SERVE: The communities where SkyART works and the young people we serve exemplify the resilience and the beautiful diversity of our city. Our free programs are open and accessible to youth from communities that have been impacted by historic marginalization, generational trauma and systemic racism, and who may lack access to cultural programming that affirms their identity and places them front and center as creators of their own futures. The majority of Black and Brown youth we serve are impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) which can negatively impact their ability to be successful in relationships, school, higher education or the workplace. Many are directly impacted by violence, incarceration and/or the foster care system. For all these reasons, SkyART prioritizes the wellbeing and healing of our participants using art as a platform for self exploration, reflection and Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
WHAT WE EXPECT: It takes a team of extraordinary staff, teaching artists and art therapists to bring SkyART to life, and we are looking for extraordinary individuals to help propel our growth into the future. We expect that all staff, from contractors to the Executive Director, practice everyday leadership and participate in both small scale and big picture thinking about the impact of our work. We expect that each individual contributes to creating an environment where we can show up as our whole self — centering young people as the driving force behind what we do — and where the diversity of individual lived experiences and cultures adds to the richness of our programs. Original ideas and critical thinking are required. We dive into the complexities and nuances that color our work and give it meaning beyond punching the clock and earning a paycheck. We ask all employees to practice vulnerability and to hold each other accountable, even those who supervise us, through compassionate calling-in and sensitive communication.
Core competencies required for any position include: connection, collaboration, communication, creativity and consistency.
HOW YOU CONTRIBUTE: The SkyART Project Impact Manager will work to manage and train a team of expressive and creative art therapists, analyze program outcome measures and supervise masters level interns. When necessary, introduce, substitute or conduct individual and group sessions. You will have a keen understanding of the realities of youth living across the South and West side of Chicago. You will have a deep understanding of how this affects our youth, specifically addressing issues of primary and vicarious traumas and lived experiences of marginalization, poverty, systemic racism, abuse and neglect You will promote self-care, artistic expression and inspiration, challenging stigma, securing family connections, monitoring stress, developing coping and resilience, maintaining relationships, and amplifying hope (across the organization).
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
General Program Management
Create and implement strategies for responsive and safe programming at SkyART Studios, in School and Community spaces, and in youth detention centers
Stay abreast of emerging and contemporary theories of expressive and creative arts therapy
Manage and maintain SkyART’s Project Impact participant relationships, parent engagement, and community stakeholders
Cultivate, recruit and onboard a strong, consistent cohort of expressive and creative art therapists
Support the application of SkyART values and core philosophies across programs
Support marketing & communications and development staff with consistent and recent documentation of SkyART programs including photographs, videos and testimonials of students and artwork in studio, school and community programs as requested.
Master-Level Clinical Internship Site
Oversee and coordinate clinical intern placements within schools, studio and community spaces
Provide clinical supervision to a cohort of clinical interns
Collaborate with school field supervisor to meet academic requirements
Complete clinical internship site evaluations with interns
Host site visits with school partners and field supervisors
Program Management - Schools & Outreach/Community
In collaboration with Schools and Community Program Manager, oversee and coordinate art therapy programming with school and community partners
Negotiate and execute contracts and oversee invoicing and billing with Bookkeeper and Schools and Community Program Manager
Provide detailed schedule to art therapists of breaks and non-attendance days on-site
Coordinate with school and community partners counseling and clinical teams to complete art therapy consent forms and discuss opportunities with families and parents/guardians
Conduct 2-3 site visits per program to support therapists
Program Implementation and Management - Studio
Work with and supervise therapists to make placement of participants with therapists that best meet their needs
Oversee the assessments of therapists that best understand and meet the needs of participants’, using drawing, painting, sculpting or other artistic modalities and mediums
Oversee the application of art therapy sessions that provide guided self-expression experiences to help participants understand their self-worth, regulate their emotions, and relieve stress.
Use SkyART’s Care Plan Model to best evaluate the needs of the participants and support therapists in building interventions that best meet these needs
Evaluate and audit case notes that are created by therapists after individual and group sessions in Vertical Change
Support therapists in creating care plans that reflect goals or objectives for art therapy sessions in consultation with the clinical team leadership
Facilitate professional development workshops on art therapy techniques and/or processes to Teaching Artists, interns, volunteers, staff and community partners to better understand the impact of art therapy in SkyART
In collaboration with SkyART Program Managers, regularly review contracts, revise schedules, and attend to all other practical details associated with programs
Program Implementation and Management - Just-Us
In collaboration with school and community program manager, supervise Just-Us program in youth detention centers
Supervise therapists and clinical interns providing art therapy services on-site
Collaborate with Schools and Community Program Manager to oversee interns from detention centers
Hire, train and supervise Just-Us therapists that have an expertise and passion for working with justice-involved youth
Negotiate and execute contracts and oversee invoicing and billing with SkyART’s Bookkeeper and Schools and Community Program Manager
YOUR BACKGROUND INCLUDES:
MA in Art Therapy or social service degree required and on licensure track
Cultural competency working with individuals from diverse backgrounds
Detailed-oriented with excellent communication, organizational, interpersonal and writing skills
A minimum of three-five years of non-profit, social services, clinical management experience preferred
YOUR SKILLS INCLUDE:
Experience managing and coaching a team of people
Strong collaboration skills and the ability to connect to all types of people
Significant experience working with youth
Strong project management, research and organizational capabilities
Ability to work autonomously and make informed, thoughtful decisions
Knowledge of art, art history or art-making, practicing artists strongly encouraged
Ability to work within a small collaborative environment and manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Experience working with a case management system, preferred
Proficiency in Google suite and case management system preferred
Bilingual strongly preferred
Must pass a background check
WHAT WE OFFER:
SkyART offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a competitive salary commensurate with background, experience, and position responsibilities. Depending on the position, in addition to salary, benefits for eligible employees may include:
Paid time off (PTO), with starting benefits of 4 weeks each fiscal year
Eleven paid holidays and one additional day off for your birthday
Employee retirement account with up to 3% contribution from SkyART
Full health Insurance benefits, including medical, dental and vision
HOW TO APPLY:
Please submit a cover letter and resume to: projectimpactmanager@skyart.org with ”Project Impact Manager” in the subject line. Be sure to include your first and last name along with contact information in the body of the email. Do not mail or fax. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
SkyART is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. SkyART does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.
