Program & Communications Associate

Location

This position primarily operates in a remote work environment with occasional in-person meetings, convenings, and travel required. The position is ideally based in close proximity to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with availability to travel to our office approximately once a month for in-person meetings. Travel to the office should be within a reasonable day-trip distance, as overnight accommodations are not provided.

Date Posted

July 1, 2025

Application Deadline

Expressions of Interest will be accepted until at least Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Priority review given to those received by that time.

Position Summary

NAS is seeking a Program & Communications Associate. We are a small, highly collaborative organization, looking for a Program & Communications Associate. This position plays a key role in supporting external communications, operational efficiency, and coordination for NAS programs. This role requires a detail-oriented and proactive professional with strong communication, organizational, and administrative skills to support a range of programs and events.

About NAS

At NAS, our mission is to build and support a diverse community of arts and culture leaders who drive inspiring change for the future. Our vision is a world in which everyone working in arts and culture is empowered with equitable access to resources and connected within thriving networks that benefit all people and our planet. To make our mission and vision a reality, we offer professional development opportunities, coaching, and a powerful network to arts and culture leaders at every stage of their careers. Established in 1983, NAS has trained and supported more arts and culture leaders than any other organization in the field.

Our Mission & Vision

Mission: We build and support a diverse community of arts and culture leaders who drive inspiring change for the future.

Vision: We envision a world in which everyone working in arts and culture is empowered with equitable access to resources and connected within thriving networks that benefit all people and our planet.

Our Design Principles

• Care: The NAS experience goes beyond classroom learning – we design for beauty, nourishment, movement, relaxation, and joy.
• Connections: We create learning environments that emphasize connection and cultivate lasting bonds between leaders that nourish robust networks of support and the adaptive capacity to face challenges together.
• Diversity: We bring together people with varied identities, perspectives, experiences, and cultural expressions in our vibrant learning environments.
• Equity: We reject scarcity thinking and instead focus on abundance – creating and supporting systems where everyone can access what they need to thrive.
• Stewardship: We partner with organizations that value our planet, carefully directing our resources to minimize environmental impact through mindful purchasing, reduced consumption, and a commitment to lowering our carbon footprint.
• Wonder: We design spaces for leaders to question deeply-held assumptions that often go unchallenged, allowing them to see themselves, their work, and the world around them with a fresh perspective.

Essential Duties

Essential Duty 1: 40% – External Relationship Building and Communication

• Manage external communications.
• Draft and send program-related administrative messages.
• Monitor online spaces (e.g., the NAS online community and alumni communications platforms) for moderation and outreach opportunities.
• Develop creative PowerPoint presentations with the team to enhance communication.
• Assist with program material creation, including community spotlights and PDFs.
• Provide online platform support for:
  • Website updates and community engagement.
  • Salesforce regarding contact list management and community communications.

Essential Duty 2: 30% – Event Coordination and Participant Support

• Coordinate logistics for in-person and online events, including venue research, scheduling, and material preparation (buying, printing, and shipping).
• These events include the Creative Community Fellows (United Kingdom, Durham County UK, and New England) programs and alumni activities.
• Act as the primary liaison for program participants, ensuring smooth communication and support.

Essential Duty 3: 20% – Program Administration

• Schedule team meetings and manage calendars.
• Proofread and edit materials to ensure accuracy and professionalism.
• Monitor program progression, such as grants.

Essential Duty 4: 10% – Operations Support for Leadership Coaching Programs

• Provide administrative assistance focusing on individual coaching clients, including:
  • Platform support for onboarding and troubleshooting IT or administrative issues.
  • Payment support for Operations Manager.

Who Should Apply?

Ultimately, we are seeking applicants who have a blend – in some way – of the following:

• Years of Experience: 1–3 years of experience in an entry-level or administrative role
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Proven ability to manage logistics for events (in-person and virtual) and provide administrative support, including scheduling, material preparation, and participant communication
• Demonstrated experience creating professional written and visual communications (e.g., newsletters, PowerPoint presentations)
• Familiarity with tools such as Salesforce and Asana

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in supporting program operations, including onboarding, IT troubleshooting
• Experience working with arts organizations and artists

If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.

Compensation & Benefits

This position pays $52,000 annually. Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, short- and long-term disability, retirement benefits, sick/vacation leave, and flexible work hours. NAS is a hybrid office and has adopted a four-day work week. The team generally works Monday through Thursday. Travel (domestic and international) is required to attend programs, board meetings, NAS team retreats, conferences, and other meetings (approximately 25 days per year).

Application & Hiring Process

Phase One: Apply. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter.

Phase Two: Asynchronous Interviews. Finalists will be sent a link to record video responses to our first-round interview questions.

Phase Three: Zoom Interviews. One to two rounds of interviews via Zoom are anticipated. Contact information for three references (phone numbers and email addresses) who know you and your work will be requested at this phase. References will not be contacted without your prior consent.

If you need accommodations to make this application process happen, please connect with us by reaching out to Operations Manager Michael Tune.

Search Committee

Expressions of interest and formal applications will be reviewed by the NAS search committee. Search committee members include: Mariah Cesena, Mariana Calvo Valdez, Gail Crider, Deryn Dudley, Kyle Jillson, Michael Tune, and Sunny Widmann (VP, Programs and Partnerships) who will make the final decision on the successful candidate.

Equal Opportunity Statement

National Arts Strategies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, disability (physical or mental), genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

NAS strives to create a workplace that celebrates the diverse experiences, perspectives, and contributions of all individuals, which we believe strengthens our mission, drives innovation, and enriches the arts and culture sector.

Apply here