Ravinia, North America's oldest music festival, nestled in the Chicago suburbs, presents over 140 different events throughout the summer. These concerts run the gamut from Yo-Yo Ma to John Legend to the annual summer residency of the nation's finest orchestra, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  Through its REACH*TEACH*PLAY education programs, Ravinia brings music to over 85,000 people in Chicago area schools and communities. Our portfolio of programs is designed to foster diverse audience involvement and provide access to the highest quality music education and live music experiences to those with the fewest resources. 

A signature REACH*TEACH*PLAY program, Sistema Ravinia offers intensive afterschool music education to students in under-resourced schools and communities in Chicago and Lake County.  Sistema Ravinia fosters youth empowerment and social development through exceptional ensemble training.   Participating students meet daily throughout the year at their nucleo (program site) and are taught in sectionals and full orchestra. Shaped by the philosophy of the noted El Sistema model, Ravinia has embraced the notion of transforming groups of children into communities of musicians who in turn transform their communities.  Students receive mentorship from teachers and administrators that make them feel loved and valued as an asset to their nucleo community.    The Site Manager leads students, instructors, families and partners towards this mission of social change.  Expanding in 2019, Sistema Ravinia Lawndale is comprised of two main components: the Pope School Nucleo and a longstanding community based nucleo, the Ravinia Lawndale Family Music School.  The Family Music School provides weekly group music classes in guitar, piano, preparatory, violin and voice at four Chicago Park District sites for over 150 children and adults who reside in the Lawndale neighborhood.  

Description of Position

The Site Manager oversees daily programming and operations for Ravinia’s afterschool music program sites – Sistema Ravinia Pope Nucleo and the Ravinia Lawndale Family Music School – located in Chicago’s Lawndale community. The Site Manager has high organizational, artistic, and community development standards, is flexible to the demands of a developing social program and is able to merge the needs of students, families and instructors to implement a successful program. The Site Manager is responsible for managing a rigorous and student driven curriculum that is focused on musical excellence and holistically serves each child. Reporting to the REACH*TEACH*PLAY Associate Director, the Site Manager is part of the Sistema Ravinia leadership team that collaboratively creates and implements innovative programmatic design, content, schedules and repertoire. The Site Manager is the main contact for participants, instructors and community partners. This is a full-time, year round position with benefits.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee visionary music training program that provides access and excellence for students in under resourced Chicago communities and schools based on El Sistema Guiding Principles
• Manage year-round program planning and ensure processes for efficient and effective operations
• Cultivate relationships with school and park district administration and serve as primary liaison
• Oversee Program Assistant, clearly communicating tasks and responsibilities
• Ensure clear communication of program goals, expectations, schedules and needs to stakeholders
• Manage programs within an ascribed budget

Program Planning and Operations

• Develop yearly program calendars in collaboration with the Associate Director
• Create a weekly schedule and communicate in a timely manner to instructors and school personnel
• Oversee day-to-day program operations and logistics at each site
• Manage busing logistics and needs
• Manage instrument purchase and repair needs and oversee inventory of music and supplies
• Prepare, communicate and manage event details for concerts, meetings, registrations, receptions and trips

Curriculum, Instructors and Students

• Collaborate with conductors, instructors and students to create innovative curriculum content
• Manage student recruitment, enrollment and retention at each location
• Recruit and onboard instructors that represent diversity and excellence
• Oversee instruction at each school and park district location
• Manage yearly student assessment project to evaluate program effectiveness
• Develop a continuum for advancing students from elementary to middle school and beyond
• Collaborate with colleagues and partners to provide Professional Development opportunities for instructors
• Cultivate an environment of fun, joy and friendship in an atmosphere of positivity and aspiration

Knowledge and Skills Required

• Superior interpersonal skills with the ability to facilitate positive interaction and collaboration with educators, parents and students from diverse backgrounds
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to initiate and manage multiple tasks

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required with three to four years related work experience preferred
• Strong background in music education and arts administration
• Awareness of and enthusiasm for the El Sistema music education model
• Experience managing El Sistema inspired programs or other social-change youth programs

Work Environment

• Working daily at school and park district locations in Lawndale
• Availability to work weekends and evenings for concerts and special events as assigned
• Interaction with young students, parents and administrators where the safety of the students is paramount
• Collaborative work environment where decision making regarding artistic and pedagogic direction comes from Sistema Ravinia administrators, conductors, instructors, and students

Ravinia is an equal opportunity employer.