Arts Education Program Manager

The Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) Arts Education Program Manager (AEPM) is a collaborative artist, administrator and educator with demonstrated expertise in undergraduate student success and retention frameworks, culturally relevant arts education, student mentorship, program development, and the integration of the three pillars of OMAI: academics, arts and activism. The AEPM facilitates the exploration of student interest in the arts within the context of the University by supporting artistic, academic, and social development of OMAI student interns and First Wave scholars through the development and facilitation of arts-based programming. The AEPM brings a broad skill set in student advising, event coordination, curriculum facilitation and inclusive arts programming (designing, delivering and evaluating). The AEPM is primarily responsible for the development, execution and assessment of OMAI arts education activities, and supports the formation of strategy, policy, and operational protocol for arts-based initiatives. This role oversees major aspects of the First Wave Hip Hop and Urban Arts Scholarship Program (FW), including the development, curriculum, facilitation and supervision of the FW Touring Ensemble (outreach and performance student interns), coordinating student artistic development and securing additional artistic mentors across UW-Madison's academic departments, managing logistics for performances and academic programming, and collaborating with campus and community partners. The AEPM also serves as a key mentor for students interested in arts-based educational and professional pathways. This position reports to the OMAI/FW Associate Director.

This position is full-time, 100% FTE. This position is expected to start August 1, 2026.

Ongoing/Renewable

This position is expected to be fully on-site.

• Serves as the liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups to identify and maintain academic program-related partnerships

• Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revised unit operational policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and academic program objectives

• 
  

  Holds instructor appointment with an academic department in the arts to facilitate 1st year First

  Wave Scholars' artistic development curriculum (First Wave Creative Lab for 1-2 credit(s) in the Fall

  and Spring semesters)

  
  

• Evaluates existing academic program strategy and makes recommendations to unit leadership for program enhancement

• May manage the unit budget and approve unit expenditures

• Assists stakeholders with preparing and/or maintaining documentation, financial management, and/or reporting requirements related to sponsored grants, contracts, or agreements

• Leads the development and implementation of academic program initiatives

• Provides full service advising resources and services, provides information about educational options and academic requirements, and communicates directly with students regarding all aspects of the advising process

• May exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 FTE or equivalent employees

• Manages degree programs and/or certificates, high impact practice programming and events, and curriculum development and implementation

Division for Teaching and Learning, Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI)

Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) within the Division of Teaching and Learning provides culturally relevant and transformative arts programming to promote positive social dialogue and to give cultural art forms a legitimate academic forum. OMAI leverages its three pillars-Arts, Activism, and Academics-as the foundation for all initiatives. By harnessing the cultural power of spoken word, hip hop, and both emerging and traditional art forms, OMAI's events and programs create dynamic learning environments that positively impact UW-Madison's campus climate and the climate of the greater Madison
community. These initiatives contribute to improved retention and graduation rates while preparing future leaders to reinvest in their communities.

One of OMAI's most prominent initiatives is the First Wave (FW) Hip Hop and Urban Arts Scholarship Program. FW is a cutting-edge multicultural artistic program that offers full tuition scholarships for urban arts, spoken word and hip-hop culture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. FW brings young artists and civically engaged leaders from across the world to enroll as students, to live, study, and to create a close-knit and dynamic campus community of student activists.

The starting salary for the position is $60,601. Actual pay is determined at hire and is based on experience and qualifications.

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. Please review the summary of benefits for more information.

• Minimum of 2 years professional experience planning and executing educational programming with a focus in Hip Hop, arts, activism, and college readiness

• Proficiency in planning and implementing courses, programs and events

• Experience in youth camps or programming, college advising, or direct student support services

• Experience and familiarity with mentoring practices to create a healthy work environment to achieve strategic priorities

• Experience as a professional artist and teaching artist

• Experience teaching or facilitating small and large group discussions

• Experience working with first-year college students, first generation, low-income and/or underrepresented students

• Knowledge of topics related to first-year student experiences and resources for transitioning to college

• Knowledge and/or experience with Canvas or related instructional technology

High school diploma (or equivalent degree) required

Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience) preferred; in a field of arts, education, or leadership development preferred

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply Now" button. You will be prompted to upload the following documents.

• Cover Letter (Please address topic below.)
• Resume

The First Wave Hip Hop & Urban Arts Scholarship Program is founded on three pillars - Academics, Arts, and Activism. In your cover letter, please include how any two to three of these pillars engage your work in academia, mentorship, artistry and/or instruction. Please provide examples or share an experience that highlights how your interests align with the three program pillars.

Please note when applying, there will be only one attachment field. You must upload all your documents in the attachment field. Applicants are to submit a cover letter and resume detailing their training and experience relating to the required and preferred qualifications referenced above. A cover letter is required to guarantee consideration. Failure to adequately demonstrate experiences aligned with the required qualifications in either a cover letter or resume will result in your application not being considered for employment. The application reviewers will be relying on your written application materials to determine which qualified applicants will advance in the recruitment process. We will notify selected applicants to participate further in the selection process directly. References will be requested of final candidates. All applicants will be notified after the search is complete and a candidate has been selected.

The deadline for assuring full consideration is March 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM (CST).

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

This position has been identified as a position of trust with access to vulnerable populations. The selected candidate will be required to pass an initial caregiver check to be eligible for employment under the Wisconsin Caregiver Law and every four years.

Emma Voight, emma.sippel@wisc.edu, 608-262-8152

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.