Yo-Yo Ma conceived Silkroad in 1998 as a reminder that even as rapid globalization resulted in division, it brought extraordinary possibilities for working together. Seeking to understand this dynamic, he began to learn about the historical Silk Road, recognizing in it a model for radical cultural collaboration, for the exchange of ideas and tradition alongside commerce and innovation. And in an innovative experiment, he brought together musicians from the lands of the Silk Road to co-create a new artistic idiom, a musical language founded in difference, a metaphor for the benefits of a more connected world.
This initial gathering of artists was rooted in a simple, initial question: “What happens when strangers meet?” And thus Silkroad was born, as both a touring ensemble comprised of world-class musicians from all over the globe, and a social impact organization working to make a positive impact across borders through the arts.
Today, under the leadership of Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens and Executive Director Ben Hartley, Silkroad creates music that engages difference, sparking cultural collaboration and education for a more hopeful and inclusive world. What does this look like?
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Creation of new music — Silkroad develops a musical language founded in difference and collaboration that draws on the rich tapestry of traditions that make up our many-layered contemporary identities.
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The Grammy award-winning Silkroad Ensemble — Silkroad thrills audiences worldwide with a collective of artists representing dozens of nationalities and artistic traditions, demonstrating how great beauty can emerge from great difference.
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Educational partnerships — Silkroad uses the arts to ignite passions and foster education in students, teachers, and musicians through training workshops and residency programs in public schools, universities, prisons, and indigenous and refugee communities.
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Social impact initiatives — Silkroad brings music, hope, and understanding to underserved, yet culturally rich, urban, rural, indigenous, and refugee communities.
For more information, visit silkroad.org.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
Silkroad’s Artistic Programs Coordinator (APC) serves as the center of the wheel for Silkroad’s artistic programs. In practice, this means working across and collaborating with a diverse group of constituents made up of staff, board, and various independent contractors including artists, production crew, and booking and managing entities to see Silkroad’s artistic programs through from inception to completion.
Silkroad’s artistic programs include but are not limited to the creation of new music (commissions, workshops, special projects, etc.) and recordings, international and domestic performances and tours, digital live-streamed and pre-recorded performances, and performance-based activity connected to Silkroad’s education and social impact programs. The APC will be responsible for ensuring that all constituents collaborating on these programs have the tools, resources, and information they need to make informed decisions in alignment with Silkroad’s mission as a nonprofit organization, allowing for successful implementation of the organization’s artistic programs.
Reports to: Strategic Partnerships & Impact Director
Location: Remote; preference for employee to reside in or near Boston, MA or New York, NY FLSA Status: Full-time, Non-exempt
Salary Range: $45,000 to $55,000
This position is a full-time, non-exempt role that reports to Silkroad’s Strategic Partnerships & Impact Director.
KEY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
75% Artistic Program Coordination
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Builds systems and processes that support the successful implementation of mission-driven artistic ideas generated by Silkroad’s Artistic Director, including but not limited to identifying the feasibility of key artistic projects through research and building recommendations for successful execution that best serve the organization as a whole (strategically, financially, logistically, etc.)
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Contributes to establishing and maintaining artistic program budgets, checklists, timelines, roles and responsibilities matrices, and more, all in service to clear, transparent, and equitable expectations and processes for the Silkroad team
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Coordinates key logistical efforts for all of Silkroad’s performance-related activities, including but not limited to the coordination and activation of artists and production crew; managing public calls for commissions; scheduling, setting agendas, and taking notes for meetings and calls; researching vendors; booking travel and lodging; overseeing and updating tour software, including Master Tour by Eventric; managing meeting and/or rehearsal space, music (scores, parts, recordings, documents, etc.), and tech needs; and providing hospitality
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Creates and distributes contracts for artists, production crew and other independent contractors, and processes payments appropriately
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Organizes program notes and tour media assets, and ensures that all tour information and materials are correct and consistent across internal Silkroad and external partner digital properties
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Serves as virtual and/or in-person liaison and key problem-solver for all Silkroad’s performance-related activities
25% Team Collaboration & Support
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Supports artistic programs team, tracking requests and prioritizing in partnership with supervisor
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Tracks and compiles all Silkroad artistic program activity, including key program benchmarks, impact data, and
more into comprehensive quarterly and annual reports
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Contributes to Silkroad’s online shared drive system, ensuring that all files and data are saved and organized
clearly
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Contributes to marketing and social media efforts in partnership with relevant contractors, including basic
audio and video editing as needed for artistic reference pieces
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Contributes to fundraising and partnership-building efforts, including but not limited to drafting project narratives and reports
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Contributes to board-level artistic programming committee meetings
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Regularly contributes to all-staff initiatives, meetings, and events
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Other duties as assigned
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Responds to the needs and requests of Silkroad constituents in a professional and expedient manner N/A Adheres to all employer policies and procedures
KEY QUALIFICATIONS:
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Experience working on touring productions, performances, and/or artist engagements; music industry knowledge a plus
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Experience working in a nonprofit environment
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High proficiency with multitasking, adaptability, and attention to detail
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Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively among many different people
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Demonstrated ability to proactively anticipate needs and see projects through to completion
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Basic audio and video editing skills
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Demonstrated interest in social justice and human rights
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Enthusiasm for Silkroad’s mission, programs, and stakeholders
WHO YOU ARE:
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Socially and emotionally aware — Able to take the perspective of and empathize with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures, to understand social and ethical norms for behavior, and to recognize resources and supports for yourself and others
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Flexible and understanding — Particularly as it relates to ongoing organizational shifts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
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A person who demonstrates —
- An ability to fully embrace the multi-layered facets of the organization and its complex background
- A passion for deep listening, and an authentic belief that artistic vision and operational process need to be in alignment around the pillars of diversity, equity, and inclusion
- A core belief in the values of empathy, inclusion, and equity, as it pertains to a multi-cultural and racially diverse group of unique individuals
- An ability to communicate (speaking, and more importantly, listening) respectfully, effectively, and inclusively with members of the organization for whom English may be their second or third language
- Natural curiosity and the willingness to ask questions will be necessary traits: being a part of the Silkroad team inherently means being willing to learn
- A passion for a broad range of new music, and a core belief in the value of music as a humanist agent for connection and for change
● A person with the following qualities —
- Positive and can-do attitude — Confident and willing to deal with problems and/or new tasks
- Strong interpersonal skills — Collaborative, friendly and humorous, contributes their strengths to projects o Organized and resourceful — Problem solves independently, not easily overwhelmed with multiple tasks o Able to prioritize and multitask — Responds to a full docket with efficiency and expediency
- Responsive to feedback — Seeks feedback and applies immediately, takes suggestions with good intent o Communicative — Able to communicate openly and freely with supervisors and colleagues, in-person and remotely
- Independent — Able to solve problems alone and manage own projects and workload
- Writing and editing — Must have proficient English writing and editing skills, including grammatical precision Excellent computer skills — Must be computer literate with typing speed of at least 50 words per minute; advanced Microsoft Office skills are preferred; advanced Google Drive and Slack skills are essential; proficiency in a MacOS environment required
- Knowledgeable and passionate — About the arts and their potential for performance, education, and social impact
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
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● Small, vibrant, fast-paced work-from-home environment that values initiative, efficiency, diversity, transparency, and teamwork
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● Evening and weekend work occasionally required
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● The noise level in the office work environment is moderate
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● Physical demands may include sitting or standing for long periods of time
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● Travel up to 20% domestically and internationally may be required
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● Silkroad is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization based in Boston, MA. As of March 2022, the Silkroad office is fully
remote; therefore, this is a remote position primarily structured around Eastern Standard Time business hours. There is a preference for this employee to reside in or near Boston, MA or New York, NY as meetings, events, rehearsals and performances in these locations will be frequent.
BENEFITS:
● This full-time position offers a competitive benefits package that includes a flexible work schedule; 401K retirement plan; medical, dental, and vision benefits with FSA/HSA options; cell phone reimbursement ($25 per month); and paid time off (20 days of vacation per year; 3 personal days per year; 12 sick days per year; 12.5 paid holidays plus a Winter Recess during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day; up to 12 weeks paid leave for new parents who are primary caregivers; and time off for jury duty, elections, and bereavement).
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
● Silkroad is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), marital status, veteran status, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
ABOUT THE HIRING PROCESS:
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● Please prepare a cover letter and resume to submit via an application form at silkroad.org/openings. The deadline for applications is Monday, June 19, 2023 by 11:59pm Eastern. Any applications submitted after this time will not be considered.
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● Silkroad’s hiring process is a six-step process that includes an open application period; Tier I interviews; Tier II interviews; Tier III interviews; internal deliberation; and placement. Overall, the process for hiring this position takes between 9 to 10 weeks, depending on the volume of applicants and the presence of major organizational events and/or national holidays.
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○ Open Application Period: The process for hiring begins with the announcement of the job opportunity and opening for applications. Prospective applicants are invited to submit materials via an online form for a period of approximately three weeks. Once the applications close, Silkroad’s HR team takes approximately one week to complete their review. Those that qualify will be selected and invited to a Tier I interview. (This step is estimated to occur May 26 to June 23, 2023.)
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○ Tier I Interviews: Please note that all candidate interviews will be conducted by phone and/or video using the Zoom video communications application (https://zoom.us/). Please download the application in advance and have a functioning camera and speaker on your device. Silkroad can also provide candidates with reasonable accommodations, if needed. Candidates are asked to submit accessibility requests directly in their application submission so we can ensure your interview experience meets your needs. During the Tier I interview, candidates will meet with Alicia Robinson, Strategic Partnerships & Impact Director, and two or three colleagues that work within the department of the open role for 30 to 60 minutes. In order to ensure all candidates selected for a Tier I interview are interviewed, the Tier I interview process can last approximately one week. Thereafter, if a candidate proceeds, Tier II interviews commence. (This step is estimated to occur June 26-30, 2023.)
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○ Tier II Interviews: During the Tier II interview, candidates will spend 60 minutes in a group interview with Alicia Robinson, Strategic Partnerships & Impact Director, and a group of colleagues with whom this position will work closely. In addition, the candidate will be given an assignment to present during this interview. The presentation should take no longer than one hour to prepare prior to the Tier II interview and should take no longer than ten minutes to present. In order to ensure all candidates selected for a Tier II interview are interviewed, the Tier II interview process can last approximately one week. Thereafter, if a candidate proceeds, Tier III interviews commence. (This step is estimated to occur July 3-7, 2023.)
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○ Tier III Interviews: During the Tier III interview, candidates will spend 30 minutes in an interview with Ben Hartley, Executive Director. In order to ensure all candidates selected for a Tier III interview are interviewed, the Tier III interview process can last approximately one week. (This step is estimated to occur July 10-14, 2023.)
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○ Deliberations: Once all Tier III interviews have been completed, deliberation begins. Silkroad team members that participate in the candidate’s interview process will submit an evaluation form to make a recommendation for hire. The Strategic Partnerships & Impact Director will take all recommendations under advisement in order to make a decision. During the deliberations is the moment when Silkroad asks candidates’ permission to contact their references. After all references have been contacted and deliberations have adjourned, Silkroad will reach out to the selected candidate with a job offer. (This step is estimated to occur mid-July, 2023.)
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○ Placement: Once a job offer is agreed upon, the open position is officially closed and placement of the position begins. (The start date for this position is estimated to be July 31, 2023.)
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