PROGRAM ASSISTANT JOB POSTING

DEADLINE TO APPLY: AUGUST 20, 2025

To apply, please email your resume or CV, along with 2 references to hopeacademypgh@gmail.com 

JOB TITLE: Program Assistant

REPORTS TO

Directors of Hope Academy of Music and the Arts (HA) and Guardians of Sound Inc. (GoS)

JOB SUMMARY

The Program Assistant is a part-time, shared role (between HA and GoS) for the 2025-2026 program year. The ideal candidate is an excellent communicator and team player who is enthusiastic about supporting and connecting HA, GoS, other partners, teaching artists, staff, students, families, and East Liberty Presbyterian Church (ELPC). This person is passionate, detail-oriented, collaborative, and experienced in creating safe, engaging spaces for young people. The Program Assistant will have the opportunity and support to utilize their personal, professional, artistic, and spiritual gifts in deep and meaningful ways. The Program Assistant will report to the Director of Hope Academy, and meet regularly with the Guardians of Sound team.

PROGRAM YEAR

TERM DATES: Two 15-week terms for classes and private lessons

• SAT 9/20/25 to SAT 1/24/26   Term 1

• TUES 1/27/25 to SAT 5/16/26   Term 2

Mandatory attendance during recitals, performances, dress rehearsals as scheduled to the end

of May 2026.

BREAKS

• 11/25/25 to 11/29/25 Thanksgiving Break

• 12/23/25 to 01/03/26 Winter Break

• 03/31/26 to 04/04/26 Spring Break
  Planned time off is expected to be taken during these breaks.

SCHEDULE

• Typical In-Person Program Hours:

  • Tuesdays 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm 

  • Thursdays: 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm

  • Fridays: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

  • Saturdays: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm

• Administrative Work: May be conducted in-person or remotely, as needed

• Special Events and Performances: As scheduled, with adjustments to the weekly administrative work

RESPONSIBILITIES

Administrative Responsibilities (remote or in-person, as needed):

• Respond to program-related emails, texts, and phone calls

• Communicate information about schedules, performances, cancellations, rehearsal dates, and community events to partners, staff, students, and families

• Attend staff meetings

• Set up online meetings

• Coordinate events with internal and external venues

• Use Hope Academy’s online platform (JackRabbit) to collect and update student/staff information

• Reserve space for programs through ELPC’s Facilities Scheduler

• Ensure all necessary clearances for staff and personnel are acquired, documented, and remain current

• Serve as point of contact for prospective and current students, guardians, and community partners, communicating as needed

• Report any incidents, potential issues, or concerns to supervisors as they occur

Programming Responsibilities (in-person):

• Greet and welcome all participants and guests, maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming environment

• Cultivate relationships with students and families to increase engagement and participation

• Ensure that ELPC Child Safety guidelines are followed in all program areas

• Escort and monitor students to and from programs

• Post signage to direct people to program areas and events

• Substitute for teaching artists in the case of emergency

• Organize and set up rooms for classes and events (printed materials, supplies, instruments, amps, cables, sound and AV equipment, tables, chairs, etc.)

• Assist in distribution, tracking, and inventory of supplies (instruments, dance shoes, clothes, etc.) for HA scholarship students

• Manage instrument inventory, supplies, and repairs

• Assist with instrument evaluation and maintenance (order supplies, set up strings and tapes, drop off and pick up instruments for repair)

• Assist teachers and students with class activities and behavior management (leading warm-ups, co-teaching, answering questions, giving constructive feedback, etc.)

• Support teachers by providing accommodations for students who need them

• Transport and set up equipment for events

REQUIREMENTS

• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging, and a willingness to prioritize and foster a commitment to valuing differences of race, ethnicity, language, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstances

• Minimum 2 years of administrative experience

• Minimum 2 years of experience working as an artist or with artists (including coordinating events)

• Minimum 2 years of experience working with children and youth

• Excellent computer skills, including detailed knowledge of Google Suite and willingness to learn new job-specific applications (ACS Facilities Scheduler, JackRabbit Registration platform, Wufoo forms, DaCapo Instrument Inventory)

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to represent HA and GoS and their programs to various stakeholders, including students, guardians, donors, teachers, and community partners

• A strong faith and character, personal and professional integrity, and a sincere commitment to building significant relationships with young people, their families, the staffs of HA, GoS, and ELPC, and the community at large

• Driver’s License

Required Clearances (prior to start date):

• Act 151 | Childline Clearance

• Act 34 | Criminal History

• Act 114 | FBI/Fingerprinting 

• Certificate of Completion – Mandated Reporter Training

PREFERENCES

• Experience in a non-profit, preferably an arts organization and/or a church environment

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to perform essential job functions consistently, safely, and successfully with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• Must be able to lift and carry up to 25 lbs., standing, sitting, reaching, and stretching.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Non-exempt

• W-2 Employment Status

• Hourly wage: $20/hr for HA-related work; $20/hr for GoS-related work

  • 18 hours per week in-person, during regular program hours

  • 7 hours per week in-person or remote for administrative work

• Bi-weekly payroll from East Liberty Presbyterian Church

• A parking space

• An office

Please Note: This part-time, seasonal position does not include benefits such as medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, or retirement plans (401k).

Additional Benefit

• Option to teach private lessons at Hope Academy/ELPC during Program Assistant’s non-program work hours.  Lessons must be scheduled and students registered through Hope Academy’s online platform (JackRabbit). Families agree to all policies and pay a $30 registration fee for the year. Students are considered part of the Program Assistant’s private lesson studio and families will pay the Program Assistant directly for lessons. Students are not eligible for instruments from Hope Academy’s lending library but are eligible to participate in the recitals. 

ABOUT GUARDIANS OF SOUND / HIP HOP ORCHESTRA

Guardians of Sound is a creative music performance and education organization that serves and employs primarily Black youth, teen and young adult mentors, and teaching artists. Guardians of Sound has successfully implemented a curriculum for in-depth music instruction using Hip Hop samples/beats transcribed into music notation and arranged for acoustic and orchestral instruments through its Hip Hop Orchestra program. Hip Hop Orchestra provides a diverse group of youth, young people, pre-professional, and professional musicians with a collaborative means of learning, creating, performing, and sharing their music. Hip Hop Orchestra is an instrumental/vocal/dance/spoken word, creative and performing ensemble.

ABOUT HOPE ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND THE ARTS

East Liberty Presbyterian Church’s Arts Education Outreach Ministry

Our Mission

Our goal at Hope Academy is to make arts education more affordable and accessible - and not a matter of privilege. We believe that in the process of making art, something mysterious and profoundly beautiful happens—a blossoming that begins when a young person glimpses who they are meant to be. Because it is through the arts that we come to know others and ourselves in the fullness of our humanity.

Our History

Founded in 1999 by East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Hope Academy of Music and the Arts was established as a mission and ministry to provide access to quality dance, theater, and music training for families who may not have the means to do so. Since then, Hope Academy has remained steadfast in its commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive artistic community that fosters the personal and artistic growth of both students and teaching artists alike.

Our Partners

The community problem we address is the lack of opportunity for underserved youth to participate in the arts due to limited family resources and cutbacks in arts programming in schools. The strength and uniqueness of our programming is derived from the partnerships we have developed with some of the city’s finest artists and cultural organizations. Our 2024-2025 partnerships include: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Guardians of Sound / Hip Hop Orchestra, Shana Simmons Dance, Chamber Music Pittsburgh, UniSound and The Greater Pittsburgh Suzuki Institute.

Our Program

Our sequential and progressive program allows children and youth to develop skills in working together towards a common artistic goal, building a sense of community and acceptance among peers from all walks of life. Our program provides deep arts instruction and instills in our students a concern for social justice and peacemaking, and a capacity to use their voices to speak out against oppression.

Our Commitment to Accessibility and Diversity

To intentionally serve a greater number of African American, Black, Indigenous, and low-income students, Hope Academy reserves all of its scholarships and at least half of the available spots in classes and private lessons for students who meet these identity and/or financial need requirements.

We recognize that diversity and individual uniqueness bring vitality to our artistic work. Therefore, we recruit students from across the spectrums of race, ethnicity, culture, linguistic background, sexual orientation, gender, religion, personal style, appearance, and ability, as well as people of diverse opinions, perspectives, lifestyles, ideas, and thinking.

Over 75% of our students receive some form of financial assistance. Even tuition-paying families are subsidized, as our below-market tuition covers only a portion of our operating costs. We expect that families who value being part of a diverse community will make whatever donations they can to help us fulfill our mission.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: AUGUST 20, 2025

To apply, please email your resume or CV, along with 2 references to hopeacademypgh@gmail.com