Assistant Director of People and Culture

About the job

Be a Tar Heel!

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The mission of Carolina Performing Arts (CPA) is to spark curiosity, inspiring all members of our community to discover and more fully engage with the world. We collaborate with dynamic and compelling artists from across the globe to create novel, mission-driven performing arts experiences in partnership with our community. We also open our venues to others to explore, create, and celebrate their own work. Through the Office of the Executive Director for the Arts, CPA oversees all artistic programming, campus and community engagement, marketing and fundraising for its presented, commissioned and produced work, and manages all operations of its venues including facility rentals, technical production, audience services and ticketing.

Carolina Performing Arts thrives because of our collaborations with a diverse cohort of partners that create deeper understanding for our audiences and enable us to be empathetic visionaries. As our campus, state, nation, and world continue to reckon with systemic injustices, we are committed to being an agent for change and making certain that our internal practices reflect the values that are made visible on the stage. We have identified a set of equity priorities and goals to guide us in evaluating and redesigning our own systems, operations, and culture. In September 2021, CPA launched a permanent Equity Council made up of eight staff members, including a leadership representative, who serve as an advisory body supporting the development and execution of those priorities. Our work is made possible – and made better – through the contributions of team members from a wide array of backgrounds, experiences, and identities. We seek to recruit and develop staff to create a welcoming, inclusive, and equitable organization.

Position Summary

This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

The Assistant Director, People and Culture (ADPC) is responsible for developing, leading, and evaluating programs, projects, and processes that support the delivery of Carolina Performing Arts’ programming directive, which includes presenting world-class performing artists, executing campus events such as Commencement and University Day, and enabling UNC student arts groups to present capstone performances on a professional stage. They report to the Director of Finance and are a member of the Business Operations team.

To ensure the success and effectiveness of projects and processes under their care, the ADPC must be a confident leader, organized project manager, and dedicated collaborator. They should be capable of working at a tactical level and also effectively communicating high-level goals to a wide range of internal and external colleagues.

The ADPC administers CPA’s volunteer program and supports the execution and ongoing enhancement of the student workforce program. The volunteer workforce, which ranges from 75- 125 participants each calendar year, and the student workforce, which ranges from 80 – 100 students each academic year, are vital to CPA’s ability to fulfill its programming mission and directly impact CPA’s reputation for delivering the highest quality performing arts experiences and educational outcomes.

The ADPC also helps drive efficiency of internal operations. They apply industry-specific knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of CPA’s strategic goals to support the design, documentation, implementation, and continuous improvement of frontline initiatives and processes. This work proactively creates capacity for programmatic planning, development, innovation, and execution across the organization and is informed by regular and direct observation of and participation in CPA’s daily operational workflow. It may also include special projects to address emergent needs.

The ADPC must be actively engaged and fluent in current arts industry trends, issues, and dynamics to effectively advise CPA leaders on how the organization should respond to and remain aligned with the field. Coordination of volunteers and student staff has become more complex as UNC policies and arts industry standards have changed, requiring much more active management and deeper expertise to navigate these processes.

The ADPC also leads the unit’s efforts to promote retention and champion professional development. This requires actively identifying opportunities and sources for team-building, meaningful engagement, and growth across all sectors of CPA’s workforce.

CPA’s organizational model and operational structure are unique within the UNC System. To meaningfully contribute to the development of infrastructure to sustain CPA’s current programming and future innovation, the ADPC must be an adept industry-to-academy and academy-to- industry translator. They will be relied upon to convey opportunities and challenges in industry and academy context and to develop novel solutions that support CPA’s programmatic vision.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and one year of experience related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

*Experience developing, implementing, and evaluating paid and/or volunteer workforce-related systems, procedures, programs and processes and corresponding documentation, communication, and training.

*Excellent interpersonal skills as evidenced by the ability to communicate clearly and concisely in interactions, presentations, and trainings conducted one-on-one and in groups. Comfort with open, direct, transparent communication and sharing of information.

*Proven ability to connect one’s own work and goals to the broader mission and values of the organization.

*Ability to build and expand relationships across the organization (staff, students, and volunteers) in a manner that contributes to a values-driven culture.

*Proven ability to effectively manage, coach, encourage collaboration, and inspire confidence in others through both formal and informal leadership.

*Demonstrated experience and a successful track record in project management including defining goals and deliverables, engaging relevant stakeholders, setting and achieving deadlines, and recommending improvements for efficiencies.

*Experience sourcing, analyzing, interpreting, and communicating quantitative and qualitative data for a wide variety of constituent needs.

*Resourceful, inquisitive, and action-oriented when faced with new challenges and complex problems.

*Precise, accurate, and attentive to detail when handling data, applying rules and procedures, and producing documentation.

*High level of integrity, professional judgement, and discretion.

*Intermediate or higher competency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Teams and Sharepoint.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

*Familiarity with/understanding of arts administration, higher education and/or other non-profit sector.

*Familiarity with/understanding of multi-genre arts festival operations and administration

*Experience and/or training in workforce development, organizational development, or a closely related field.

*Knowledge of and experience with UNC-Chapel Hill human resources procedures and policies for employee types including SHRA permanent, SHRA temporary, EHRA Non-Faculty, affiliate and student positions.

*Experience in UNC-Chapel Hill business software programs including ConnectCarolina, PeopleAdmin, InfoPorte, and TIM.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority in accordance with the Clery Act. This position will be required to report Clery crimes to the Clery Compliance Manager and complete annual training about reporting responsibilities.

Special Instructions

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

Office of Human Resources Contact Information

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.