Program Manager – Life On Art (Full-Time, Petaluma)

About this role

Program Manager – Life On Art (Full-Time, Petaluma)

Posted by Life On Art ; Posted on

Jobs/Internships

Email

/

Website

Location: Bay Area, Petaluma base

Status: Fulltime Salary with Benefits

Reports To: CEO

Compensation: $95,000-$110,000 commensurate with experience

First deadline for applications: Friday October 16th, open until filled

About Life On Art

Life On Art unites people from diverse communities to co-create handmade, large-scale interactive art as a platform for social action and healing. We believe that creating collective art can foster belonging, dignity, and healing — especially in those who are impacted by marginalization, trauma, caregiving strain, or systemic exclusion. Our programs serve young people, caregivers, justice-impacted individuals, mothers-to-be, medical workers, direct service providers and other community stakeholders.

About the Project

Over the next three years, Life On Art is further developing their arts for mental wellness platform, Being Human Together, which creates large-scale community-participated sculptures for institutional partners. LOA has a program structure that works on three levels: 1) With institutions and organizations, their administration and staff; 2) Populations that are being served, e.g. incarcerated men and women, teens, expectant and young mothers, unhoused families and individuals, patients and consumers of mental health services; and 3) Community volunteers. These programs result in collectively made art for display in these facilities and also in public locations. The goal is to produce a blueprint for how to design, implement and study participatory art programs that result in large-scale sculptures that have an empowering, connective impact in the community.

Life On Art currently works in four California state prisons (including the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, the Central California Women’s Facility, the Correctional Training Facility, Correctional Institute for Women), and is developing programs for Sonoma County Library and LifeMoves, a non-profit focused on elevating individuals and families out of shelterlessness.

Being Human Together involves collaborative design, community engagement, multi-stakeholder coordination, logistical execution, and facilitation. The initiative centers art as a vehicle for dignity, wellness and healing and brings together client participants with staff and community volunteers.

Position Overview

This position oversees planning, development, coordination, and execution of Life On Art’s community programs. The ideal candidate is deeply organized and systems-oriented, experienced in nonprofit arts program delivery, comfortable facilitating conversations and implementing programs with diverse populations. This individual is skilled at outreach and navigating complex stakeholder ecosystems. This role requires both strategic and creative thinking, detailed operational follow-through, and management of impact assessment data and findings.

Key Responsibilities

Program Development and Project Management:

• Work with CEO to develop and maintain the project timeline, budget, and deliverables
• Participate on the design team, developing and improving programming.
• Facilitate hiring, training and coordinating facilitators
• Manage outreach to collaborating partner organizations, contracts, compliance requirements, and site permissions
• Ensure milestones are met on time and within scope.

Stakeholder Communication:

• Serve as liaison between Life On Art, pool of artists-facilitators, community partners, and external stakeholders
• Facilitate clear communication across groups with differing needs and power dynamics
• Prepare briefing materials, reports, and updates

Site Coordination:

• Oversee on-site logistics at multiple locations
• Coordinate materials access, workshop schedules, fabrication, and installation schedules

Team and Environment:

• Support trauma-informed working conditions
• Hold complexity with care when engaging with program clients, the staff of these facilities, and family members.
• Maintain a steady, respectful presence in high-stakes environments
• Manage conflict as it arises with respect and clarity

Qualifications

• Five or more years of experience in program management, program development and implementation, including supervisory and leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience delivering collaborative art and creative projects and/or behavioral health related creative programming.
• Strong budget management, familiarity with grants management, and logistical planning skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and stakeholder management abilities.
• High emotional intelligence and capacity to manage conflict productively is essential.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with state or municipal public art processes.
• Experience working in correctional, community justice, public health, or other complex institutional settings.
• Background in restorative justice, social practice art, and/or participatory design methodologies.
• Ability to raise funds through grants and donors.
• Bilingual Spanish or multilingual.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary range will be calculated based on a range $45-$53.80/hr ($95,000 to $110,000 per year based on full-time calculation) commensurate with qualifications and experience. The benefits package for full time employees includes monthly health QSEHRA payment ($537.50/month for single, $1,075 for family), 12 public holidays,12 PTO days in year one. Sick time is accrued based on the number of hours worked, up to a maximum of 5 days per year, in accordance with state law.

To Apply

Please submit a resume, a 1-page cover letter detailing relevant experience and interest in this role, and two references to [email removed].

Life On Art is committed to equity and encourages candidates from historically marginalized communities to apply.

First deadline for applications: Friday October 16th