Chief of Innovation and Workforce Development

Baltimoreculture; Baltimore, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Arts for Learning Maryland is seeking a dynamic Chief of Innovation and Workforce Development to lead the integration of arts education with workforce pathways. You will guide partnerships, program design, and policy engagement to expand access and impact for students and educators.

This senior role requires a proven track record in innovation, strategic leadership, and managing grants while advancing equity across education and creative industries.

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years of leadership experience in arts education, workforce development, or related fields.
• Experience designing and launching innovative programs or initiatives.
• Experience building partnerships across education, arts, nonprofit, and workforce sectors.
• Strong strategic thinking, project management, and leadership skills.
• Commitment to equity, access, and inclusion in education and workforce opportunities.
• Experience working with teaching artists or arts-integrated education models.
• Knowledge of creative economy and workforce trends.
• Experience managing grants, public funding, or large-scale initiatives.
• Advanced degree in arts administration, education, public policy, workforce development, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of innovative programs integrating arts and culture with workforce development.
• Identify trends in education and creative industries to inform new initiatives.
• Design pilot programs and scale successful models expanding arts-based learning and career readiness.
• Cultivate partnerships with school districts, cultural organizations, workforce agencies, and industry partners.
• Oversee credentialing, training, and mentorship opportunities for educators and creative professionals.
• Establish evaluation frameworks to measure program impact and outcomes.
• Manage a 3M+ budget, grants, and staff with two direct reports.
• Represent the organization in statewide and national conversations on innovation.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic thinking

Project management

Partnership building

Equity and inclusion

Education

Advanced degree in arts administration

Job description

Chief of Innovation and Workforce Development

CHIEF OF INNOVATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

About Us

Arts for Learning Maryland (formerly Young Audiences of Maryland) is devoted to enriching the lives and education of Maryland’s youth through educational and culturally diverse arts programs. Through Arts for Learning, professional teaching artists from all disciplines partner with educators, schools, and school districts to provide -- on average -- over 560,000 hours of learning in, through, and about the arts to more than 155,000 Maryland students annually.

Arts for Learning is a mission-driven organization that values community, innovation, and passion. The staff, board, and teaching artists have a shared commitment to advance equity in the field of education by working tirelessly to generate opportunities for students to imagine, create, and realize their full potential through the arts.

Job Description:

The Chief of Innovation and Workforce Development is a senior leadership role responsible for advancing innovative strategies that strengthen arts-integrated learning and expand workforce development pathways in the creative and education sector. This leader will design and implement forward-thinking programs that connect the arts with career readiness; support teaching artists, classroom teachers, and young adults; and help existing programs continue to innovate so that more students have transformational opportunities through the arts.

Working collaboratively across departments and with external partners, the Chief of Innovation and Workforce Development will develop scalable initiatives that empower educators, teaching artists, and students while aligning with the needs of public education, and emerging trends in arts education, creative industries, and lifelong learning.

The Chief, Innovation and Workforce Development is a full time, exempt position that will report to the Chief Executive Officer.

Responsibilities Include:

Strategic Innovation

• Lead the development and implementation of innovative programs that integrate the arts and culture with workforce and career development pathways.
• Identify emerging trends in public education, including arts education; creative industries; and workforce development to inform new initiatives.
• Design pilot programs and scale successful models that expand access to arts-based learning and career readiness opportunities.
• Cultivate partnerships with school districts, cultural organizations, workforce agencies, and industry partners.
• Leverage or influence state public policy and legislation to develop or scale opportunities.

Workforce Development

• Build and oversee professional development and career advancement pathways for teaching artists and creative professionals.
• Develop credentialing, training, and mentorship opportunities that strengthen the educators and the creative workforce.
• Align programs with regional workforce priorities and creative economy initiatives.
• Support educators and administrators in integrating arts-based skills such as creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving into career readiness programming.
• Oversee innovation and workforce-focused programs, ensuring quality, equity, and measurable outcomes. Programs include: Bloomberg Arts Internship, an alternative certification pathway program for fine arts teachers (in development) and an apprenticeship pathway for young adults (in development.)
• Establish evaluation frameworks to measure program impact, workforce outcomes, and community benefit.
• Manage a $3M+ budget, grant-funded initiatives, and staff. This position has two direct reports, Director of Bloomberg Arts Internship and Manager of Workforce Development.

Partnerships & External Engagement

• Represent the organization in statewide and national conversations on education innovation and creative workforce development.
• Build relationships with government agencies, philanthropic partners, and educational institutions.
• Contribute to fundraising efforts, including grant development and strategic partnerships.

Organizational Leadership

• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and organizational growth.
• Foster a culture of creativity, experimentation, and collaboration across the organization.
• Support cross-departmental initiatives that strengthen Arts for Learning Maryland’s mission and impact.

Qualifications:

Required

• 8–10+ years of leadership experience in arts education, workforce development, creative industries, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success designing and launching innovative programs or initiatives.
• Experience building partnerships across education, arts, nonprofit, and workforce sectors.
• Strong strategic thinking, project management, and leadership skills.
• Commitment to equity, access, and inclusion in education and workforce opportunities.
• Experience working with teaching artists or arts-integrated education models.
• Knowledge of creative economy and workforce trends.
• Experience managing grants, public funding, or large-scale initiatives.
• Advanced degree in arts administration, education, public policy, workforce development, or a related field.

Compensation:

We offer a starting annual salary of $115,500 and an attractive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision healthcare coverage, retirement contributions, and a flexible paid time off policy.

Arts for Learning Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to cultivating a diverse workforce and equitable workplace. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, veteran status, and disability. All qualified applications will be given equal opportunity.

Salary Range $100,000 +

Salary Range $100,000 + Employer Name: Arts for Learning Maryland Job Title: Chief of Innovation and Workforce Development Employer Website: https://secure7.saashr.com/ta/6217373.careers Benefit Package We offer a starting annual salary of $115,500 and an attractive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision healthcare coverage, retirement contributions, and a flexible paid time off policy.