Arts Program Manager Jobs in Frederick, MD (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $81,920.00 - $135,169.00 Annually
Location : Taft Center (Conference Room 121) - 6 Taft Court, Rockville, MD 20850, MD
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 202600075
Department: Department of Recreation and Parks
Division: Arts
Opening Date: 07/15/2026
Closing Date: 8/5/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Job Summary
This position performs difficult, responsible administrative and supervisory work in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating recreation-based arts and cultural programs and services for all ages. The Supervisor manages arts instruction programs, collaborates on planning, supervising, and delivering summer camp programs, provides administrative support to City-affiliated performing arts organizations, oversees the Glenview Mansion Art Gallery, and administers art program-related grants. The position directly supervises a full-time Recreation Program Coordinator, part-time staff, contract instructors, and contractors.
The employee is responsible for carrying out all City policies and procedures pertaining to recreation and arts-related programs and for maintaining careful and accurate control of budgeted expenditures and revenues in accordance with accepted City procedures. The Supervisor is directly supervised by the Superintendent of Recreation and works closely with other department staff and City departments to ensure smooth coordination of services, fostering a collaborative environment that values teamwork and shared success.
Essential Job Functions
• Plans, organizes, implements, and evaluates recreational programs for all ages, including classes in visual arts, performing arts, and related disciplines; assesses community needs and interests through surveys, meetings, and participation data to develop and modify program offerings on a continuous basis.
• Provides oversight, administrative coordination, logistical and performance support for the Rockville Civic Ballet, Rockville Concert Band, and Rockville Chorus, including scheduling rehearsals and performances, coordinating contracts, managing volunteer participation, and serving as the primary City liaison; coordinates contracts, agreements, and budget management for these City-managed performing arts programs.
• Manages Glenview Mansion Art Gallery operations, including developing exhibit schedules, selecting and coordinating participating artists, overseeing installation and breakdown, managing public engagement activities, and monitoring attendance and revenue to evaluate and improve gallery programming.
• Collaborate with the Recreation Program Manager and Camps team to plan, coordinate, implement, and evaluate the City's summer camp programs, participating in all phases of preparation, including program design, staff training, registration logistics, staffing coordination, contractor procurement, and on-site operational management.
• Monitors program quality, participant safety, and customer experience; contributes to continuous improvement efforts to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.
• Researches, prepares, and submits applications for art program-related grants; administers awarded grants in compliance with all funder requirements, including tracking expenditures, maintaining documentation, and preparing progress and final reports; coordinates with the Finance Department, City Attorney's Office, and other internal departments to ensure proper grant management and compliance.
• Builds and maintains relationships with civic groups, parent and student groups, local and regional arts organizations, and other community partners to assess arts and cultural needs; develops programs, services, and related promotional content to meet those needs in a cost-effective and equitable manner; serves as the City's liaison in supporting community-produced arts events and festivals, providing coordination assistance with logistics, facility access, and departmental resources.
• Directly supervises a full-time Recreation Program Coordinator, providing day-to-day direction, coaching, performance feedback, and formal evaluations; recruits, selects, trains, schedules, and evaluates part-time staff, contract instructors, artists, and volunteers; prepares and administers contractor agreements, monitors performance and compliance, and approves payments within authorized limits.
• Develops and monitors assigned operating budgets, including revenues and expenditures; prepares budget recommendations and justifications; submits expenditure and revenue information to the accountant; and operates revenue- and non-revenue-supported programming within established budgetary guidelines.
• Coordinates with City facility managers and external facilities to schedule and arrange use of venues for performances, rehearsals, exhibits, camps, and programs; ensures facilities are properly reserved, set up, and available in accordance with program and event requirements.
• Develops, implements, and monitors safety and risk management policies and protocols for programs, gallery operations, and performing arts events to maximize participant safety and minimize the City's potential liability; inspects program facilities and equipment regularly to ensure proper maintenance and safe operation, coordinating with building maintenance and other department staff to address identified needs.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in recreation management, arts administration/management, or a closely related field from an accredited university or college, plus five (5) years of progressively responsible work experience in recreation programming, arts program administration, education or a closely related field, including at least two (2) years of supervisory or lead experience; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.
Special Qualifications:
Preference may be given to candidates with current certification as a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) or experience administering community performing arts programs.
Additional Information/Examination Process:
• Regularly available for evening and weekend work to accommodate performances, gallery openings, exhibits, camps, community meetings, festivals, and other city-wide special events throughout the year.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Candidates are not expected to bring expertise in every area listed below. The City welcomes applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experience in recreation management, arts education/administration, nonprofit activity management, or related fields. The City is seeking a talented, mission-driven professional with strong core competencies in recreational programming, arts and cultural programming, or community leadership who can grow into the role's full scope. Required competencies must be demonstrated at hire. Preferred competencies distinguish stronger candidates and may also be developed through on-the-job experience, training, and City support.
Required at Time of Hire
• Demonstrated experience planning, developing, and evaluating programs, instruction, or services in recreation, arts, education, or related community settings; equivalent experience includes curriculum development and instruction in a school or educational environment, program coordination in a nonprofit or cultural organization.
• Familiarity with performing arts organizations, gallery or exhibit operations, school arts programs, or similar event-based environments sufficient to provide meaningful administrative coordination and logistical support from the outset; experience managing performances, coordinating arts exhibits, or implementing an arts instructional program.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, motivate, and develop staff, contractors, volunteers, or instructional personnel, with a track record of building accountable and high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain productive working relationships with external organizations and volunteers, including experience serving as an organizational point of contact.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear reports, correspondence, and presentations for a variety of audiences and to communicate effectively with the public, elected officials, and partner organizations.
• Ability to exercise sound, independent judgment; manage competing priorities; and make effective decisions within established policy guidelines and budgetary constraints.
• Ability to respond quickly and calmly in emergencies or unexpected situations affecting participants, staff, or facilities.
Preferred - Strongly Desired or Developed on the Job
• Ability to gather, organize, and present program performance and participation data in support of operational decisions, reporting, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and general comfort with digital tools and platforms; willingness to learn City registration systems, recreation management software, and digital marketing and communication tools used by the department.
• Familiarity with budget development, expenditure monitoring, and cost recovery principles in a program or organizational setting; experience with municipal or government budgeting is a plus but not required.
• Familiarity with contract management, procurement, or vendor coordination in a service delivery context, and the ability to apply City procurement policies and procedures.
• General understanding of risk management and participant safety practices in a program environment; ability to apply safety protocols and common-sense risk reduction in day-to-day operations.
• Working knowledge of, or demonstrable aptitude for, arts grant research, application, administration, and compliance reporting; candidates with transferable grant or project funding experience from other fields are encouraged to apply.
Physical Demands
The work is medium work, which occasionally requires exerting up to 50 pounds of force, frequently up to 25 pounds of force, and/or constantly up to 10 pounds of force to move objects.
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, or working on ladders, elevated surfaces, or uneven terrain.
• Bending and Stooping: Bending the body downward and forward at the waist, leg, or spine, including crouching and kneeling.
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, and ramps using feet, legs, and/or arms.
• Hearing: Perceiving and discriminating sounds at both normal speaking levels and in louder or noisier environments; ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and to make fine discriminations in sound.
• Lifting and Moving: Raising, carrying, pushing, and pulling objects, requiring substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Manual Dexterity: Using hands and fingers for picking, pinching, typing, handling materials, and repetitive motions of the wrist and hands.
• Mental Acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction, including overhead.
• Speaking and Talking: Expressing and exchanging ideas through spoken communication, including conveying instructions clearly and accurately in both quiet and noisy environments.
• Standing and Walking: Remaining on foot for sustained periods and moving about between work sites, facilities, and program areas.
• Visual Acuity - Close and Analytical: Close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, view a computer terminal, transcribe, and perform extensive reading.
• Visual Acuity - Field and Observational: Color perception, depth perception, and field vision; and visual acuity to observe and assess the accuracy, safety, and quality of work and general conditions of facilities and structures.
Work Environment
This job is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to shifting goals, priorities, and needs.
Summary of Employee Benefits
The City of Rockville offers a wide range of health and wellness benefits to full-time, regular employees. Part-time, regular employees working more than 20 hours per week may be eligible for benefits on a pro-rated basis. Benefits are not available to temporary employees.
HEALTH BENEFITS Medical Insurance Participation is available in one of several types of health plans. The city contributes toward each plan. Participation is optional. Employees may elect to participate in plans offered through Aetna or Kaiser Permanente. Benefit coverage is available beginning on date of hire.
Dental Insurance Employees may enroll in the City's dental program offered through Guardian Dental. The city contributes a portion of the cost of each employee's dental coverage. If dental coverage is waived, the City's contribution is reallocated toward the employee's health plan cost. Start date of coverage is the first of the month following date of hire. Vision The city offers a vision plan with VSP. The city contributes a portion of the cost of each employee's vision coverage. Start date of coverage is the first of the month following date of hire.
GROUP LIFE INSURANCE
The City provides life insurance equal to one and one-half times an employee's base salary. There is no cost to the employee for this benefit. Employees have the option of purchasing additional supplemental life insurance coverage for self, spouse and dependent child(ren). RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN Participation in the City of Rockville's retirement plan is mandatory. There are two parts to the retirement plan: 1) the Pension Plan and 2) the Thrift Plan. The City of Rockville Pension Plan (all employees) is a defined benefit plan that provides the participant with a specific monthly benefit at retirement. Monthly benefits are calculated based on a participant's salary and length of credited service. Employees are fully vested in the pension plan after 10 years of credited service and are always 100% vested in the amounts they contribute. The City of Rockville Thrift Plan (administrative and union employees only) is a defined contribution plan subject to the IRS code 401(a). Employees make pre-tax contributions and investment decisions. No specific amount of money is guaranteed at retirement. The benefits available are based on the amount contribu