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Title

Dance Center Operations Assistant 
About the Organization The internationally renowned Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) has received 'highest praise for their technical aplomb, their musicality, and their sheer human authenticity.' (Bloomberg News). Founded in 1980, the Dance Group performs the repertory of choreographer Mark Morris, hailed as the 'the most successful and influential choreographer alive, and indisputably the most musical' (The New York Times), whose work is acclaimed for its ingenuity, musicality, wit, and humanity. Live music and community engagement are vital components of the Dance Group. It has toured with its own musicians, the MMDG Music Ensemble, since 1996, and regularly collaborates with orchestras and opera companies around the world. In addition to 17 full-time dancers, the organization currently employs 34 full-time staff and 75 part-time staff, teaching artists, and musicians.

In the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District, the Mark Morris Dance Center, founded in 2001, is the hub of dance and music education in Brooklyn. The nine-studio building provides affordable classes in multiple genres for people of all ages, levels, with and without disabilities, accompanied by live music. The studios, a performance space, a Wellness Center, and ancillary spaces are all available to the community and to nonprofit organizations at subsidized rates. MMDG's Community Education Programs partner with public and private schools and community centers to provide customized classes. MMDG also offers customized dance workshops for persons with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers.

MMDG programs in NYC and worldwide engage nearly 100,000 people annually. Propelled by core values of community, access, excellence, and creativity, MMDG is committed to ongoing equity, diversity, and inclusion work to ensure its programs are welcoming and accessible to all.
 
Category Operations  
Exempt/Non-Exempt Non-Exempt  
Full-Time/Part-Time Part-Time  
Description

SUMMARY:

The Dance Center Operations Assistant provides essential on-site operational support, serving as a first point of contact for all inquiries, managing access to the facility, ensuring the space is welcoming for all, and working to support programs at the Dance Center, which celebrate diversity in a fully inclusive working and learning environment.

The Dance Center Operations Assistant joins a team who works together to create a vital bridge across the Artistic, Education, Operations and Facilities Departments and will play an important role in supporting the Dance Center as it reopens in stages. This position will join the organization at a pivotal moment as we reimagine how we operate and embody our core values and welcome back our community.

MMDG is looking for a team player; someone personable, patient, friendly, responsive and focused on providing a high standard of customer service for all MMDG constituents. This is a part-time regular (20 hrs/wk) position reporting to the Director of Events and Venue Operations. Candidates must commit to an ongoing schedule, which will be determined upon hire.

The successful candidate will join a community of dedicated arts and administrative professionals who are propelled by Mark Morris’s commitment to artistic excellence, access to the arts, and the impact that the arts have in connecting and engaging communities. MMDG is committed to ongoing and sustained equity and inclusion work. All staff are expected to be actively engaged and dedicated to upholding our core values of celebrating our diverse community, pursuing excellence in all that we do, advancing access, exposure, and opportunity to dance and music, and cultivating creativity. Learn more about MMDG’s commitment to anti-racism and our core values.

 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to:

The Mark Morris Dance Group has invested resources and time in developing health and safety policies and procedures to minimize risk to its employees and community. This position directly supports these efforts and therefore candidates must be comfortable upholding safety and security protocols. This position is stationed at the front desk of the Dance Center, which has been outfitted with a protective plexi-glass barrier and intercom system to ensure physical distancing can be maintained. Masks are required for all employees and visitors. Additional details about the safety measures MMDG has put in place in advance of reopening can be found here.

  • Oversee entering and exiting; managing the health screening and check-in process for all employees and visitors; monitoring a CCTV monitor for anyone exiting
  • Provide on-site technical support for the use of in-studio filming/streaming equipment and sound systems
  • Uphold and enforce Dance Center policies, including COVID-19-related capacity restrictions, MMDG’s community agreement, and lobby and studio policies
  • Document and report injuries and medical emergencies, occurrences of trespassing, theft, disrupting or violent activity and any other health or safety related issues that occur at the Dance Center
  • Work with the facilities team to respond to requests from studio users (faculty, staff, renters) regarding temperature, resources, maintenance, cleaning and equipment
  • Serve as fire safety personnel and assist in the event of an emergency at the Dance Center
  • Accept and distribute incoming mail and packages to the Dance Center
  • Open and close the building (depending on schedule)
  • Field inquiries about MMDG and Dance Center programs (School, Adult, Rental, Dance for PD, Wellness Center, Community Education) by phone, ZenDesk CMS, and in-person, serving as a liaison between students, renters and administrative staff
  • Check adult students into class utilizing MindBody software
  • Maintain a standard of excellent customer service to all Dance Center community members, communicating information on all programs, classes and services to visitors
  • Attendance at monthly staff meetings is encouraged and bi-monthly I.D.E.A. (inclusion, diversity, equity, access) trainings and workshops is required.

Given MMDG’s staged reopening plan and the evolving guidance from New York State regarding the full reopening of Arts & Cultural institutions, the responsibilities of this position, which are directly connected to activity at the Dance Center, will likely change over the course of the reopening period, which has no set timeline. MMDG will make every effort to discuss changes in advance.

 
Position Requirements

YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE IF YOU:

  • Are knowledgeable about the dance field and have an interest in working with our Dance Center community made up of children, adults, and seniors, with and without disabilities
  • Are proficient in Microsoft Office Suite/Google Drive and have experience working with MindBody, EMS, Authorize.net, and/or Active Network

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • 2+ years of customer service experience or equivalent
  • Superb attention to detail and demonstrate excellent time management skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills (English required, additional languages a plus)
  • Display maturity and composure under pressure and are adaptable to change

YOU MUST AGREE TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING REQUIRED TRAINING UPON HIRE (all related expenses covered by MMDG):

  • First Aid Certification + refresher courses offered annually
  • CPR/AED Certification + refresher courses offered annually
  • FDNY Certificate of Fitness F03 (Place of assembly emergency personnel) + recertification (required every 3 years)
  • MMDG COVID-19 Safety Plan and Dance Center Health and Safety policies
  • De-escalation training
  • Additional training as required in accordance with MMDG’s Safety Plan and NYS Guidelines

SCHEDULE:

  • Minimum of 4 shifts per week. Available shifts:
    • Monday 9:30am-2:30pm and 3:30-8:30pm
    • Tuesday 3:30-8:30pm
    • Wednesday 3:30-8:30pm
    • Thursday 3:30-8:30pm
    • Friday 3:30-8:30pm
    • Saturday 10:30am-3:30pm
  • A willingness to flex one’s schedule to provide coverage depending on staffing needs.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

  • $18 per hour
  • Benefits package includes: Paid vacation (40 hours/year), sick leave (up to 20 hours/year), holidays and bonus days; Pre-tax Commuter benefit
  • Access to free and discounted classes at the Dance Center and online
  • Access to special events and MMDG performances (when available)
  • Invitations to cultural events extended to other staff members by community partners

 

APPLICATIONS:

  • Application Deadline: February 5, 2021
  • Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.
  • Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
  • You will be asked to submit the following as part of your online application:
    • 1-page Cover Letter addressed to Elise Gaugert, Director of Events and Venue Operations answering the questions listed below.
    • Complete résumé highlighting relevant experience
  • The cover letter should include answers to each of the following questions:
    • Why are you interested in working at the Mark Morris Dance Group?
    • The Dance Center Operations Assistant will be called upon to manage safety and security protocols and work directly with the public. What relevant skills and experiences would you bring to this work?
    • MMDG is a values-driven organization; please review our core values of Community, Excellence, Creativity, and Access and discuss two instances in your professional career where you have demonstrated at least one of them.

Please note that all candidate interviews will be conducted by video using the Zoom (https://zoom.us/) video communications application. Please download the application in advance and have a functioning camera and speaker on your device. MMDG can also provide candidates with reasonable accommodations, if needed.

 

 
 
EOE Statement We are an equal employment opportunity employer committed to a diverse workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status. The policy applies to all areas of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training and development, promotion, transfer, termination, layoff, compensation benefits, and all other conditions and privileges of employment in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. It is the policy of MMDG to comply with all the relevant and applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). MMDG does not discriminate against any qualified employees or job applicants with respect to any terms, privileges, or conditions of employment because of a person’s physical or mental disability. MMDG makes reasonable accommodation wherever necessary for all employees or applicants with disabilities, provided that the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform the duties and assignments connected with the job and provided that any accommodations made do not require significant difficulty or expense.  

This position is currently accepting applications.

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