Associate Coordinator, TAAP

Position Title: Associate Coordinator, Teen Arts Apprentice Program (TAAP)

Reports To: Artistic Director 

Department: Arts

Part-time In-person

Status: Exempt

Date: October 2025

About the Organization

Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is a youth, family and community serving organization in the Hunts Point and Longwood sections of the South Bronx. We were established in East Harlem in 1934 by Claire and Elizabeth Sullivan and Sister Mary Imelda who observed waves of Spanish-speaking people pouring in from Puerto Rico and in desperate need of services. While settlement houses were in place to address the needs of the poor, this population was made up of predominantly European immigrants. Seeing the barriers and isolation that Spanish-speaking people were confronting, Claire, Elizabeth, and Sister Mary provided essential nutrition, housing, childcare, and educational support. What they could not know at the time is that they were championing social justice for what would become one of America’s most historically marginalized groups.

For 91 years, Casita Maria has expanded its population base to serve everyone in the community and continues to serve as a gathering place for hope and enrichment through arts, culture, and education. Currently, Casita Maria has approximately 15 full-time employees and approximately 35-40 part-time assistant program coordinators, group leaders, and teaching artists who lead after-school and summer camp programs. 

About TAAP

TAAP is an arts-based workforce development program for young people in high school 15 and older. It includes comprehensive workplace orientation and job training, leadership and service opportunities, and robust cultural enrichment activities led by world renowned NYC cultural institutions such as the Whitney Museum, The Metropolitan Opera, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Public Works of the Public Theater. 

This dual program offers a part-time paid position and unpaid mandatory enrichment activities at no cost to the participant. We will engage young people from high school through college and invite Apprentices (high or college) to apply for summer employment either as Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) workers or part-time, seasonal staff. Following college graduation, we encourage Apprentices to apply for full time employment at Casita Maria. 

TAAP requires young people who are prepared to learn, take on responsibilities, serve their community, and potentially become part of New York City’s vibrant cultural ecosystem, with training and support from Casita Maria’s creative youth development professionals.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Artistic Director, the Associate Coordinator, Teen Arts Apprentice Program (TAAP) will be responsible for coordinating logistics for TAAP and overseeing its daily operation. This is a direct service position coordinating TAAP and supervising the bilingual teenage employees of Casita Maria. This position requires a fully bilingual English and Spanish creative youth development professional with exceptional interpersonal, organizational and planning skills fueled by a passion for Arts, Culture and Community. 

The Associate Coordinator will assist with TAAP culminating partner events including but not limited to Public Works of the Public Theater, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum. The Associate Coordinator will also assist with all Department events including but not limited to the South Bronx Culture Festival, Gallery programs, Bronx Banda featuring Arturo O’Farrill concerts, and Casita Maria Young Artists culminating events. Working with the Arts team, the Associate Coordinator will train and supervise the teens during after school programs, summer day camp, and events. The Associate Coordinator will be in regular contact with and supported by a team of professionals including the Executive Director, Artistic Director, Director of Education and Programs, Teaching and Therapeutic Artist Coordinator, Arts Program Coordinator, People and Culture Manager and Community Outreach and Family Engagement Coordinator.

Primary Responsibilities 

1. Organize and host a semi-annual recruitment event to encourage new teen staff to apply.
2. Organize the Family Roll Out Meetings for potential candidates and their parents/caregivers; which includes ordering food, set-up and breakdown of meeting space and confirmation of guest list.
3. Oversee bilingual tutoring sessions and assist as needed. 
4. Schedule interviews and assist in the selection process; notify the People and Culture  Department of any new hires.
5. Co-facilitate onboarding training for TAAP with the Education Team.
6. Create, manage and post weekly TAAP work schedules.
7. In collaboration with the Education team, build the TAAP curriculum.
8. Research, book and/or lead enrichment activities and maintain a bilingual calendar of these activities. Chaperone all off site activities including but limited to walking tours and visits to cultural institutions.
9. Manage daily check-in meetings and TAAP placements / assignments.
10. Attend bi-weekly check-in meetings with the Artistic Director and bi-weekly team meetings.
11. Attend professional development trainings as assigned. 
12. Oversee photo and video documentation of the program, collect testimonials and surveys as needed to assist with grant applications.
13. Draft assessments for each teen and co-lead reviews with the Artistic Director.
14. Ensure pre and post Social Emotional Learning surveys are completed by the teen employees.
15. Assist the Arts and Education teams with culminating events and public programs as assigned.
16. Complete other duties as assigned by the Artistic or Education Directors.

Qualifications/Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field OR 3 to 5 years with a strong track record of working with youth/teens in a community arts setting.
• Must be proficient in both English and Spanish, with the ability to read, write, speak and teach in both languages.
• Experience managing multiple projects, both short and long term simultaneously.
• Experience and comfortable working in an office environment and outdoors for events.
• Previous experience working at a community based organization strongly preferred.

Required Skills & Competencies

1. Eager to work in a fast-paced arts and education-focused, event-based environment with an energetic, positive and passionate team. 
2. Must be outgoing and love working with teenagers with a strong interest in being a role model for teens entering the workforce and exploring the NYC Arts ecosystem.
3. Excellent project management skills and ability to meet deadlines while maintaining high quality work and attention to detail. 
4. Ability to prioritize tasks on a daily basis. Manage day to day tasks with ease while working on long term tasks leading up to events/program launch. 
5. Must be able to provide timely communications both in person and via email. 
6. Strong computer skills required with knowledge of Google Suite, Docusign, Zoom, as well as the ability to source materials and/or vendors. 
7. Proactive, self starter, highly motivated, detail-oriented, adaptable, ability to work independently and in team settings plus manage multiple projects simultaneously. 
8. Must be flexible and adaptable in the workplace, on field trips and during events. Must be able to make decisions and problem solve in the moment while maintaining composure plus provide follow up as needed. 

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Must be able to lift a minimum of 30 pounds. 
• Will be required to move and set up furniture/supplies/equipment in a room or outdoor event space. 
• May require the use of a ladder. 
• Will require standing for long periods of time. 
• Will require walking, lifting, stooping, and bending. 
• Will require working outdoor events during hot summer months. 
• Works in an office environment, plus outdoor and indoor event spaces both on and off site. 
• Frequently speaks, reads, writes and uses a computer keyboard. 

Work Hours 

The Associate Coordinator will work during the after-school programming hours of 2-6PM in an office, school, and community center environment, and will work additional assigned hours, including nights and weekends, based on event/program schedules at certain times during the year. Remote work options are extremely limited and subject to Executive Director approval and compliance with Casita Maria’s remote work policy.

Compensation

Salary range for this opportunity is $25-30 hourly commensurate with experience. 

Benefits 

Casita Maria offers its part-time employees short and long-term disability insurance, Health and Dependent Care Savings Accounts, Commuter benefits, 403(b) plan, sick days (56 hours annually), and 8 paid holidays. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Casita Maria is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applications will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction or current employment status. We are deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe social change happens when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with a common purpose. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

How To Apply

Email the required items below to hr@casitamaria.org with Associate Coordinator, Teen Arts Apprentice Program / Your Name in the subject line. Candidates who do not submit the below will not be considered.

1. Cover letter outlining your relevant experience and interest in Casita Maria.
2. Resume/CV.
3. A writing sample or portfolio.
4. Contact information for three professional references.

This job description is not intended to represent a complete, comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required in this position. There may be unplanned activities and other duties as assigned. We appreciate your flexibility in advance.