Partnerships Program Coordinator

Organization: The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis (www.loft.org)

Status: FT, non-exempt (hourly)

Reports to: Program Manager, Partnerships

About the Loft: Celebrating 52 years since its incorporation, the Loft Literary Center is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit literary centers with classes, workshops, mentorships, events, resources and services that advance the power of writers and readers to craft and share stories, to create and celebrate connections, and to build just, life-sustaining communities.

Compensation: $28.96/hr (annual equivalent based on 32 hour week = $48,195). Benefits include health insurance (Loft pays 80% of gold-rated plan premium), life insurance, two–four weeks paid vacation annually based on tenure, 11 floating holidays, accrued sick/personal leave, and the opportunity to take one free Loft class per year.

Hours

The position is full-time, hourly (non-exempt). A standard week of 32 hours will include some evenings and/or weekends (primarily Saturdays) as scheduled. Flexibility with hours is a key requirement. Schedules are usually set 4-6 weeks in advance. You are available for a schedule that varies between daytime hours starting as early as 8:00 AM and afternoon/evenings ending as late as 8:30 PM mostly in 8-9 hour shifts, Monday through Saturday.

Position Purpose

This position delivers friendly, helpful, and patient customer service experiences as a first, and often primary, point of contact for Loft constituents including audience members, students, teaching artists, and other stakeholders. The partnerships coordinator solves problems for constituents, shows empathy, and is a cheerleader for the Loft and its programs, promoting participation, and helping people register for classes, apply for awards, and engage in other Loft offerings. The partnerships coordinator ensures that the Loft public, staff, and contractors have accurate and timely information about participation and programs, provides administrative support, and prepares/sets up digital and physical spaces to be safe, neat, comfortable, and functional for their respective purposes. 

Primary Areas of Responsibilities and Tasks

In all areas of accountability for this position, responsiveness, empathy, humor, and a strong commitment to customer service will be needed. You will be a good fit for this position if you enjoy program administration, working with a wide variety of learners, and you share our commitment to antiracism. The list below is representative of the essential duties for the job, but it is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of duties required to perform this role. As a member of the Loft staff, you may be asked to provide support for “all hands on deck” activities or events and to perform other duties as necessary to fulfill the Loft’s mission, vision and strategic objectives.

Primary Accountabilities

1)  Serve as a first point of contact for Partnerships programs such as award applicants, manuscript critique inquiries, and for registration/admission for Bring the Loft to You and Loft off site classes, events, and workshops for adult and youth participants as well as supporting the Education Coordinator with Education programs such as Adult and Youth Education, Year-Long Writing Projects, and Access Funds Field constituent inquiries, advise applicants and potential students, assist with web-based transactions, resolve or refer complaints and concerns, manage communications regarding award or class status, and promote cross program and member involvement. Responds to all in-person, online, or telephone inquiries. Promote membership to applicants and potential students as part of advising and registration assistance. Divides time between Partnership and Education programs about 75% and 25%, respectively.

2)  Provide administrative support for all Loft awards, community-based, and Education programs, including on- and off-site classes, manuscript critique services, conferences, events, and partnership programs such as classes in schools and libraries. Administrative support entails, but is not limited to: data-entry, proof-reading, assigning classrooms, supporting awards panels, monitoring registration/enrollment, student and teaching artist outreach, providing registration lists/rosters to appropriate staff or contractors, ensuring artist contracting and payments are correct, processing refunds, creating and running analytical reports, and assisting in resolving issues related to the above. 

3) Assist the Partnerships Manager with vetting award applications to ensure they are complete and meet the criteria set out in the program guidelines. Assist with the creation of judging materials as needed. Provide additional clerical or logistical support to programs including contract entry, travel arrangements, report reminders and collection, and other duties as requested.

4) Provide set-up and logistical support for partnership and education programs including creating and placing proper signage, light cleaning, moving furniture, addressing artist and constituent needs, trouble-shooting classroom technology, light refreshments set-up, purchasing, setting up and tearing down food and drink for large public-facing events, registration/check out, and assisting with materials/supplies on a daily basis. Serve as a greeter for new sessions and ongoing sessions.

5) Rotate all front desk/reception duties including general in-person, phone, and email inquiries once a week and provide back-up support as needed (during vacations, unexpected personal leave, etc.).

6)  Participate in the Loft Staff, Craft Team, and constituent meetings and represent the concerns or barriers to providing program-related customer service that is both efficient and meets the needs of constituents. Communicate changes to procedures, operations, or information to non-members of the team. This includes developing an understanding of how our systems and processes work together and actively looking for ways to make them work better. 

7) Provide back up support for initiatives that support programmatic and mission success as assigned. Examples include the Year Long Writing Project, Loft Access Funds program, Young Writers programming, the Madeline Island Teaching Artist fellowship, organization and programming of student/teacher readings, off-site program site visits, fundraising event support, and outreach/promotion. These initiatives or special projects can be one-time or ongoing and each has a unique set of responsibilities. 

8) Other duties may be assigned as needed. The list above is representative of the essential responsibilities for the job, but it is not an all-inclusive list of duties required in this role. In addition, there are times when all staff help with projects outside their regular roles, for example at special events they may assist in house/production/implementation management for Loft events (as requested). Typical duties for events include:

• Determining event requirements in collaboration with designated event lead
• Manage venues/locations for Loft events including scheduling, coordinating, setting up, tearing down, and securing the event space at Open Book and other event locations 
• Creating and placing signage 
• Supervising event volunteers and interns
• Setting up/tearing down the performance hall and literary commons (including receptions)
• Overseeing front of house transactions, securing and documenting receipts per Loft procedure
• Operating production tech including sound and lights and online/hybrid platforms for meetings and events
• Manage the digital event experience including scheduling online events, managing/coordinating hosting on digital platforms, and troubleshooting during online/hybrid events; securing and managing equipment for hybrid events and meetings (as needed)
• Estimating and documenting audience statistics and demographics, including entering them into the Loft database in a timely manner
• Distribution and collection of evaluations or other materials as required
• Supervising or running bar, securing and documenting receipts per Loft procedure
• Locking up and securing Loft spaces including offices, classrooms, etc.
• Recruit, coordinate with, and track exhibitors and vendors (e.g. for book sales, etc.) in support of Loft events and the attainment of related revenue goals 
• Coordinate with Program Administrator as needed to provide “front of house” operations at in-person Loft events including box office management and the coordination of event volunteers and interns 
• Manage travel, hotel, and hospitality needs for programs and events including coordinating and tracking travel information and creating itineraries, info sheets, and schedules for visiting authors, agents, and publishers
• Execute program and event-related mailings and communications 

Job Requirements

• See listing: https://loft.submittable.com/submit/357631/job-postingpartnerships-program-coordinator

NOTE: Loft employees are not eligible to apply for Loft awards for writers.

To Apply: Please answer the application questions and submit your resume via Submittable. If you do not have a Submittable account, you will need to create one.

Due to the expected number of applicants, we request that you do not call or email to check on your application status. You will get a confirmation by email to let you know that your application was received as well as word of the Loft’s hiring decision.

Hiring Process: This position is open until filled; applications will be reviewed as they come in, but first preference will be given to applications received by June 30. The application period will officially close on July 15. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis. This position would ideally start by July 31, 2026. 

The Loft is an equal opportunity employer.