Join the international team that makes a difference through music!
About Ethno
Ethno is JM International’s program for folk, world, and traditional music. Founded in 1990, it is aimed at young musicians (up to age 30) with a mission to revive and keep alive global cultural heritage. Present today in over 40 countries, Ethno engages young people through a series of annual international music camps as well as workshops, concerts, and tours, working together with schools, conservatories, and other groups of youth to promote peace, tolerance, and understanding. At the core of Ethno is its democratic, peer-to-peer learning approach whereby young people teach each other music from their countries and cultures. It is a non-formal pedagogy that has been refined over the past 32 years, embracing the principles of intercultural dialogue and understanding. Ethno provides a unique opportunity for young people from across the globe to come together and engage through music in a manner that is characterized by respect, generosity, and openness.
The Position
We are looking for a highly skilled, “all-round” Ethno USA Project Manager to coordinate the project. The Ethno USA Project Manager will be tasked primarily with the organization of the Ethno USA Music Camp, as well as working toward organizing, managing and growing the development of Ethno USA in general.
We seek a candidate with a wide range of expertise to take on all Ethno USA-related project tasks with a high degree of competence. The role involves coordination with multiple domestic and international partners, requiring a smooth flow of information between all parties and ensuring the success of the annual Ethno USA music camp and activities.
The Ethno USA Project Manager is expected to deliver on-time, innovative work that meets top international standards. Strong organizational skills, an analytical mind, and an eye for detail are all crucial. The candidate should be well-organized and results-driven, and able to handle themselves well under pressure.
The candidate should have experience managing music projects. A strong affinity with folk/traditional/world music is required, as is a proven track record of work within the fields of music and/or youth. The candidate must be passionate about music, people and culture, with the ability to work independently on high-level projects within the creative professional field. The candidate should be well-versed with the US music scene and connected within various networks therein. The candidate should have previous knowledge of, and experience with, working with BIPOC projects, communities, musicians and organizers.
1, The candidate should live in or close to North Carolina, or be willing to relocate there, as Ethno USA takes place in Asheville, North Carolina. Additionally, they must be willing and able to travel domestically and internationally (at least 2 times per year) for work as needed, including to Kansas City, USA and to Brussels, Belgium.
Work Package
The Ethno USA Project Manager will be responsible for the overall Ethno USA camp and should be able to administer it with a high degree of independence.
Tasks and Responsibilities include:
1. Project Management
- Coordinating with venues, accomodation and partners related to the running of Ethno USA Music Camp, for musicians, staff, etc.
- Coordination/sourcing of Ethno USA support staff, technical crew and artistic mentors, and their financial and task oversight.
- Sourcing of concerts and/or major festival(s) for the Ethno USA performances;
- Identification and placement of young US musicians into the Ethno Mobility program, and monitoring outcomes, including documentation, reporting, research and evaluation.
- Accepting young international musicians from the Ethno Mobility programme at Ethno USA, and monitoring outcomes, including documentation, reporting, research and evaluation.
- Establishing, maintaining and enhancing organizational collaborations and partnerships.
- Representing Ethno USA to partner organizations both in the US and internationally.
- Working with our US and international network, including participation and representation at relevant conferences and fora.
- Active engagement of Ethno USA with BIPOC and community organizations.
2. Financial Management:
- Drafting, maintaining and preserving accurate budgets for the project. b. Timely submission of draft budgets for approval.
- Communication with third-party vendors, local contractors and collecting invoices and backing documents and maintaining an overview for all payments.
- Financial Reporting on project related expenses.
- Preparing for, budgeting, and supervising, all logistical requirements for the implementation of the project, including equipment, food, and transportation.
3. Project Communications
- Dissemination of the Ethno brand in the USA.
- Coordinating all external communications for the Ethno USA project, sourcing and managing freelancers where needed.
- Creation, development, and management of Ethno USA audiovisual and written content on the ethno.world website, newsletters, blogs, podcasts and social media (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and others).
- Producing content using templates created for the Ethno USA project in Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
4. Fundraising
- Seeking for and finding relevant grant application opportunities. b. Writing – and assisting project partners in writing – grants.
- Tracking and follow up on all grant submissions.
- In case of successful applications — successful execution and timely compliance with all reporting.
5. International Collaboration
- Coordination with other Ethnos worldwide, including those involved in common project grants – sharing and dissemination of information, data collection, timely preparation of common reports, and adherence to common deadlines as set by JM International.
- Attending the JM International Ethno Committee meetings twice-yearly. c. Attending and/or sending Ethno USA organizing team members to the Ethno Organizers Annual Training (Ethno OAT) and the Ethno On The Job (Ethno OTJ) trainings.
- Attending any other trainings as mandated by the grant partners JMI and FAI.
- Facilitating any trainings mandated by the grant partners JMI and FAI.
6. Project Reporting and Documentation
- Weekly planning and reporting with/to JMI and FAI.
- Check-Ins with, and Reporting to, the Ethno Global Coordinator. c. Writing narrative and budgetary reports as per the donor organizations’ templates (templates will be provided).
- Oversight on reporting due dates and timely compliance with them. e. Audio, photo, and video documentation of all Ethno USA activities. f. Dissemination of all Ethno materials, both physical and digital.
Requirements
- A minimum of five+ years of work experience.
- Excellent English – both spoken and written
- Project and event management, budgeting, and reporting experience
- Strong organizational, teamwork, and collaborative skills.
- Strong communications skills with an up-to-date knowledge of digital technologies, specifically related to content creation, social media and digital dissemination.
- Proof of full vaccination against Covid 19.
Plusses (not mandatory):
- Relevant university degree (Bachelors or Masters), or the vocational equivalent
- Music project management experience at an international level ○ Knowledge of, and fluency in, Spanish, and/or Indigenous languages
- Knowledge of, and experience with, audio and video editing tools and software
- Grant writing experience
- Graphic design skills
- Understanding of social media and strategy
- Direct experience in JM International’s Ethno program as an organizer, crew/staff member, artistic mentor, volunteer or participant
Management
- The task manager of the position is the Ethno Global Coordinator in Brussels, Belgium, while day-to-day operations are supervised by Folk Alliance International.
- The position coordinates on a regular basis (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually), with JM International and Folk Alliance International.
- The Ethno USA Project Manager is expected to work 80-100% on the project and will be contractually hired as a Contractor through Folk Alliance International.
Application Process
Apply via this online form: https://mubazar.com/en/opportunity/call-for-ethno-usa-project-manager-consulta ntcontractor
- Applications are open until June 30, 2022 and candidates will be interviewed on a rolling basis.
- The selected candidate must be willing and able to start immediately and no later than July 18, 2022.
Info
- An initial three months will be given to the selected candidate after which the contractor’s work will be evaluated and the contract continued, should the work result be satisfactory.
- This is a contract position with a monthly rate of $2,500 – $5,000 for the period of the contract, with $5,000 per month being for full time work, for a candidate with the commensurate qualifications and experience.
- The contractor is expected to be onsite for the entire time of the Ethno USA event, which is scheduled for October 2022.
- Relocation costs and costs of separate life are not covered in the contract and are the responsibility of the Consultant/Contractor.
- The contract will run until December 31, 2022, and may be extended should further funding be obtained.
Ethno USA is organized by JM International in partnership with Folk Alliance International
About JM International
JM International (JMI, www.jmi.net) is the world’s largest youth-music non-profit organization with members in over 70 countries worldwide. Through its network and programs that use the power of music for social change, the JMI network reaches over 7 million young people annually, using the power of music for social change. JMI was established in Brussels, Belgium, in 1945, with the goal to enable young people to develop through music across all boundaries and borders. JMI uses the universal power of music as a tool for empowerment and transformation, striving to make the world a better place for all.
About Folk Alliance International
Folk Alliance International (FAI, www.folk.org) was founded in 1989 to connect folk music leaders aiming to sustain the community and genre. The leading international voice for folk music, FAI is an arts nonprofit and NEA-designated National Arts Service Organization based in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. FAI is also a member of the Alliance of Performing Arts Conferences (APAC) and the Performing Arts Alliance (PAA). The organization’s expanded global network now includes more than 3,000 members, a worldwide community of cultural sector entrepreneurs and leaders that includes artists, record companies, publishers, presenters, agents, managers, arts administrators, diplomats, and more. FAI’s mission is to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation, and promotion. FAI defines folk broadly as “the music of the people” (reflective of any community they are from), and programs a diverse array of sub-genres including, but not limited to, Appalachian, Americana, Blues, Bluegrass, Celtic, Cajun, Global Roots, Hip-Hop, Old-Time, Singer-Songwriter, Spoken Word, Traditional, Zydeco, and various fusions. FAI values diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, strives to ensure gender parity in all its programming, celebrates multiple languages and cultures, and actively welcomes participation from marginalized, disenfranchised, and underrepresented communities.