POSITION AVAILABLE
Director of Information Services
Application Deadline: July 8, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Reports to: Executive Director of Dance/USA
Supervises: Research Intern and/or Research Fellows
Status: Full-time, exempt
Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional dance, sustains and advances professional dance by addressing the needs, concerns, and interests of artists, administrators and organizations. Dance/USA operates at the center of the national dance field providing dance-related research and information, professional development, advocacy, and service so that members may gain new insights, perspective, and knowledge on their works as dance professionals. Dance/USA’s membership currently consists of over 500 aerial, ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, culturally specific, traditional and tap companies, dance service and presenting organizations, artist managers, individuals, and other organizations nationally and internationally.
Dance/USA is committed to honoring, nurturing and advancing dance through the lens of diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity in all aspects of its programming, services and organization.
Job Description: The Director of Information Services is a full-time (exempt) salaried position that executes all of Dance/USA’s research. This research includes, broadly, conducting all national field research, managing all member surveys and services, participating in research efforts associated with special initiatives, and conducting evaluation of Dance/USA’s programs and services in collaboration with other staff. Most research activities require that the Director of Information be solely responsible for gathering data through the most appropriate methodology, cleaning and maintaining long-term data-sets, and disseminating the resulting information. The Director of Information services also responds to requests from Dance/USA members, the media, staff, peer organizations, students and educators, and the general public. The Director of Information Services also works collaboratively with many outside organizations when they require the support and assistance of Dance/USA, such as the Cultural Data Project and the National Endowment for the Arts.
National Field Research includes maintaining the National Company Roster, a listing of all known not-for-profit professional dance companies in the U.S., preparing an annual Snapshot of the Field from the Roster, and conducting multi-year analyses of these data.
Member surveys and services include annual surveys on the finances and operations of dance companies, maintenance of the Costume and Set Repository, and a bi-annual personnel compensation survey. The Director of Information Services also works with groups of members to identify areas where research is needed and constructs appropriate projects in response.
Successful execution of Dance/USA’s research requires that the incumbent perform well in three areas: gathering data, managing data, and disseminating information.
Gathering Data
- Updating existing survey tools based on changes in the field and member requests
- Creating surveys on discrete topics as necessary
- Conduct web-based research to gather information about the field including visiting websites, examining tax returns, making phone calls, and reading field publications
Managing Data
- Compile, clean, verify, tabulate, archive, cross-reference, analyze, and mine data
- Use Microsoft Excel, Survey Monkey, SPSS, and other software for this purpose
- Disseminating Information
- Returning data results and analysis to survey participants
- Responding to inquiries from members, funders, the media, and the general public
- Writing articles and other publications
- Posting information on the Dance/USA website
- Providing support and expertise in survey design, data collection mechanisms and interpretation of results for Dance/USA staff, board, members, and others
In addition to these duties and responsibilities, the Director of Information Services performs required administrative functions and participates as a team-player in activities, such as the annual conference, that require full staff participation.
Qualifications: Advanced Excel skills and database experience, coupled with an analytical mindset, are essential. In addition, the ideal candidate will also have experience of managing direct reports, an understanding of social media analytics, experience of finding creative solutions to data depiction challenges (eg infographics) and the ability to identify and implement improvements to knowledge management systems.
All candidates should be able to demonstrate the ability to synthesize and analyze not-for-profit financial and operational data; also to find the story in the data and to communicate research findings clearly, both verbally and in writing.
Bachelor’s degree or greater, with 2 or more years’ work experience in research or data analysis. A background in the arts is a plus.
Start Date: August 1, 2015
Compensation: DOE. Dance/USA offers a benefits package that includes full medical/dental/vision, life insurance, long-term disability, EAP, and 403(b) matching for eligible employees.
To Apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume to Dance/USA’s Director of Finance and Operations, Casey John McEnelly, by Wednesday, July 8, 2015.
The full announcement can be found on the Dance/USA website.
http://danceusa.org/