Creative Workforce Lead Educator in Baltimore, Maryland at WIDE ANGLE YOUTH MEDIA INC

REPORTS TO: Workforce Manager

STATUS: Full-time, non-exempt, 40-hour-per-week, year-round position. This position is an in-person role.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority consideration given to applications received by Friday, September 11.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Resume, Cover Letter (Letter of Interest), 2 Professional References, Teaching or Media/Work Samples (Please note that incomplete applications will not be reviewed or considered)

START DATE: October 1, 2025

Organization Overview:

Through media arts education, Wide Angle Youth Media cultivates and amplifies the voices of Baltimore youth to engage audiences across generational, cultural, and social divides. Wide Angle programs inspire creativity and instill confidence in young people, empowering them with skills to navigate school, career, and life. Through media arts education, Wide Angle Youth Media cultivates and amplifies the voices of Baltimore youth to engage audiences across generational, cultural, and social divides. Wide Angle programs inspire creativity and instill confidence in young people, empowering them with skills to navigate school, career, and life.

Position Summary:

Creative Workforce Lead Educator (Lead Educator) is responsible for the following:

Wide Angle Youth Media is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and youth-centered Lead Educator to lead instructional delivery for social media workforce development and media arts programming. The Lead Educator is responsible for designing and facilitating engaging, industry-aligned instruction that prepares developing professionals (ages 18-26) for continued education, employment, internships, apprenticeships, and careers in media, communications, design, and related creative industries.

The Lead Educator will work closely with the Workforce Manager and other program staff to implement pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, internship, and other workforce programming. The Lead Educator will build a social media program in partnership with the Workforce Manager and the education team to help youth transition into a social media career. Teaching both the love of social media as a language to promote and amplify, and the media and written communication necessary to be successful in a career path. Guiding client-driven projects and hands-on learning. This position will turn program goals and industry expectations into hands-on learning experiences that build technical media skills and essential workforce competencies.

The Lead Educator will serve as the primary instructional leader in the classroom, supporting participant engagement, skill development, professional readiness, and successful completion of program requirements. The position may also support Wide Angle's Baltimore Speaks Out, MediaWorks, Community Voices, and other youth-centered programming as needed.

This is an in-person, full-time, non-exempt, 40-hour-per-week, year-round position.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Instruction & Leadership

• Serve as the primary instructional leader for assigned workforce development and media art cohorts.
• Lead day-to-day classroom instruction and ensure participants receive consistent, high-quality training.
• Facilitate hands-on instruction in Social media and digital communications with experience in the following areas:
• Digital Strategy and Communications
• Digital storytelling
• Photography
• Graphic Design
• Video (Creating stories and reels for social)
• Audio production
• Post-production for video and audio
• Portfolio development
• File management and digital organization
• Other media arts and creative industry skills as assigned

Integrate technical media instruction with professional skills, including:

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Problem-solving
• Public speaking
• Professional communication
• Workplace expectations
• Networking
• Presentation skills
• Job readiness
• Create a classroom environment that promotes creativity, accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and professional growth.
• Model professional workplace behaviors and expectations for participants.
• Provide additional instructional support, tutoring, or individual coaching when participants need additional assistance.
• Step in to lead instruction for other workforce or high school-aged youth programs when needed and reasonably notified.

Curriculum Development & Training

• Collaborate with the Workforce Manager and program colleagues to develop and continuously improve and expand workforce and media arts curriculum.
• Develop lesson plans, instructional materials, projects, activities, and assessments aligned with program goals and industry expectations.
• Ensure curriculum provides a balance of technical skill development, professional skills, and work-based learning.
• Develop instruction that is accessible and responsive to participants with different learning styles, skill levels, and educational backgrounds.
• Incorporate real-world projects, client-based assignments, portfolio development, and other hands-on experiences into instruction.
• Ensure curriculum reflects Wide Angle's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and centers the work and perspectives of BIPOC artists and historically underserved communities.
• Align curriculum with applicable media arts education standards and workforce development requirements.
• Collaborate with guest artists, teaching artists, industry professionals, and other instructors to support participant learning.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of standardized instructional materials and processes for workforce programming.

Participant Development & Workforce Readiness

• Build strong, supportive relationships with participants while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Provide ongoing coaching and feedback related to technical skills, professional behavior, communication, and workplace readiness.
• Conduct regular participant, weekly check-ins to identify barriers to successful program completion.
• Support participants in developing professional portfolios, resumes, work samples, presentations, and other career readiness materials.
• Help participants prepare for internships, apprenticeships, employment, and other post-program opportunities.
• Facilitate workforce readiness activities such as mock interviews, networking exercises, professional presentations, workplace communication, and career exploration.
• Reinforce expectations related to attendance, punctuality, professionalism, communication, and completion of assignments.
• Coordinate with the Workforce Manager regarding participant progress, challenges, support needs, and potential interventions.
• Celebrate participant accomplishments and identify opportunities for continued growth.

Classroom Management & Student Support

• Establish clear classroom expectations and maintain a safe, inclusive, and productive learning environment.
• Use proactive classroom management and positive behavior strategies to support participant engagement.
• Respond appropriately and consistently to classroom challenges and participant needs.
• Communicate concerns regarding attendance, behavior, engagement, or participant well-being to the Workforce Manager and appropriate program staff.
• Support trauma-informed, youth-centered, and culturally responsive instructional practices.
• In collaboration with the Workforce Manager, maintain high expectations for all participants while recognizing individual strengths, experiences, and learning needs by creating an assessment, competency tracker, or progress evaluation.

Participant Assessment & Program Evaluation

• Maintain accurate attendance and participation records using organizational systems.
• Monitor participant progress toward technical, professional, and programmatic learning objectives.
• Conduct and document participant assessments, skills evaluations, check-ins, and project reviews.
• Track participant completion of required training hours, assignments, projects, and other program requirements.
• Provide timely documentation and updates to the Workforce Manager regarding participant progress.
• Contribute information for grant reporting, program evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Use participant and program data to identify instructional improvements and areas where additional support may be needed.
• Support documentation of participant skill development and successful completion of program milestones.

Work-Based Learning & Industry Projects

• Facilitate hands-on projects that replicate professional media and creative industry environments.
• Prepare participants to work with clients, community partners, employers, and other external stakeholders.
• Guide participants through project planning, production, revision, presentation, and completion.
• Support participants in meeting professional project expectations, including deadlines, communication, quality standards, and deliverables.
• Collaborate with the Workforce Manager and other program staff to incorporate employer and industry feedback into instruction.
• Prepare participants for work-based learning experiences, including internships, apprenticeships, externships, and employment opportunities.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with the Workforce Manager to ensure instructional activities align with workforce program goals, participant outcomes, and grant requirements.
• Collaborate with the Workforce Manager, program participants, and Community Engagement and Events Coordinator to plan and facilitate an end-of-program celebration.
• Participate in regular workforce program meetings and instructional planning sessions.
• Communicate consistently with the Workforce Manager regarding:
• Participant progress
• Attendance
• Classroom needs
• Participant concerns
• Curriculum
• Equipment
• Project status
• Additional participant support.
• Collaborate with Production, Design, Communications, Development, and other Wide Angle departments when appropriate.
• Work with equipment and operations staff to ensure cameras, computers, iPads, lighting, audio equipment, and other technology are available and properly maintained.
• Support guest instructors, teaching artists, volunteers, and industry professionals working with participants.
• Participate in staff training, professional development, curriculum feedback, and organizational planning.

Community & Organizational Engagement

• Participate in recruitment and community engagement activities, including information sessions, school events, resource fairs, and other outreach opportunities.
• Support participant recruitment and enrollment activities as requested.
• Attend required program events, showcases, exhibitions, closing ceremonies, family events, and other organizational activities.
• Represent Wide Angle Youth Media professionally when interacting with participants, families, schools, community partners, employers, and other stakeholders.
• Participate in annual retreats, strategic planning, and organization-wide initiatives as required.
• Attend regular staff and program meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Media Arts, Communications, Workforce Development, Human Services, Marketing, Design, or a related field or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience teaching, training, mentoring, or facilitating programs for youth or young adults.
• Demonstrated experience developing and facilitating curriculum, workshops, or training.
• Demonstrated professional experience in one or more areas of media arts, communications, design, photography, videography, social media, or related creative industries.
• Experience working with youth or young adults from historically underserved communities.
• Experience integrating technical skills with professional development or workforce-readiness instruction.
• Experience with classroom management and positive behavior-support strategies.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple instructional priorities and deadlines.
• Experience assessing participant learning, providing constructive feedback, and documenting participant progress.
• Proficiency with relevant media technology and software, including Adobe Creative Cloud and digital media production equipment.
• Ability to learn and effectively use organizational databases, attendance systems, communication platforms, and other technology.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and anti-racist/anti-oppressive educational practices.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for program events and participant activities.
• Reliable transportation for local travel to program and partner sites, as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, internship, career readiness, or other workforce development programs.
• Experience working with participants ages 18–26.
• Experience working with employer partners or industry professionals.
• Experience facilitating project-based or work-based learning.
• Experience developing portfolios or professional work samples with youth.
• Familiarity with workforce development systems, career pathways, or industry-recognized credentials.
• Experience with social media strategy, digital communications, or content creation.
• Experience mentoring teaching artists, assistant educators, interns, or emerging professionals.

This full-time salaried position offers a starting wage between $48,000 to $52,000 annually, depending on education, artist portfolio, and years of professional experience. In addition to a positive organizational culture, our comprehensive benefits package for this position includes the following:

• Benefit Package
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• After your first calendar year, eligibility for a retirement plan. Wide Angle contributes up to a 3% match.
• Stipend for professional development
• Receive training around:
• Active Shooter
• CPR certification
• Stop the Bleed
• Mandated Reporter
• Shared curriculum planning and feedback sessions
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion... And many more!
• Mileage/Parking Reimbursement
• Access to Relief Fund

Wide Angle Youth Media is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or handicap, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition, citizenship status, service member status, genetic information, union affiliation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.