Music Production Manager
RYSE creates safe spaces grounded in social justice that builds youth power for young people to love, learn, educate, heal, and transform lives and communities.
About RYSE
RYSE is a safe and welcoming center for diverse West Contra Costa youth (ages 13 to 21) that seeks to build youth power and leadership towards the larger vision of personal and community health and transformation. Grounded in social justice values and principles, RYSE provides comprehensive and holistic programming and promotes multi-racial, cross-cultural relationships. RYSE opened its doors in October 2008, and features programming and services across areas of community health; education and career; juvenile justice; media, arts & culture; and youth leadership and organizing.
Overview of Program Area
In service to RYSE's Theory of Liberation, the Media, Arts, + Culture (MAC) Department promotes personal healing, social justice, and community transformation by facilitating young people's innovative creation of personal, political, and expressive media and art to shift the narrative about our youth.
RYSE centers harm-reduction, healing centered engagement, non-violent and restorative communication in all our work. RYSE understands healing as fundamentally political, acknowledging and addressing racism, white supremacy, and intersecting conditions of oppression, and affirming the resistance, fortitude, and humanity of young people. Across all programs and supports, RYSE addresses the root causes of dis/ease and inequity in order to enliven healing, wellness, and justice for our communities.
Job Summary
The Music Production Manager oversees RYSE’s Recording Studio as well as all audio and music production for live events onsite at RYSE. This position is responsible for direct supervision of the Studio Technicians; contracting with local musicians, producers, and guest artists; and supporting young people in identity cultivation, creative expression, and skill building in music and audio production. This role requires a strong technical proficiency in industry standard hardware and software, and will be required to both train emerging artists/producers in music production and troubleshoot systems to ensure the studio remains accessible and operational for youth at all times. The Music Production Manager works closely with the Facilities team to ensure all RYSE events are supported with technical and production needs. This role works in collaboration with school and community partners as well as RYSE staff to integrate music and audio production needs through all events at RYSE. The Music Production Manager is supervised by the MAC Director
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
Music Studio
● Manage and maintain a professional and clean environment while supporting the daily operations of music and audio programs, including supporting organizing and upkeep of the music studio, recording booth, and jam room.
● Maintain and update music equipment and audio software. Troubleshoot hardware and software systems as required. ● Support staff in using the Music Studio for programming and RYSE communications.
● Stay informed of future trends in music and audio, while finding ways to incorporate those trends into dynamic RYSE programs.
● Supervise Studio Technician, meeting weekly to review music studio needs, curricula for music programs, Music AMP (Advanced Media Producer) Internship programming, and support of music-based collaborations with partners.
● Support Studio Technician in creating and maintaining standard file management systems and oversee regular backups of produced works in an organized fashion.
Event Production
● Partner with facilities team and other media specialists to ensure A/V technical supports are provided for all RYSE events, and collaborate with partners during partner-based events.
● Manage music and audio logistics during all RYSE events.
● Coordinate with outside A/V vendors as required for larger RYSE events.
Member Engagement & Culture Building
● Support RYSE’s Music AMP (Advanced Media Producer) Interns in partnership with the Studio Technicians and MAC Director, including developing personal and community-based projects, mixing sessions, holding one-on-one artist/career meetings, providing advanced software training, and connecting members to opportunities inside and outside of RYSE.
● Work with members to produce comprehensive youth-driven music projects (i.e. mixtapes & compilation albums).
● Collaborate with all RYSE departments to integrate youth power building, youth justice, health justice, and education & economic justice lenses into RYSE programs through music and audio.
● Speak on behalf of RYSE at community events, conferences, class visits, etc., and support partnerships with local and national music and youth development organizations and alliances.
● Model effective leadership and infuse music and audio programs with a general social and political consciousness.
● Provide direct mentorship and support to all youth involved with MAC programs
Administrative & Documentation Responsibilities
● Manage and maintain the studio calendar and sessions log with Studio Technician for all recording and mixing sessions. Save and archive all member work.
● Maintain accurate records (detailed case management notes, significant activities, informal interactions, group and individual sessions, detailed notes of client interactions) by entering documentation into various electronic systems to satisfy internal and external evaluating requirements.
● Attend bi-weekly and weekly programs, manager, director/manager, and departmental meetings.
General Responsibilities for all RYSE Staff:
● Participate in staff development opportunities, meetings, and retreats;
● Maintain weekly work plan and calendar;
● Submit monthly reports and complete program data entry;
● Support at organizational events;
● Regular check-in meetings with department and direct supervisor;
● Support center-wide culture building and crisis intervention and response efforts.
● Ability to work in a staffing structure that requires fulfilling work directives and direction from peers as well as the direct supervisor
Qualifications include but are not limited to:
● Minimum 4 years experience working in a music studio or similar environment;
● Technical proficiency in industry-standard software including but not limited to ProTools, Ableton Live, Reason, Logic Pro, Fruity Loops, etc;
● Familiarity with industry-standard hardware including various microphones for different recording applications, preamps, headphone amps, DI boxes, compressors/limiters, power amps, etc;
● Willingness to learn and implement Creative Youth Development best practices;
● Experience and/or desire to work with young people from the diverse communities of West Contra Costa (or similar communities);
● Skilled in workshop creation and facilitation a plus;
● Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive information;
● Ability to work and communicate effectively with peers, members, parents/guardians and community partners;
● Strong organization, oral/written, interpersonal, communication skills: ability to manage time, meet deadlines, work well independently and in a team-oriented setting, and set priorities in an adaptive, fast-paced and responsive environment;
● Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and some weekends;
● Basic computer literacy: word-processing, excel, and other work-related applications;
● Commitment to social, racial and economic justice;
● Bilingual – English & Spanish a plus;
● Must be fully vaccinated, booster included (when applicable).
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
This is a full-time position at 40 hours per week and annual salary of $80,000-$85,000 (depending on applicable experience) payable bi-weekly. The position is exempt and does not qualify for overtime.
As a regular employee working at least twenty-five hours per week, RYSE offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes:
● 100% paid Medical (Kaiser- includes Acupuncture & Chiropractic), Dental, and Vision for the employee.
● 100% paid Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage for dependent children.
● Flexible Spending Account (FSA)/Health Care FSA
● 403(b)retirement plan with up to a 3% employer contribution.
● Life Insurance
● Long-term disability
● Paid Parent Engagement Leave (20 hours per child)
● PaidElder Care Leave (20 hours per designated elder)
● Up to 45 days of paid time off (PTO) in your first year, not including 10 days of sick/mental health time off and 5 days of paid COVID sick leave.
● In addition to the above benefits, all staff receive a monthly phone reimbursement of $75.00 (paid biweekly) and receive a paid lunch break
HOW TO APPLY
We will be reviewing resumes on an ongoing basis until the position is filled; however, we would like to have this position start by or before September 1, 2024. Please send a cover letter, resume, and three references, all in PDF format, to [email protected] . Please do not embed your resume and cover letter into the email.
For more information, please visit www.rysecenter.org.
RYSE provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, religion (including dress and grooming), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and/or related medical conditions), disability (including physical, mental, and/or HIV/AIDS status), gender (including identity and expression), genetics, or request for FMLA (if applicable). RYSE complies with applicable state, federal, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. RYSE strongly encourages people of color, women, and LGBTQ applicants to apply. We will consider employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.