Program Coordinator - Greater South Side
Job Title: Program Coordinator, Greater South Side
Location: Greater South Side (5410 S State St, Chicago, 60609)
Reports to: Program Manager
Start Date: August 17, 2026
Organizational Overview
The People's Music School is Chicago’s oldest and largest completely free nonprofit music school, providing transformational music instruction to over 800 K-12 students in Chicago. The school has a straightforward mission: to provide access to the transformational benefits of high-quality music instruction to youth who otherwise would not be able to afford it. We focus our work in communities that have been systematically excluded and marginalized from receiving a high quality music education.
Through intensive instruction and performance, The People's Music School's students grow not only musically, but also socially, emotionally, and academically, developing a foundation of responsibility, self-esteem, resilience, and purpose. From putting an instrument in an aspiring young musician's hand for the first time, to teaching students how to read and write music and perform in an ensemble, The People's Music School provides opportunity and instruction at sites located in four Chicago communities: Uptown, Albany Park, Back of the Yards, and the Greater South Side. Students receive an average of four hours of instruction per week, at absolutely no cost, delivered by world-class teaching artists.
Job Summary
Through their work the Program Coordinator supports the smooth operation of all program activities. They are a critical connector of students, families, faculty, and staff and support the Program Manager in their work to ensure their site attains organizational goals.
Responsibilities
- Provide administrative support to the Program Manager
- Provide support and information to parents, faculty, staff, and/or students via phone, text message, email, and in person
- Assist with day-to-day operations at the program site and activities related to smooth operation of the program, including set-up /take-down and other program related activities (e.g. snack time, class transitions, and dismissal)
- Assist with maintaining student databases including attendance, student outcomes, fundraising, service hours, and technology inventory
- Assist with maintaining instrument inventory, including storage and repairs, including making sure students understand the care, use and storage to maintain instrument quality
- Assist with managing service hour opportunities, duties, scheduling, and hours
- Assist with collecting materials requested by Learning & Teaching team for Student and Faculty evaluation
- Assist with ordering program related supplies and equipment
- Assist with special on/off-site events including concerts, family orientations, fundraisers, master classes, and field trips
- Actively participate in staff/faculty meetings and professional development
- Other duties as may be assigned from time to time
Qualifications
- High School diploma required, Bachelor’s degree in music education, performance, or arts administration preferred
- Understanding of a busy school environment
- Highly organized and self-motivated
- Bilingual Spanish a plus
- Proficiency in Google Workspace
- Collaborative team member
- Extremely reliable with consistent attendance and maintain a high level of professionalism
- Must pass Chicago Public Schools background check
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Proven experience collaborating and working with people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds
- Personal commitment to the mission and values of The People’s Music School
Physical Demands
- Local travel required
- Tolerance of prolonged and continuous stationary periods at a desk/computer
- Occasionally required to push, pull, lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
Schedule
- Part-time position, in person, 20 hours per week, during Programming Weeks
- Our Program follows closely to the Chicago Public Schools calendar with the same breaks
- Must be available in person when program is running (Monday-Thursday 2:00-7:00 pm) with some evenings and weekends required for events
Compensation and Benefits
- $22 per hour
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Sick Leave
- 403(b) Retirement Plan with Employer Match
Are you intrigued by this job but don’t meet every single requirement? Please apply anyway! Research shows that women, people of color, and people from marginalized groups are less likely to apply for jobs when that’s the case. The People’s Music School is committed to an inclusive and authentic workplace, supporting colleagues with a variety of backgrounds and experiences.
Technology in Hiring: Every application and hiring decision is reviewed and made entirely by human hands and minds.
For more information about The People’s Music School, please visit: www.peoplesmusicschool.org.
The People’s Music School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religious belief, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, physical or mental disability or any other protected status in admission or access to, or employment in its programs and activities.