Job Posting—Education Coordinator (2025)

Job Title: Education Coordinator

Organization: The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis (www.loft.org)

Status: FT, non-exempt (hourly)

Reports to: Program Manager, Education

About the Loft: Celebrating 50 years since its incorporation, the Loft Literary Center is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit literary centers with classes, workshops, mentorships, events, resources and services that advance the power of writers and readers to craft and share stories, to create and celebrate connections, and to build just, life-sustaining communities. Loft staff members enjoy a flexible workplace, health and other benefits, and the company of dedicated and creative colleagues. The Loft is committed to being an actively antiracist organization and the Education Program Coordinator will play a key role in advancing the cultural competence, equity, and accessibility of Loft classes. 

Compensation: $28.96/hr (annual equivalent based on 32 hour week = $48,195). Benefits include health insurance (Loft pays 80% of gold-rated plan premium), life insurance, two–four weeks paid vacation annually based on tenure, 11 floating holidays, accrued sick/personal leave, and the opportunity to take one free Loft class per year.

Hours

The position is full-time, hourly (non-exempt). A standard week of 32 hours will include some evenings and/or weekends (primarily Saturdays) as scheduled. Flexibility with hours is a key requirement. You are available for a schedule that varies between daytime hours starting as early as 8:00 AM and afternoon/evenings ending as late as 8:30 PM mostly in 8-9 hour shifts, Monday through Saturday.

Position Purpose

This position delivers friendly, helpful, and patient customer service experiences as a first, and often primary, point of contact for Loft constituents including audience members, students, teaching artists, and other stakeholders. The Education Coordinator solves problems for constituents, shows empathy, and is a cheerleader for the Loft and its programs, promoting participation, and helping people register for classes and other Loft offerings. The program associate ensures that the Loft public, staff, and contractors have accurate and timely information about participation and programs, provides administrative support, and prepares/sets up digital and physical spaces to be safe, neat, comfortable, and functional for their respective purposes. 

Primary Areas of Responsibilities and Tasks

In all areas of accountability for this position, responsiveness, empathy, humor, and a strong commitment to customer service will be needed. You will be a good fit for this position if you enjoy program administration, working with a wide variety of learners, and you share our commitment to antiracism. The list below is representative of the essential duties for the job, but it is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of duties required to perform this role. As a member of the Loft staff, you may be asked to provide support for “all hands on deck” activities or events and to perform other duties as necessary to fulfill the Loft’s mission, vision and strategic objectives.

Primary Accountabilities

1)  Serve as a first point of contact for constituents for registration/admission to all Loft onsite education classes and workshops for adult and youth participants. Field constituent inquiries, advise potential students, assist with web-based transactions, resolve or refer complaints and concerns, manage communications regarding class status, and promote cross program and member involvement. Responds to all in-person, online, or telephone inquiries. Promote membership to potential students as part of advising and registration assistance.

2)  Provide administrative support for all Loft education programs, including on- site classes, personalized services, conferences, events, field trips and partnership programs that may happen at Open Book. Administrative support entails, but is not limited to: data-entry, proof-reading, assigning classrooms, monitoring registration/enrollment, student and teaching artist outreach, providing registration lists/rosters to appropriate staff or contractors, ensuring artist contracting and payments are correct, processing refunds, creating and running analytical reports, and assisting in resolving issues related to the above.

3) Provide set-up and logistical support for education programs including creating and placing proper signage, light cleaning, moving furniture, addressing artist and constituent needs, trouble-shooting classroom technology, and assisting with materials/supplies on a daily basis. Serve as a greeter for new sessions and ongoing sessions.

4) Rotate all front desk/reception duties including general in-person, phone, and email inquiries once a week and provide back-up support as needed (during vacations, unexpected personal leave, etc.).

5)  Participate in the Loft Staff, Craft Team, and constituent meetings and represent the concerns or barriers to providing program-related customer service that is both efficient and meets the needs of constituents. Communicate changes to procedures, operations, or information to non-members of the team. This includes developing an understanding of how our systems and processes work together and actively looking for ways to make them work better.
 

6) Take ownership and responsibility for initiatives that support programmatic and mission success as assigned. Examples include the Year Long Writing Project, Loft Access Funds program, the Madeline Island Teaching Artist fellowship, organization and programming of student/teacher readings, and outreach/promotion. These initiatives or special projects can be one-time or ongoing and each has a unique set of responsibilities.

7)  Provide back up support for initiatives that support programmatic and mission success as assigned. Examples include the Year Long Writing Project, Loft Access Funds program, the Madeline Island Teaching Artist fellowship, organization and programming of student/teacher readings, off-site program site visits, and outreach/promotion. These initiatives or special projects can be one-time or ongoing and each has a unique set of responsibilities.

8) Other duties may be assigned as needed. The list above is representative of the essential responsibilities for the job, but it is not an all-inclusive list of duties required in this role.  In addition, there are times when all staff help with projects outside their regular roles, for example at special events they may assist in setting up, serving as stage hosts, front-of-house support (signage creation; manage box office sales; volunteer supervision and management; evaluation distribution and collection; supervise or run refreshments and food, securing and documenting receipts per Loft procedure; direct set up for event exhibitors/vendors; assist with setting up/tearing down the performance hall and literary commons (including receptions) and locking up and securing event spaces; event photography with training provided), and assisting with transporting or seating for people with disabilities, etc.
 

Job Requirements

• Work or volunteer experience in which you divided your attention between multiple people at once, met a variety of needs and provide high-quality customer service (for example, retail sales, restaurant service, office reception, etc.).
• You speak English with standard grammar, are able to communicate clearly, and write in English with standard grammar, spelling, and punctuation. 
• You know how to prioritize tasks. 
• You are prepared to have many people wanting your attention at the same time. You acknowledge people in a friendly way, while letting them know when you are going to be able to get to them. 
• You are a detail-focused proofreader of both writing and numbers, and have a high degree of accuracy with data entry.
• You ask for help when needed and aren’t afraid to say, “I don’t know, but I will find out.” Then follow up.
• You identify tasks that need to be completed and take initiative to point them out, do them or suggest solutions.
• You like to learn and are fast to adapt to new software or systems. Technology doesn’t scare you.
• You enjoy both working in teams and working independently.
• You don’t mind a lot of repetitive tasks.
• You respond to impatience and frustration with empathy, kindness, and helpfulness. You don’t easily get mad or defensive. 
• You are comfortable and patient in providing technical support to assist callers, walk-in constituents, and teaching artists. (Examples include navigating Loft website, registration, logging into online classes, working with classroom sound systems or projectors, etc.)
• You have the physical ability to quickly move furniture, as well as lift up to 25 lbs.
• You are proficient with email, word processing, spreadsheets, and data entry.
   

The ideal candidate will also have: 

• Knowledge of Salesforce or experience working with customer relationship management databases. 
• The knowledge to advise constituents on which classes or events are right for them, spanning creative writing and reading-related topics across all skill levels.
• Enthusiasm for reading and/or writing.
  

Working Conditions: This position spends a great deal of time at a computer and on the phone, but also has daily responsibility for moving classroom and performance hall furniture, with some lifting included. 

The ideal candidate is someone who yearns to settle into an interesting workplace with a constant pace and lots of laughter. We seek an even tempered, detail-oriented person who is equally as happy in interpersonal interaction and spending a day at the computer. 

NOTE: Loft employees are not eligible to apply for Loft awards for writers.

To Apply: Please answer the application questions and submit your resume via Submittable. If you do not have a Submittable account, you will need to create one.

Due to the expected number of applicants, we request that you do not call or email to check on your application status. You will get a confirmation by email to let you know that your application was received as well as word of the Loft’s hiring decision.

Hiring Process: This position is open until filled; applications will be reviewed as they come in, but first preference will be given to applications received by October 17. Interviews will likely begin in late October. 

The Loft is an equal opportunity employer.