Access/VSA Assistant Project Manager

About The Kennedy Center

“I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.” – President John F. Kennedy

The Kennedy Center is the nation’s cultural center and living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Located on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., the Center presents performances across all genres, and is also home to artistic affiliates Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra. 

At the Kennedy Center, we strive to foster belonging and empowerment at work. We are able to advance our mission because of our committed and passionate employees. We are fortunate to be able to leverage their diverse perspectives, life experiences and skills to inform how our workplace can be a safe, transparent, and replenishing community. The Kennedy Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law. 

Mission Statement: As the nation's performing arts center, and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across America and around the world, reaching and connecting with artists, inspiring and educating communities. We welcome all to create, experience, learn about, and engage with the arts. 

Why Join Us

We offer a total rewards package to all full-time employees to include: 

• Staff offers for discount tickets
• Retirement plan with organization matching (after 1 year of employment)
• Qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Commuter programs including pre-tax options for discounted parking and SmartBenefits (WMATA)
• Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Personal Days available immediately upon hire
• 11 paid holidays per year 
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits with FSA and HSA options, and paid FMLA
• We like to have fun! Check out the Kennedy Center National Dance Day 2024 staff video!

Pay Details

This is a grant-funded position with a set salary of $65,000.

Job Description

This is a full-time, in-person position that is term limited from June 1, 2025 thru February 29, 2028.

At the Office of Accessibility and VSA, we provide opportunities for people with disabilities of all ages in every community to engage with the arts. Our team is a passionate, collaborative group of arts management professionals focused on advancing accessibility in cultural spaces through the lens of both cultural and disability rights. We take pride in working across the Kennedy Center to foster accessibility, explore and effectively deploy assistive technology, build strong partnerships with the disability community, connect with arts and cultural organizations, engage with our current and future audiences, and create meaningful pathways to arts participation.

The Office of Accessibility and VSA Office (Access/VSA) at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (KC) is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented Assistant Project Manager (APM) to support a research-based initiative evaluating Assistive Listening Systems (ALS) in museum and performing arts environments. This project will assess the effectiveness, installation, and user experience of existing and emerging ALS technologies—including Bluetooth Auracast™, Wi-Fi, IR, RF, and IL systems—and produce data-driven recommendations and resources to improve accessibility for people with hearing loss.

This project is being conducted jointly with the Smithsonian Institution under a subaward from the Gallaudet University Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) program. The APM will work closely with these partners as well as collaborators and stakeholders including the Hearing Loss Association of America, Auracast Special Interest Group, commercial manufactures and vendors of assistive listening technology, and the user experts and audience members and guests with disabilities attending performances, public programs, events and exhibits.  The APM will also work closely with internal Kennedy Center staff and departments including Production, Usher Services, Theater Management, and Operations.

Reasons you might want this job: You thrive in a customer-facing environment and are passionate about ensuring that individuals with disabilities of all ages have access to cultural experiences. You enjoy mission-driven work, coordinating multi-part projects and collaborating with others to ensure successful project outcomes.

Key Responsibilities 

Assist the Manager of Accessibility to oversee, develop, design, evaluate and execute all aspects of the ALD-RERC program including: 

• administrative tasks associated with the Gallaudet University subaward;
• implementation of research protocols, documentation, surveys, data collection, and writing/preparation of reports; accurate and timely accounting with budgets, and recognizing revenue and expenses;
• application of government requirements for subaward;
• support the collaboration between the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institution, Gallaudet University, and all other internal and external stakeholders and participants; and
• Ensure that accessibility and inclusion principles are upheld throughout all project activities.

The Assistant Project Manager will also assist with access and accommodation services, and as needed general operations of the Center’s Accessibility Program. 

Project Management & Logistics 

• Assist and support general day-to-day operations of the five-phase ALD-RERC research project, ensuring tasks stay on track and within timeline.
• Assist in scheduling and coordinating meetings, workshops, user-testing events, and site visits.
• Track progress on project milestones and deliverables and report regularly to the Manager.
• Work with in-house teams from Production, Usher Services, and Theater Management to see that ALS equipment is properly installed, operating and maintained
• Negotiate with ALS vendors and ALS equipment providers as needed.
• Assist the Manager to monitor program budgets; solicit vendor bids, do cost comparisons and coordinate contracts; assist with training, scheduling and supervision of the volunteers and ushers, oversee reporting, data management and record keeping in an orderly manner: monitor implementation; work on cross-functional teams; and ensure that projects are executed to the highest standard of quality and professionalism.

Research Support 

• Assist with review and documentation of ALS system specifications, use history, and feedback.
• Coordinate data collection activities, including surveys, advisory group meetings, user interviews, and sound tests in various venue settings.
• Support qualitative and quantitative data analysis in partnership with an external researcher.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of evaluation criteria and user experience metrics.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop outreach to the cultural and disability communities, stakeholders, vendors, technical consultants, ALS user groups, and accessibility experts. Ensure effective, accurate, and timely communications with the above and within the institution and with independent contractors. Maintain positive and productive relationships with colleagues across the Center and stakeholders engaged in the project. 
• Support the recruitment and coordination of diverse ALS user-expert panels and participants from the hearing loss community.
• Facilitate collaboration with external partners including Gallaudet University, the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), vendors, and standards bodies.
• Be onsite before, during and after performances (daytime, evening and weekends) to coordinate survey-taking, random audience/guest sampling, ticket procurement, ALS equipment distribution, and problem solving. Interact with and support audience and guest participation.
• Ensure access services and accommodations are available as needed.

Documentation & Reporting 

• Draft meeting summaries, interim reports, technical documentation, and evaluation instruments.
• Assist in the preparation of final publications, including technical and layperson guides and case studies.
• Contribute to social media updates, conference materials, and dissemination of project outcomes.

Accessibility Administration, Services and Accommodations 

• Assist with coordinating, planning, preparation, and implementation, of the Accessibility Program’s technical assistance, training and professional development initiatives; accessibility accommodations, services and programs for patrons and visitors with disabilities; and the implementation of new initiatives assigned by and at the discretion of the Manager, Accessibility or the Director, Access/VSA.

Responsibilities and the intensity of the workload will vary depending on the cyclical and seasonal nature of the programs, grant, subaward and contract cycles.

Additional duties include but are not limited to: 

• All members of the Office of Access/VSA are cross-trained and will be assigned, as needed, to support in the provision of accessibility services/accommodations and other programs, activities, meetings and conferences of the Office.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

• Experience (5+ years) in Project Management, Stage Management or Production Management as well as professional experience or academic degrees and credentialling in at least two of the following fields:
  • Theater or Museum administration (including front of house and  guest services)
  • Theater Production/Technical Theater
  • Accessibility Services and Accommodations, assistive listening technology
  • Audiology, Deafness and Hearing Loss, or related field.
• 2+ years of experience in multi-faceted project coordination preferably in a theater, museum or theater tech setting.
• Knowledge of ALS technologies such as IR, RF, IL, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth-based systems (e.g., Auracast™).
• Experience working with or within the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
• Familiarity with human-centered design or user experience research methods.
• Familiarity with assistive technologies and accessibility standards, especially the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
• Comfort with data collection tools, survey platforms, and basic data analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams, including individuals with disabilities.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel.  Computer proficiency in Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office software. Experience creating accessible electronic documents is a plus.
• Candidate must be local or willing to relocate to the DMV area. Relocation assistance is not provided. 
• Candidate must be willing to work onsite.

Additional Information

• Frequent attendance at performances, exhibitions, receptions, parties, activities and events, in public spaces and theaters and where there are crowds of people. Assignments include getting around the building; frequent interaction with the public and staff of all ages in person, by phone and email; responding quickly and assisting in situations that are time-sensitive; regular interaction and ability to communicate with people with and without disabilities.
• The noise level in the office environment is moderate.  It is an open office with cubicles in which conversation, the copier, and Braille embossing machine can be heard easily.
• Must be able to be out in public spaces crowded with people. The noise level in public space is loud.
• Work will be conducted on-site in loud, busy public spaces at the Kennedy Center and at Smithsonian locations in Washington, DC.  Travel to, from and between sites will be required.
• Evening and weekend work will be required for activities, programs, shows, and events that are scheduled in advance and added last-minute in response to access accommodation requests and the need to administer surveys or collect data for the ALD RERC.
• Travel up to 10% may be required.