WE're HIRING A Program Manager
Location: Durham, NC
Salary: $50,000 + Full Benefits
Reports to: Artistic Director
Type: Full-Time, Exempt
TO APPLY:
Send your resume, cover letter, and three references to Hayti's Artistic Director, Monét Marshall at mmarshall@hayti.org by May 8, 2026.
About Hayti
Founded in 1975, the Hayti Heritage Center honors the legacy of Durham’s historic Hayti community—a vibrant center of Black culture, entrepreneurship, and achievement. Today, Hayti is reimagining its role as an immovable cultural anchor, curating bold, community-rooted programming and investing in the next generation of Black creatives, scholars, and innovators.
About the Role
Hayti seeks a strategic and community-minded Program Manager to lead production operations, venue rental coordination, and artistic programming support. This role affirms Hayti’s cultural and arts heritage as a vital component of economic development and community well-being.
The Program Manager works closely with the Artistic Director to advance production needs for each season’s programming and manages on-site venue rentals, ensuring a seamless and professional experience for all clients, artists, and partners. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced cultural environments, enjoys solving logistical puzzles, and brings warmth, precision, and professionalism to every interaction.
Key Responsibilities
Production, Back of House & Event Logistics
Pre-Event
- Collaborate with the Artistic Director to build production timelines for each season event including performances, dialogues, film screenings, art exhibitions, workshops, etc.
- Confirm artist and performer technical riders; translate requirements into actionable equipment and staffing plans
- Coordinate rehearsal schedules, load-in logistics, and sound checks with artists, vendors, and the facilities team
- Conduct a pre-event walkthrough to verify space setup, equipment functionality, and venue readiness
Day-Of
- Serve as the primary point of contact for technical and operational event execution in support of the Artistic Director
- Manage artist check-in processes and support stage management needs during events
- Oversee green room setup and artist hospitality, ensuring a welcoming and well-prepared environment for performers and speakers
- Manage backstage/back-of-house operations for performances and dialogues, ensuring operational excellence and artist care throughout the season
- Monitor event flow and resolve technical or logistical issues in real time, escalating to the AD as needed
- Ensure front-of-house and patron experience aligns with Hayti's standards for a welcoming, professional environment in collaboration with front-of-house staff
- Lead dialogue/Q&A room setup and manage transitions between performances and post-show discussions
Post-Event
- Oversee load out, equipment return, venue reset, and coordination with vendors following each production
- Document any equipment issues, damages, or operational notes for future planning in collaboration with Operations Manager and Technical Staff
- Maintain inventory of production and back-of-house supplies; oversee tech rentals when needed in collaboration with Technical Staff
Venue Rental Management
The Program Manager serves as the primary on-site point of contact for all venue rentals, picking up the client relationship after intake and paperwork have been completed by the Operations Director. Responsibilities include:
- Manage the artist membership program
- Welcome and orient rental clients (artists, organizations, and institutions) upon arrival and serve as their main point of contact throughout the event
- Verify that all spaces, equipment, and furniture specified in the rental contract are properly set up and available prior to client arrival
- Conduct a walk-through with the client at the start of the rental to confirm setup and document the condition of the space
- Coordinate with technical support staff as needed for A/V, lighting, or other equipment requests outlined in the contract
- Monitor the event to ensure compliance with venue policies, occupancy limits, and accessibility requirements
- Address and resolve any issues that arise during the rental, escalating to Artistic Director as appropriate
- Conduct a post-event walkthrough with the client to assess the condition of the space and equipment
- Document any damages, excessive cleaning needs, or policy violations with photographs and written notes
- Ensure all rented rooms are fully reset to standard configuration at the conclusion of each rental (furniture, equipment, and supplies)
- Coordinate with the cleaning crew to ensure post-rental cleanliness meets venue standards
- Determine whether to retain or refund the security deposit based on the post-event walkthrough assessment and documented condition report
- Communicate deposit decisions to the client promptly and professionally, providing written documentation as needed
- Complete and file post-rental reports to track usage, client feedback, and any recurring operational needs
Safety, Compliance, and Cleanliness Oversight
- Conduct pre-event walkthroughs to ensure venue safety and cleanliness (in collaboration with subcontracted cleaning crew)
- Monitor compliance with occupancy and accessibility requirements during events
Cross-Department Collaboration
- Work closely with Hayti staff to integrate rental and programming activities with broader institutional initiatives
- Support organizational learning by sharing insights, lessons learned, and best practices from events and rentals
Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience in event production, stage management, venue operations, or patron services
- Strong organizational and time-management skills; comfortable juggling multiple events
- Clear and friendly communicator, especially in high-pressure moments
- Technically literate: familiarity with basic A/V setups, stage plots, digital enablement platforms, and ticketing systems such as Eventbrite and NeonCRM preferred
- Artistic programming and/or curatorial experience strongly preferred
- Commitment to Black arts and cultural spaces; experience working in community-centered environments is a plus
- Ability to work evenings and weekends, aligned with event scheduling
Compensation & Benefits
Salary: $50,000 annually
- Full benefits package, including health insurance, PTO, and professional development