Job Openings

Available Positions:

Development Intern – Miami

Mentor (Rolling Application – Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City)

Programs manager – Miami

• Hybrid (Remote & In-Person) – Miami-based
• Full-time (40 hours/week)

About Guitars Over Guns

Guitars Over Guns Organization (GOGO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides music education and mentorship by pairing students from vulnerable communities in Miami, Chicago, and Los Angeles with professional musicians. Our goal? To help them overcome challenges, discover their voice, and unleash their potential as future leaders. Since 2008, we’ve positively impacted over 9,700 students, boosting academic achievement and engagement. 

About the Role

As the Programs Manager at Guitars Over Guns, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of our school programs. Your key responsibilities include cultivating strong relationships with school staff and mentors, overseeing the seamless implementation of our GOGO curriculum, and being a driving force behind programmatic excellence. We are on the lookout for a proactive and organized leader who thrives on taking initiative and supporting their teams. You’ll do this through regular communication of business updates and crucial information to your team, fostering a collaborative and informed environment.

Reporting directly to the Miami Programs Director, the Programs Manager will execute high-level administrative functions, contributing significantly to the growth and execution of our after-school and community-based initiatives. Your intuitive problem-solving skills, coupled with a positive “can-do” attitude, will be instrumental in overcoming any challenges and achieving success. 

The Miami region operates 34 programs County-wide and serves 950 youth. Programs Managers directly manage between 9 and 12 of the 35 program sites, which includes approximately 30 independent contractors and 245 youth, and work in collaboration with the wider organization to make sure every site in the region is set up for student success. We pride ourselves on our office culture that values a sense of humor, collaboration, and curiosity, so come join our small, close-knit team where the “students first” mindset forms the core of our work.

Position Priorities

Site Coordinator (SC) oversight: Each of our program locations is assigned one SC (similar to a Team Leader) who is a member of our Mentorship team that also provides on-the-ground leadership and logistical support. The Programs Manager oversees SC coaching and development for their respective sites.

In-School Coordinator (ISC) oversight: Our ISCs are Miami-Dade County Public School educators and administrators who support the logistics, recruitment, and academic coaching at each of our school-based programs. The Programs Manager oversees ISC coaching and development at their respective sites.

Student experiences and events: Manage logistics for student experiences and field trips with school partners, students, families and mentor teams.

Data management: Maintain data-driven approach to improving program and student outcomes within internal Guitars Over Guns and external donor systems.

• Program observations and coaching: Conduct site visits and observations during after school hours. Leverage data to inform coaching plans for mentors and site teams. Guide each program site to ambitious musical, positive youth development and academic outcomes

• Communicate effectively: Maintain the connection between the leadership team and mentors; establish and maintain a strong organizational culture.

About You

Passionate about education, the arts and community impact.

Able to manage multiple projects and deadlines at once.

Technologically savvy; comfortable learning new software.

Detail-oriented.

Comfortable working independently and taking leadership.

Desired experience

Knowledgeable about systemic barriers facing youth of color and youth from low-income backgrounds.

Prior experience in arts administration or the education field.

Prior experience overseeing team projects or leading teams.

Experience in program management.

Prior musical experience as a performer or with an arts organization.

Prior experience with Salesforce, Asana and Google Workspace desired but not required.

Work Demands

Willingness to work some weekends and evenings as needed based on program schedules, events and partnership opportunities.

Able to travel independently to various programming sites around Miami frequently during work hours.

All Guitars Over Guns employees are required to complete a Level II background check through Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Benefits

Guitars Over Guns offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include: Health insurance at no additional cost; 401(k) with 3% employer match (eligible after 6 months of employment); Paid Time Off (PTO) structure as well as 18 federal & cultural holidays off per year; parental, medical, and bereavement leave; Hybrid in-person and remote workplace.

TO APPLY:  Please send a resume and cover letter to jobs@guitarsoverguns.org with “Programs Manager – Miami” in the subject line.

Development intern – Miami

• Hybrid (Remote & In-Person) – Miami-based
• 5 – 15 hours/week

About Guitars Over Guns

Guitars Over Guns Organization (GOGO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides music education and mentorship by pairing students from vulnerable communities in Miami, Chicago, and Los Angeles with professional musicians. Our goal? To help them overcome challenges, discover their voice, and unleash their potential as future leaders. Since 2008, we’ve positively impacted over 9,700 students, boosting academic achievement and engagement. 

About the Role

The Community Engagement and Advancement department is a driving force behind our impact on the community. Working alongside the Development Specialist and the Director of Community Engagement and Advancement, you will be a pivotal team member who will collaborate with the team to shape and implement strategies to drive us toward our annual goals through grants, events, donations and through relationship building. 

This is an opportunity for a self-starter who thrives on working collaboratively on multiple projects at once. Our work environment is a blend of fast-paced and fun, casual yet professional, and undeniably upbeat. We do serious work, but having a sense of humor and a genuine desire to find joy in what we do lies at the core of our values.

Position Priorities

Collaborative Impact Management:

• Work closely with the Operations department to maintain an organized inventory of donated gear.

• Send personalized updates to music instrument donors so they know how the impact their donation had.

• Craft an at-a-glance chart detailing our program sites and the key supporters behind them, fostering a deeper understanding of our impactful initiatives.

Event Coordination & Logistics:

• Contribute to the preparation of exciting donor events like “Jam Session” and Spring “Family Dinner.”

• Assist in managing inventory for event supplies and ensuring smooth operations during various gatherings.

Support the setup and takedown of events such as Student Music Video in March, Spring Student Showcases, End of the Year Celebration, and Mentor Institute.

Development Support:

Maintain detailed records of in-kind donations, collaborating with the Development Specialist and Director of Community Engagement for accurate documentation.

Work on creating relevant Google forms to streamline data collection processes.

Engage in general volunteer outreach activities, enhancing our organizational visibility.

About You

You’d be described as organized and detail oriented.

Experience in relationship developing and a skill for connecting and engaging with people.

Unwavering integrity and trustworthiness, especially when dealing with confidential and critical contacts.

Passion for an organization that inspires youth and creates change.

Able to work in dynamic environments where you manage a diverse workload.

Solutions-oriented thinker who is not afraid to be hands on and think outside the box to achieve a goal.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Adaptable to new technologies, like a CRM system.

TO APPLY:  Please send a resume and cover letter to brax@guitarsoverguns.org with “Intern, Development – Miami” in the subject line.

Mentor (Rolling Application)

Our mentors come from different walks of life and artistic paths, all connected by their love for the arts and a passion to pay it forward. They are Guitars Over Guns’ heart and soul, implementing and customizing our comprehensive curriculum that uses arts-based mentoring as a powerful intervention tool for young people.

GOGO Mentors are professional musicians and performing artists who bring a high caliber of artistic expertise to the classroom. They are excited about serving their community, passionate about introducing youth to the power of music and the arts, and committed to being a steadfast, guiding presence in the lives of our students. The Mentor role is a year-long position, and mentors will be assigned a school site within our partner school districts. Each school site meets twice per week during after-school hours. Additional hours may include special activities, such as field trips.

We accept mentor applications year-round on a rolling basis in all four of our regions of operation (Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City). Applicants will be notified when they are being considered for an opening.

Job Description

☑ Mentor must have the ability to perform and teach at least one of the following: piano, vocals, drums, guitar, bass, rap, creative writing, spoken word, songwriting, music production, or visual art.

☑ Serve as a role model for students in the musical craft of their choice, which includes learning techniques as well as stage presence and performance.

☑ Implement Guitars Over Guns’ provided Social Emotional Learning (SEL) activities, strategies, techniques, and tools.

☑ Manage a classroom of students with a team to align with programmatic and student goals.

☑ Create lesson plans to guide students and teammates through the day. This can include bringing materials for student learning.

☑ Maintain a program structure that supports student learning and shares power with students.

☑ Communicate with students as an advocate and ally, depending on the specific goals and objectives negotiated with the mentee.

Roles & Responsibilities

Application Instructions

Click on your city of residence below to apply!