Public & Relational Programs Coordinator 

This position will remain open until filled. Applications submitted on or before May 30, 2025 will receive full review. The ideal start date for this position is late June.

COMPENSATION

$60,000 - 75,000 per annum depending on experience, 40 hours per week. Full-time, non-exempt with competitive benefits package. Benefits include health insurance  (vision, dental, FSA), paid time off, and an employer-supported 401(k) retirement plan.

LOCATION

This is a hybrid position, with flexible and event-dependent in-person schedule, located near Taghkanic, NY (not accessible by public transportation). Forge is located on the unceded, traditional and ancestral lands of the Moh-He-Con-Nuck, The Peoples of the Waters that Are Never Still. Today the Moh-He-Con-Nuck reside in Wisconsin and are known as the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans. Further details on working conditions below.

ABOUT FORGE PROJECT

Forge Project is a Native-led non-profit organization whose mandate is to cultivate and advance Indigenous leadership in arts and culture. Located on the ancestral homelands of the Moh-He-Con-Nuck people, Forge is situated on a 60-acre campus in the Mahicannituck (Hudson River) valley. A change-making model for Native cultural self-determination and leadership, Forge fuses traditional and contemporary knowledge and practices to build community, public education, and collective action.

Forge seeks a new team member to join us in shaping a new, decolonial future and who shares our vision of Native self-determination and governance. We are guided by the leadership of the Indigenous Steering Council, the Board of Directors, Executive Director and Chief Curator Candice Hopkins (Citizen of Carcross/Tagish First Nation), and Director of Indigenous Programs and Relationality Sarah Biscarra Dilley (yaktitʸutitʸu yaktiłhini [Northern Chumash]). Deepening our establishment as an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Forge Project is excited to welcome full time program support to our highly collaborative team in Summer 2025, with an ideal start date of June 21.

POSITION SUMMARY

Forge Project is seeking a highly organized communicator with excellent correspondence, organization, event coordination and project management skills. The Public & Relational Programs Coordinator will support public and relational program planning and implementation, as well as day of event organizing, task management, and collaboration alongside the Director of Indigenous Programs and Relationality, Fellowship & Programs Coordinator (through August 2025) as well as colleagues throughout the organization to support various public-facing programs led by a variety of Forge departments. 

This position reports to the Director of Indigenous Programs and Relationality, and works closely with the Fellowship & Programs Coordinator during Summer 2025, whose focus is on the Forge Project Fellowship, related programs, and support for effective Coordinator role transition through the summer season. Forge strives to be a lateral organization and our Programs, Collections, Editorial, Development, and Operations departments work collaboratively. 

The role encompasses logistical, communications, technical, and administrative work, as well as creative thinking around organizational, strategic, and program implementation goals. 

See examples of past programs here. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Programming

• Under oversight of the Director of Indigenous Programs and Relationality, works closely with the Fellowship & Programs Coordinator (through Summer 2025) to draft and send emails and letters to supporters, prospective supporters, and facilitate vendor follow-up.

• Coordinates invitations to Forge, scheduling meetings and itineraries for Program speakers, participants, and co-facilitators, as well as vendor and event coordination

• Tracks and inputs communications data and updates into ticketing databases like Neon and Eventbrite

• Processes honoraria, per diem and travel reimbursements for Program speakers, participants, co-facilitators and vendors. 

• Supports Programs data tracking for periodic and annual reporting to the Indigenous Steering Council, Board and leadership. 

• Participates in Programming meetings and strategy sessions, takes notes and shares out with other departments and in Team meetings, as needed.

• Contributes to the maintenance of the Programming calendar, event ticketing and tracking platforms, and coordinates public-facing materials and event copy with the Editorial Projects Manager for timely promotion.

• Acts as a liaison between Programs and other Departments to solicit materials, input, and scheduling in preparation of event promotion and implementation.

Fellowship

• Under oversight of the Director of Indigenous Programs and Relationality, works closely with the Fellowship & Programs Coordinator (through Summer 2025) to draft and update fellowship materials for the Fellowship from the 2026 application cycle onwards and facilitate vendor follow-up.

• Coordinates invitations to Forge, scheduling meetings and itineraries for 2025 Fellows, beginning September 1, 2025, and preparation for the 2026 Forge Fellowship, including speakers, participants, and co-facilitators for informational webinars and Fellow events, as well as vendor and event coordination

• Tracks and inputs communications data and updates into ticketing databases like Neon and Eventbrite

• Processes honoraria, per diem and travel reimbursements for Fellows, participants, co-facilitators and vendors. 

• Supports Programs data tracking for periodic and annual reporting to the Indigenous Steering Council, Board and leadership. 

• Participates in Fellowship-focused meetings and strategy sessions, takes notes and shares out with other departments and in Team meetings, as needed.

• Contributes to the maintenance of the shared calendar, event ticketing and tracking platforms for webinars with the Fellows, and coordinates public-facing materials and event copy with the Editorial Projects Manager for timely promotion.

Events & In-Person

• With the Director of Indigenous Programs and Relationality, Fellowship & Programs Coordinator (through Summer 2025), and in collaboration with other Departments, assist in coordination, hosting, and co-development of 12-24 public & relational events throughout the year, including logistics, invitation management and tracking, vendor relations, site visits and on-site event coordination and support.

• Provide support onsite and in-person, as-needed, for administrative tasks such as mailings, gifting, and inventory management.

• Attend monthly in-person all-staff workshops.

Operations

• (Finance) Work with the Director of Indigenous Programs and Relationality to track monthly Public & Relational Program expenses. These responsibilities will include detailed clerical tasks such as receipt tracking, invoice submission and processing, expense coding and preliminary budget reviews.

• (Gen Ops) Attend organization-wide meetings and initiatives including weekly team meetings monthly staff workshops (1-3 monthly).

• (Gen Ops) Participate in weekly Team Meetings, Programming Weekly, and Coordinator Office Hours which will include reporting out on projects, and shared note-taking and meeting facilitation, depending on comfort level with these roles.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL BE

A person who has residency, convening or event planning and implementation experience, alignment with Forge’s commitment to hosting and generosity, and a passion for furthering social justice in the context of contemporary art and culture. An ideal candidate is comfortable communicating with intention and care across contexts—including with organizational and community leaders, staff, Fellows, program collaborators and public audiences—and has a keen interest in dynamic relational program development. This role is best suited to someone who enjoys detailed yet autonomous task management and is comfortable working collaboratively to co-facilitate engaging and multi-faceted events. Someone who enjoys working as part of a team, in a responsive and collaborative environment, and is comfortable with both in-person and remote settings. 

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS NEEDED

• Experience with event coordination, in both planning and on-site implementation

• Commitment to hospitality, hosting, and increasing accessibility to a variety of public events

• Demonstrated organizational and administrative skills

• Strong written and verbal communication

• Task management and self-directed in setting priorities 

• Discretion in handling confidential and/or sensitive information

• Project management, including budget maintenance, task mapping, and comfort with self-directed implementation

• Database or Ticketing Platform use and management (Neon, Eventbrite)

• Strong computer skills and facility with Microsoft Office Suite, Google platforms, Zoom; Adobe and Airtable are a plus

• Understanding and/or direct experience with Native American communities is a plus.

• Familiarity with contemporary art, culture and community leadership and/or community engagement

• Candidate must be based in the Mahicannituck (Hudson River) Valley region or be willing to relocate,​​ have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle for regular use. Candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Forge Project is located in a rural area with no public transportation. The offices and shared  spaces are not currently fully ADA accessible, as they include unpaved pathways and stairs.

• Forge will make every effort to provide accommodations as needed.

• Forge’s work space includes sitting desks, a semi-private office, and informal meeting spaces.

• This position requires occasional evening and weekend availability to accommodate the events and programs schedule.

• Forge encourages healthy work-life balance, with set working hours (with the exception of events) and hybrid and flexible in-person and remote office operations.

Forge encourages parents and caretakers to apply for the role, and aspires to be a supportive workspace for candidates with families and community responsibilities.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, submit your cover letter and resume to [email protected]. This position will remain open until filled, applications submitted on or before April will be reviewed. 

Studies show that people from certain underrepresented groups, including women and disabled people, are less likely to apply for jobs if they don't meet all of the criteria. If this is you, we encourage you to apply anyway! 

Forge is developing a model for carefully considered ethics of relation that disrupt the often extractive and transactional status quo. As such, we are committed to expanding the presence of Indigenous, disabled, 2SLGBTQIA+, and BIPOC individuals in nonprofit operations and programming, and we are seeking candidates who are excited about this opportunity for growth within this values framework.

Forge Project is an equal opportunity employer, committed to having an inclusive and transparent environment where every voice is heard and acknowledged. We embrace our differences, and know that our diverse team is a strength that drives our success.

Forge Project is committed to developing a barrier-free recruitment process and work environment. If you require any accommodation, please email Director of Indigenous Programs and Relationality, Sarah Biscarra Dilley at [email protected] and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.