Job Description
Job DescriptionSalary: $65k - $75k
THE OPPORTUNITY
Reel Works is hiring an Educational Instructor to lead and oversee the educational components of our After School programs, ensuring engaging, inclusive, and transformative learning experiences for students.
Reports To: Director of Programs
Compensation: Full-time 40 hours per week; $65k - $75k + Benefits
Location: This position requires candidates to be based in the New York City Metro area. The physical office is located in Brooklyn, NY.
Schedule: Hybrid, with a minimum of four (4) days per week in office
Application Deadline: September 5, 2025
Estimated Start Date: October 1, 2025
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Reel Works mentors, inspires and empowers underserved NYC youth to share their stories through filmmaking, creating a springboard to successful careers in media and beyond. Using a unique, one-on-one mentoring model, Reel Works builds vital skills of literacy, leadership, and self-confidence to create productive futures for youth. The MediaMKRS program was launched by Reel Works in 2019 to address the crisis of inclusion in the media industry with a goal to diversify the media landscape and create equitable solutions. MediaMKRS educates and empowers individuals from diverse backgrounds to succeed in the media industry through comprehensive training, hands-on work experiences, networking opportunities, and unparalleled access to industry professionals needed for a thriving career. To learn more visit reelworks.org and mediamkrs.org.
THE POSITION
Under the supervision of the Director of Programs, the Educational Instructor supports the mission and vision of Reel Works by combining hands-on teaching with strategic oversight of curriculum, staff, and student development. The role ensures that programs are impactful, inclusive, and aligned with industry standards. As a core leader of Reel Works After School programs, the Educational Instructor delivers dynamic filmmaking instruction while helping to shape the organizations broader educational vision.
In this position, you will balance classroom teaching with curriculum design, staff mentorship, and program management. You will lead filmmaking workshops that inspire and empower students to share their stories, while also guiding part-time instructors, supporting full-time staff, and strengthening systems that promote student engagement, equity, and success. This is a strategic and collaborative role for an educator who thrives at the intersection of creative teaching, curriculum innovation, and leadership.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Filmmaking Instruction (35%)
- Teach documentary and narrative filmmaking workshops for NYC youth
- Lead or co-lead a minimum of three to four courses during the school year and two during the summer session
- Provide instructional leadership and ongoing support to part-time teaching artists, ensuring effective classroom management, curriculum implementation, and high-quality instruction
Curriculum Development (25%)
- Support the creation of engaging, culturally responsive, and innovative curricula aligned with Reel Works mission and and educational objectives
- Create, update, and manage lesson plans, rubrics, resources, and assessments for the workshops you lead that will be further utilized across workshops
- Collaborate with industry professionals and educational partners to ensure curriculum reflects current media industry standards and practices
Participant Support and Development (20%)
- Support student recruitment to ensure diverse, equitable, and inclusive participation
- Collaborate on developing strategies and systems for monitoring student progress and providing personalized support to foster academic, creative, and personal growth
- Collaborate with the Education Coordinator to enhance the overall student experience, addressing student needs proactively
- Foster a supportive, inclusive learning environment that promotes student engagement, satisfaction, retention
Team Leadership & Instructional Support (20%)
- Directly mentor, coach, and support the professional growth of two full-time employees and part-time instructors/teaching artists.
- Conduct regular meetings, performance evaluations, and professional development activities for part-time teaching staff
- Cultivate a collaborative, inclusive, and growth-oriented team culture
QUALIFICATIONS
THE SKILLS & EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE
- Bachelors degree in Education, Media Arts, Film, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
- 5+ years experience in teaching, curriculum design, youth development, or related fields
- Proven track record of successful curriculum development and implementation
- Experience managing and developing educational teams, including supervising full-time and part-time including supervising full-time staff and supporting part-time instructors or teaching artists
- Proficiency in Google Suite [Drive, Calendar, Sheets, Docs, Meet, Mail], Zoom, and Salesforce
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, particularly in working with underserved youth and BIPOC communities
Preferred
- Direct experience in filmmaking, media production, or creative industries
- Familiarity with NYC schools and after-school programming
- Experience in nonprofit or youth development organizations
THE QUALITIES & ALIGNMENT YOU HAVE
- Eligible to work in the U.S.
- Passionate alignment with our mission [Change the Story Tellers, Change the World!] and our core values [Growth, Trust, Empathy, Community, and Self-expression]
- A strong communicator, organizer, and leader who can mentor staff and foster instructional excellence
- Skilled at managing multiple priorities, navigating ambiguity, and delivering results in a dynamic environment
- Committed to creating an inclusive, empowering, and student-centered educational experience for students and staff
Reel Works is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and developing an inclusive staff team. BIPOC, people with intersecting identities - LGBTQIA+, women and non-binary people, people living with disabilities and others with lived experience being part of marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, the application for all positions at Reel Works includes the option to respond to questions regarding gender, ethnicity, disability, and veteran status (learn more here). This information will not be used as selection criteria in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Self-reporting of personal identifiers is voluntary. While we appreciate your cooperation as we aim to ensure we attract a diverse candidate pool, we respect your right to decide whether to share your personally identifiable information. If you'd rather not share this information, feel free to select "Decline to Answer".
Reel Works is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. For information about when and why we collect personal information on candidates, and how we keep it secure see our privacy policy.