Creative Arts Manager

About The Mather

The Mather is a luxury Life Plan Community located in Tysons Corner, Virginia, catering to individuals aged 62 and older. It offers a range of living options including independent living, assisted living, memory support, and skilled nursing, amidst an urban neighborhood close to Metro access and cultural amenities. Established as a non-denominational nonprofit based in Evanston, Illinois, Mather is committed to innovative aging solutions and recognized nationally for workplace excellence and wellness.

Role Overview

The Creative Arts Manager serves a critical role in supporting psychosocial wellness through innovative creative arts and art therapy programs across the entire community continuum. This full-time, on-site position requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and special events to facilitate resident engagement and promote a culture where residents are active creators rather than passive consumers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver diverse creative arts programs that use a person-centered, strengths-focused approach incorporating art, storytelling, music, movement, and intergenerational activities for all community levels.
• Identify and engage teaching artists and independent creative contractors, partnering with Engagement Managers across modalities including music, improv, writing, and dance.
• Maintain safe, clean, and inviting art studios, exhibition spaces, and therapeutic environments, ensuring compliance with Mather’s safety and quality standards.
• Manage art therapy, music therapy, and storylab program operations including clinical documentation, care coordination, program development, and team supervision encompassing residents with physical, cognitive, or psychosocial needs.
• Enhance resident engagement by fostering curiosity, peer inspiration, community dialogue, socioemotional safety, and support family and staff connections.
• Provide clinical supervision for counseling interns and coordinate internship partnerships with graduate programs.
• Implement and co-lead "Creating My Possibilities" (CMP) dementia-friendly programs and workshops for residents, families, and staff across care settings.
• Collaborate with engagement teams to support therapeutic programming and strategic creative initiative development within the Life Center.
• Organize multi-media events and exhibits that nurture resident/community wellness and promote creative encounters within a senior living context.
• Oversee budgeting and supply management for art materials ensuring availability for scheduled activities.
• Develop external partnerships with cultural, educational, and intergenerational organizations to enrich resident engagement opportunities.
• Support resident-led creative initiatives including Art Committee participation and event facilitation.
• Partner with colleagues to sustain the resident volunteer program and family engagement activities.
• Uphold professionalism, confidentiality, compliance with the Mather Code of Conduct and relevant regulations, and actively participate in training on safety and infection control.
• Implement quality assurance and continuous improvement practices within the creative arts programs.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in art therapy, with LPC or LCPC credential and ATR-BC certification preferred.
• Fieldwork experience with older adults in a relevant setting.
• Comprehensive knowledge of diverse art materials and modalities suited for older adults across independent living and care environments.
• Proficiency or comfort with various expressive forms such as visual arts, creative writing, music, movement, and improv.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Basic technology skills or willingness to master tools including Microsoft Outlook, Zoom, YouTube, resident portals, and audiovisual setups.
• Preferred experience includes working with dementia populations, familiarity with Medicare/LTC regulations, care plan and MDS documentation, and involvement in health, wellness, lifelong learning, or cultural programming.

Compensation and Benefits

The estimated salary range for this position is $88,000 to $90,000 per year, with the final offer based on skills, experience, and location considerations. Employees may qualify for a comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, 401(k) with match and employer contributions, subsidized parking, wellness spending accounts, medical, dental, vision insurance, parental leave, adoption assistance, tuition reimbursement, disability and life insurance, wellness programs, and more. Benefit availability depends on employment status and eligibility.

Additional Information

The position requires adherence to all internal policies and external regulations, attendance at required trainings, and participation in various meetings and committees focused on resident care and quality improvement. Mather is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusion and diversity across all employment practices.