Job Description

The position of Senior Art Instructor is a full-time job in the National Gallery of Zimbabwe’s School of Visual Arts in Harare. It requires enthusiasm, experience and a passion for art in Zimbabwe. The Senior Art Instructor is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the National Gallery School of Visual Arts. This includes developing and implementing the Art curriculum, overseeing the instruction of all Art classes, and providing professional development for Art Instructors. The Senior Art Instructor also plays a key role in promoting the Arts throughout the school community.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Art Instructor is responsible for Instructing students in the basic principles of art and art history; developing Art instruction curriculum; developing art mediums such as paint, pencil, charcoal, pastels, and even photography; supervising and assisting Art Instructors and students in grading artwork and encouraging creativity; teaching techniques in a variety of mediums; focusing on didactic instruction, for art history which focus on the history of art through different eras; imparting knowledge of art history and different art genres in order to teach a range of art styles; communicating concrete and abstract concepts to students; spotting and cultivating creativity; work with the Curator of Education to develop and implement the Gallery's educational vision and goals; administration, coordination and record keeping at the school; manage relationships and partnerships that are beneficial to the grant and development of the school.

Qualifications and Experience

The Senior Art Instructor must have: a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, or related field; Experience working in a government setting will be an added advantage; good oral and written communication skills; self- motivation; initiative and ability to work as a team; excellent problem solving; Competent in MS Word, Windows, Power Point, Office Outlook, Design software. A highly target driven self-starter and have proven leadership capacity and experience.

How to Apply

To apply for this position please send your CV and cover letter to [email protected] or The Executive Director; National Gallery of Zimbabwe; 20 Julius Nyerere Way; P O Box CY848 ; Causeway ; Harare; Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Expires on 31 Oct 2023

VacancyHQ Expert Job Listing Tips

Five tips for the success of job application:

Curriculum Vitae Restructuring: Your CV should focus on your experience with developing Art Curriculum and managing Art programs in a school. Highlight any leadership roles you have held related to Art Education and any significant accomplishments in these roles.
Highlight Qualifications: Be sure to highlight your Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts or a related field. If you have experience working in a government setting, ensure this is clear in your CV as it is an additional advantage.
Demonstrate Experience: Provide examples of when you worked in a team, problem-solving and self-motivation (for example projects you've led and completed, challenges you faced and how you overcame them).
Show Proficiency in Required Tools: List your skills with MS Word, Windows, Power Point, Office Outlook, Design software. You can include specific projects where you used these tools.
Leadership Experience: Highlight your proven leadership capacity and experience. This can be conveyed through examples of tasks where you had to supervise and manage people, courses, projects or teams.

Five key areas to take note off in the job listing:

Degree Requirement: A Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts or a related field is necessary.
Role Responsibilities: The extensive list of responsibilities indicates that this role is demanding and not for someone looking for a casual teaching role.
Application Method: Applications are to be sent either via email or postage to the provided contact details in the job listing.
Deadline: Job listing expires on 31st Oct 2023. Ensure you keep track of this date as it signals when applications will no longer be accepted.
Communication Skills: Good oral and written communication skills are a must for this position.

Three ways to stand out from other applicants:

Bring a Unique Perspective: In your cover letter explain how your unique perspective and approach to teaching and developing Art can benefit the school.
Showcase Past Successes: Include a portfolio of your past works or a case study showing your art projects and programs you have developed and managed in previous experiences.
Highlight Soft Skills: High emphasis should be given to soft skills like leadership, communication, problem-solving and self-motivation.

Three crucial aspects novice applicants may miss:

Importance of Passion: A passion for the arts is implicit in this role – an unenthusiastic instructor will negatively affect students and the overall program.
Hands-on Role: This role is hands-on and requires designing, developing, and delivering art instruction, not merely administrative or supervisory work.
Collaboration with the Curator of Education: This shows that the Senior Art Instructor is expected to be part of the institution's strategic educational planning - an aspect that novices might overlook.

In my experience, approaching job listings with a clear view of what you have to offer the hiring institution and how it aligns with their needs is always a wise move. Always remember that ‘success is where preparation and opportunity meet’ – this especially holds true when it comes to the job application process.