Job Title: Programs and Community Initiatives Coordinator

Reports to: Programs and Community Initiatives Manager

Department: Programs and Community Initiatives

Location: 421 Arts Campus, Abu Dhabi

Job Type: Full-time (with after-hours work as needed for programs)

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Position Summary

421 is seeking a creative, highly organized, and community-minded Programs Coordinator to lead and support the development and delivery of our public programs. This role is central to how 421 engages with its audiences and creative communities, supporting a vibrant calendar of events that include seasonal programs, film screenings, large-scale events, exhibition openings, and other public-facing initiatives. 

The Programs Coordinator will take ownership of:

• Seasonal public programs inspired by 421’s exhibitions
• Cornerstone and year-round programs co-developed with our community of artists and partners

This role requires someone who is both creative and detail-oriented, with a strong sense of initiative and excellent timeline management. They will work closely with Communications and Operations teams, as well as a range of external partners, collaborators, and vendors. Occasional evening and weekend work is required, and the candidate must be present at most—but not all—public programs.

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Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of seasonal public programs responding to current exhibitions and curatorial themes
• Coordinate cornerstone public programs in collaboration with the community and 421’s cultural partners
• Manage and maintain timelines and critical paths for all public programs, ensuring on-time delivery
• Ensure that communications materials and deadlines are met, coordinating with the Comms team to align on key dates and content requirements
• Oversee the full administrative cycle of public programs, including:     
  • Drafting and managing contracts and schedules
  • Submitting and overseeing DCT event license applications
  • Briefing internal teams (comms, ops, etc.)
  • Leading pre-program briefings and post-event debriefs
  • Collecting and analyzing feedback for reporting and evaluation

   

• Oversee external vendors and program partners, such as:     
  • Translators/interpreters
  • Ushers and event staff
  • Catering and hospitality teams
  • Other contracted collaborators

   

• Ensure smooth execution of most public programs, supporting on-site logistics and troubleshooting
• Lead exhibition tours
• Actively propose improvements to programming, workflow, and community engagement strategies
• Support 421’s design-related Initiatives, such as Dukkan421.

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Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (arts, culture, humanities, or related disciplines)
• 3-4 years of experience in cultural programming, events, or community engagement
• Excellent organizational and timeline management skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Comfortable coordinating multiple teams and stakeholders under tight deadlines
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends
• Creative thinker with a strong interest in contemporary art and cultural work
• Fluency in both Arabic and English, written and spoken. 

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Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in the cultural sector in the UAE or region
• Familiarity with event production and vendor coordination
• Involvement in the local creative scene is a strong plus