RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES | QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE | TO APPLY | ABOUT OP
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – POSITION SUMMARY:
Opera Parallèle is seeking an entrepreneurial, collaborative leader to serve as the Executive Director of Opera Parallèle, a professional, non-profit opera company that develops and performs contemporary operas, engaging audiences in a compelling new culture of dramatic vocal works.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director’s primary responsibility is to work with the Board of Directors in achieving the mission of Opera Parallèle (OP) and to implement and monitor the strategic plan to achieve the organization’s goals and long-term objectives. To this end the Executive Director works in close collaboration with the Artistic Director.
The Executive Director (ED) is responsible for implementing OP’s vision and strategic plan; developing and maintaining, with the development director, external relationships with donors and community organizations. As the chief administrator, s/he is responsible for fiscal management including drafting and monitoring the annual budget, staff management and all day-to-day operations.
OP is located in the city of San Francisco and is a part of the dynamic Civic Center district, home to San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Ballet as well as a host of other world-class performing arts organizations. The Executive Director of Opera Parallèle will be a part of this community and will provide OP’s organization new leadership as it moves to its next level of achievement.
SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITES:
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director’s primary responsibility is to work with the Board in achieving the mission of Opera Parallèle (OP) and to implement and monitor the strategic plan to achieve the organization’s goals and long-term objectives. To this end the Executive Director, as the chief administrative officer of the company, works in close collaboration with the Artistic Director in carrying out OP’s vision and mission.
The Executive Director (ED) is responsible for implementing OP’s vision and strategic plan; developing and maintaining external relationships with donors and community organizations. As the chief administrator, s/he is responsible for fiscal management including drafting and monitoring the annual budget, and or managing and inspiring the staff and all day-to-day operations. As an ex-officio member of the Board, the ED works with the Board in the areas of fund development and long-range planning and public relations.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
• Lead the development and execution of the company’s strategic plan, working closely with the Board President with input from the Board of Directors
• Work collaboratively with the Artistic Director to ensure the company stays true to its artistic vision while ensuring financial stability
• Oversee the Director of Development in the planning and implementation of OP’s fundraising efforts, including the annual gala) and provide support to the Board Development Committee and AD in all external relations.
• Lead the development and implementation of the annual operating budget, ensuring that income and expenses are in accordance with the approved budget and that accurate financial reports are regularly provided to the Board.
• Develop marketing and audience development strategies and tactics to support both earned and contributed revenue and to enhance the reputation of the company.
• Build OP’s relevance to the community through its community and educational programs and by increasing the diversity of the company’s audience and stakeholders.
• Work closely with the Board to support its efforts in the identification and cultivation and effective use of new and existing members.
• Provide leadership in contract negotiations and venue relationships.
• Lead, develop, inspire and retain skilled and experienced staff members who can help the company achieve its artistic and financial goals.
• Maintain current knowledge of developments in opera/arts management, and represent Opera Parallèle with appropriate regional, national, and international organizations and activities.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
The ideal candidate will have the combined education and professional experience to have established a successful track record in senior management with executive-level responsibilities preferably in the performing arts and ideally in opera. A minimum of five years of executive leadership and management experience required.
S/he will exhibit the maturity and leadership to implement the artistic vision of the organization while infusing his/her own insights and contributions in the process. The successful candidate will be an evidence-based decision maker, and be equally comfortable leading groups as working independently. S/he will be able to move from big picture ideas to the details of implementation and back again, adjusting programs and activities as conditions require.
In addition, the top candidate will have a passion for the arts (“we love what we do and we love ensuring that our audiences love it too”), the interest and energy to take the organization to the next level of achievement, and have demonstrated talents for collaborative leadership, organizational and financial management (including budgeting and contract negotiations), fundraising, public relations and community building.
The position requires outstanding interpersonal skills in order to interact effectively with the organization’s many constituencies, including artists, staff, audiences, individual and institutional donors, board members, the media and the community at large. Excellent written and oral communication skills are absolutely required.
A competitive compensation package will be discussed with qualified and seriously interested candidates. Opera Parallèle is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity. To apply please send cover letter and résumé to employment@operaparallele.org.
Electronic submissions are requested. Applications are confidential.
Opera Parallèle is a professional, non-profit company that develops and presents contemporary operas that aspire to high musical and dramatic standards, embracing modern aesthetics, social relevance, and the creative use of technology to engage audiences in a compelling new culture of dramatic vocal works.
In the artistic landscape of the San Francisco Bay Area, Opera Parallèle (OP) has experienced a remarkable growth trajectory over the past six years. Its artistic success has been lauded by the media and the public as the company continues to delight audiences with its innovative productions and musical excellence.
The company’s goal is to give a sense of intimacy to its productions and to encourage an on-going place in the repertoire to earlier contemporary works. Under the artistic leadership of Founder and Artistic Director and Conductor, Nicole Paiement, OP presents a wide range of 20th and 21st century works, commissions re-orchestrations of contemporary grand opera as well as new operas. These productions provide a platform to bring together new audiences and emerging talent through workshops, seminars, readings of new works, and educational outreach programs. Eager to expose the Bay Area’s youth and adults to contemporary opera, OP’s 3-tiered educational outreach program introduces opera, in depth, to a wide range of age groups.
The company has earned significant national and international attention for its high-impact production and performance style. Among its many accolades and awards the company was awarded the First Prize in the Professional Performance category from the National Opera Association’s Opera Production Competition in two successive years, for its Orphée and The Great Gatsby productions.
Opera Parallèle, by its very name, is committed to collaboration with Bay Area artists and institutions. Institutional collaborators have included SFMOMA, the de Young Museum, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the California Academy of Sciences, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the San Francisco Girls Chorus, La Tania Baile Flamenco, the African-American Arts & Culture Complex, the San Francisco Public Library, SFJAZZ, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and ZSpace.
The annual budget is just over $1 million, and the organization is poised for significant growth. To lead the organization in the realization of both near term and long range goals a full time professional Executive Director is now being recruited.