Durham Symphony Orchestra
Executive Director
Durham Symphony Orchestra, Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27703
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOB DESCRIPTIONThe Durham Symphony OrchestraThe Durham Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is a leading performing arts organization in Durham and contributes actively to the rich cultural life of the city and the greater Triangle community. Durham is home to Duke University, North Carolina Central University, The American Dance Festival, Durham Performing Arts Center, Kidznotes, El Sistema USA, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice, among many other arts and cultural organizations.The DSO was founded in 1976 by Vincent Simonetti, a tuba player with the NC Symphony, creating the Triangle’s first regional community orchestra. Alan Nielson took the baton a few years later, building the group into a semi-professional orchestra and expanding the season to offer 8-10 concerts per year. Today the orchestra is a professional group of fifty-five musicians. In 2009, William Henry Curry was named Music Director of the Symphony, becoming the first African American music director of a symphony in the South. Resident Conductor of the NCSymphony for 20 years, he has enriched the DSO mission with his exceptional experience in education, outreach, and diverse programming. He is well known and appreciated by audiences throughout the region.The DSO performs affordably priced and free concerts in a wide variety of community spaces, including Durham’s landmark venues The Carolina Theatre and the Hayti Heritage Center. Concert programs range from Baroque to contemporary plus the best of Broadway, Jazz, and Hollywood. The DSO regularly programs works by Americans, composers of color, and women. Educational and mentorship programs are vital to its work. The DSO gave its first Rising Young Vocalists Award in 2019, in 2023 appointed its first Composer in Residence, and held its first Young Composers Competition. The DSO performs often with students including the Nativity School Choir, Kidznotes, The Art of Cool Project, and United Strings of Color. The DSO is committed to demonstrating, especially to young people, that the joy of orchestral music belongs to everyone as a natural part of robust community life. During the pandemic, the DSO released sixty-five video programs, Monday Musicales with the Maestro, through social media and 1,700 email subscribers.The OpportunityThe Durham Symphony is debt free, has an endowment fund and is supported by a hard working 10-member board of directors. It enjoys strong relations with elected city leaders, academic institutions, public schools, funding organizations, and the arts community. Like many organizations it was hard hit by the pandemic and is only now sufficiently resourced to fill the Executive Director position that has been vacant since 2019. In the intervening years, the board has been responsible for all fund raising, marketing, communications, and scheduling while concert operations have been carried out by paid professional personnel and production managers.
The opportunities ahead for the Executive Director include extending and deepening the DSO connection to its community, building strong relationships with current and new community partners, expanding the donor base, resourcing continuing artistic growth, professionalizing the management of the DSO, and supporting the board in transitioning to a governing, rather than managing role.Job DescriptionThe Executive Director of the Durham Symphony Orchestra functions as the chief executive officer. The Executive Director is responsible for the implementation of policies and priorities set by the Board of Directors as well as for the execution of annual goals, objectives, and administrative management. The Executive Director develops and executes development, finance, communications, education, community engagement, concert production, and marketing in furtherance of the DSO mission and overall institutional health. The Executive Director collaborates with the Music Director in fulfilling his/her artistic vision and serves as liaison between the Music Director and the musicians. The executive director is responsible for maintaining a culture of respect, transparency, collaboration, and fairness.• Key Roles and RelationshipsReport directly the DSO Board of Directors through the board PresidentServe as a voting member of the boardSupervise the personnel manager and the operations manager/librarianCollaborate with the treasurer, Music Director, musicians, and BoardCommunicate with the musicians periodically on major institutional and musical matters• Concert ProductionCreate season schedule with MD and PMSecure venues and negotiate venue and related production agreementsNegotiate artist contractsEstablish communication protocols among key constituents• MarketingCreate and implement annual marketing planEnsure all sales activity is captured and reported accurately.Ensure adequate front-of-house staffing and sales technology.Seek and negotiate concert sponsorships• CommunicationsCreate and implement annual communications plan to enhance DSO image, including season and individual concert announcements, media buys, and feature coverageopportunitiesManage the DSO websiteDevelop and oversee production of all print materials including concert programs• FinanceCollaborate with Treasurer in development, implementation, and communication of current and long-term financial plans to ensure fiscal stability and health.Maintain financial controls and integrity and security of all digitalsystems.Maintain transparency with all relevant stakeholdersDevelop budgets and reports for funding proposalsMonitor and provide timely and accurate financial statements to the board• DevelopmentDevelop and implement development plans and strategiesLead research, prospecting, cultivation, stewardship, and reportingDraft all proposals, solicitations, and acknowledgementsMaintain necessary digital infrastructure to ensure clean records, analysis, and reporting.• GovernancePartner closely with the Board President in board developmentSupport board administration, including scheduling meetings, creating agendas, meeting materials, minutes, and communicationsPartner with the board in fundraising and creation of policies, programs, and strategic direction of the organization.• Community Engagement and EducationAdminister current programs and develop new ones to deepen DSO ties to community.Develop and maintain relationships with relevant organizations such as Durham Public Schools, Durham Arts Council, Hayti Heritage Center as well as civic leaders, faith based and social service organizations.
Qualifications and attributesQualified candidates will have minimally a bachelor’s degree and 2 years of related, applicable experience. Not-for-profit experience is preferred especially regarding fund raising and board relations. Skills in marketing, financial management, development, marketing/communications, community engagement, education and project management are essential. Demonstrated written and public speaking skills are required. Qualified candidates will have sufficient knowledge of orchestral music to partner with the Music Director and engage with stakeholders in an informed manner. Computer skills in primary applications in both Windows and GoogleDrive environments are required. Desktop publishing skills are highly desirable.A passion for music and an appreciation of the many ways it can serve a community are expected from qualified candidates. Leadership qualities, i.e., the ability to guide and align constituents toward a compelling vision are essential. These skills include self-awareness, active listening, collaboration, respect for divergent perspectives, creativity, and imagination. Candidates should demonstrate a high value for inclusive practices in all dimensions of DSO activity and prioritize a culture of transparency, collaboration, and respect. Candidates should have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with volunteers and staff and to work flexible and changing schedules, including evenings and weekends.Salary: $30,000; Hours: average 25 hours per week. The DSO does not offer health insurance.Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to office@durhamsymphony.org nolater than September 20, 2024The DSO complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity).
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The opportunities ahead for the Executive Director include extending and deepening the DSO connection to its community, building strong relationships with current and new community partners, expanding the donor base, resourcing continuing artistic growth, professionalizing the management of the DSO, and supporting the board in transitioning to a governing, rather than managing role.Job DescriptionThe Executive Director of the Durham Symphony Orchestra functions as the chief executive officer. The Executive Director is responsible for the implementation of policies and priorities set by the Board of Directors as well as for the execution of annual goals, objectives, and administrative management. The Executive Director develops and executes development, finance, communications, education, community engagement, concert production, and marketing in furtherance of the DSO mission and overall institutional health. The Executive Director collaborates with the Music Director in fulfilling his/her artistic vision and serves as liaison between the Music Director and the musicians. The executive director is responsible for maintaining a culture of respect, transparency, collaboration, and fairness.• Key Roles and RelationshipsReport directly the DSO Board of Directors through the board PresidentServe as a voting member of the boardSupervise the personnel manager and the operations manager/librarianCollaborate with the treasurer, Music Director, musicians, and BoardCommunicate with the musicians periodically on major institutional and musical matters• Concert ProductionCreate season schedule with MD and PMSecure venues and negotiate venue and related production agreementsNegotiate artist contractsEstablish communication protocols among key constituents• MarketingCreate and implement annual marketing planEnsure all sales activity is captured and reported accurately.Ensure adequate front-of-house staffing and sales technology.Seek and negotiate concert sponsorships• CommunicationsCreate and implement annual communications plan to enhance DSO image, including season and individual concert announcements, media buys, and feature coverageopportunitiesManage the DSO websiteDevelop and oversee production of all print materials including concert programs• FinanceCollaborate with Treasurer in development, implementation, and communication of current and long-term financial plans to ensure fiscal stability and health.Maintain financial controls and integrity and security of all digitalsystems.Maintain transparency with all relevant stakeholdersDevelop budgets and reports for funding proposalsMonitor and provide timely and accurate financial statements to the board• DevelopmentDevelop and implement development plans and strategiesLead research, prospecting, cultivation, stewardship, and reportingDraft all proposals, solicitations, and acknowledgementsMaintain necessary digital infrastructure to ensure clean records, analysis, and reporting.• GovernancePartner closely with the Board President in board developmentSupport board administration, including scheduling meetings, creating agendas, meeting materials, minutes, and communicationsPartner with the board in fundraising and creation of policies, programs, and strategic direction of the organization.• Community Engagement and EducationAdminister current programs and develop new ones to deepen DSO ties to community.Develop and maintain relationships with relevant organizations such as Durham Public Schools, Durham Arts Council, Hayti Heritage Center as well as civic leaders, faith based and social service organizations.
Qualifications and attributesQualified candidates will have minimally a bachelor’s degree and 2 years of related, applicable experience. Not-for-profit experience is preferred especially regarding fund raising and board relations. Skills in marketing, financial management, development, marketing/communications, community engagement, education and project management are essential. Demonstrated written and public speaking skills are required. Qualified candidates will have sufficient knowledge of orchestral music to partner with the Music Director and engage with stakeholders in an informed manner. Computer skills in primary applications in both Windows and GoogleDrive environments are required. Desktop publishing skills are highly desirable.A passion for music and an appreciation of the many ways it can serve a community are expected from qualified candidates. Leadership qualities, i.e., the ability to guide and align constituents toward a compelling vision are essential. These skills include self-awareness, active listening, collaboration, respect for divergent perspectives, creativity, and imagination. Candidates should demonstrate a high value for inclusive practices in all dimensions of DSO activity and prioritize a culture of transparency, collaboration, and respect. Candidates should have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with volunteers and staff and to work flexible and changing schedules, including evenings and weekends.Salary: $30,000; Hours: average 25 hours per week. The DSO does not offer health insurance.Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to office@durhamsymphony.org nolater than September 20, 2024The DSO complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity).
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