Position summary
The General Director provides the leadership for Austin Lyric Opera and has ultimate responsibility for the artistic and financial success of the company, working with the Artistic Director to ensure high standards of quality while increasing financial support, and returning the company to long-term financial stability.
The General Director is responsible for developing and driving ALO’s vision and strategic plan, managing finances, staff, and operations, supporting the Board of Trustees, developing and maintaining external relationships with donors and with other organizations, and building its profile and its resources to advance its artistic mission.
Relationships
The General Director reports to the Board of Trustees through its President.
The General Director has an important partnership with the Artistic Director, Richard Buckley. Together they ensure the artistic mission while ensuring long-term sustainability of ALO.
Reporting to the General Director are:
- Artistic Director
- Director of Administration & Finance
- Director of Marketing
- Director of Individual Gifts
- Director of Education
- Executive Assistant
The General Director serves as an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees (non-voting), and is responsible for assuring their knowledge and understanding of ALO and for supporting and enhancing their participation in fundraising and in development of a diverse audience. The GD also works closely with the Austin Lyric Opera Guild, a service organization of ALO, and on a collaborative basis with the management of the Long Center for the Performing Arts and of the Center’s two other Founding Resident Companies – the Austin Symphony and Ballet Austin.
Position priorities (to be addressed during the first six months)
- Working with the Board, the special task forces, and the Artistic Director, ensure that every possible step is being taken to ensure financial stability while maintaining artistic excellence.
- Lead the preparation of a long-range plan for the Board’s approval, including a re-examination of the mission, to position the company for sustainable growth in financial and artistic terms.
Primary responsibilities
- Work with the Artistic Director to ensure the company stays true to its artistic mission while ensuring financial stability.
- Develop and implement the annual operating budget and production budgets, ensuring that income (earned and contributed) and expenses are in accordance with the approved budget and that accurate financial reports are regularly provided to the Board.
- Plan and lead ALO’s fundraising efforts to provide for substantial growth in contributed income and in the donor base, ensuring the strong participation of trustees, volunteers, and staff in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Lead the creation and delivery of marketing and audience development strategies to raise awareness of ALO’s programs and performances, working to increase and diversify its audience and stakeholders.
- Work closely with the trustees to support their energy, commitment, and leadership, and to strengthen their board experience; assist them in cultivating and recruiting new members.
- Re-establish and supervise an effective opera education program within ALO itself
- Recruit, train, and retain skilled and experienced staff members who can help ALO achieve its artistic and financial goals.
- Maintain state-of-the-art knowledge of developments in opera/arts management, and participate in appropriate regional, national, and international organizations and activities.
- Serve as a public face and spokesperson for ALO locally and nationally, communicating its vision and securing its reputation among Austin’s performing arts organizations and in the opera world nationally.
- Strengthen ALO’s community presence and seek opportunities for partnership and collaboration with other arts organizations locally and nationally.
Ideal experience
- Education: this job requires organizational, analytical and communications skills normally acquired through the completion of a bachelor’s degree. An advanced degree or professional certification in arts management, business,or other relevant areas would be a valuable addition.
- Experience: at least 10 years of experience in managing comparable staff and budget; experience leading an opera or other performing arts organization would be ideal.
- Strong financial management skills are essential.
- Candidates should have a successful track record in building donor relationships and in soliciting and stewarding significant gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
- Excellent communications skills (oral, written, and presentation) are required.
- Knowledge of opera, its management, and its production would be ideal; a passion for the art form is essential.
- A thorough understanding of the issues and challenges facing opera companies today would be a strong plus.
- Exposure to labor unions and contract negotiations, including experience with successful labor partnerships would be helpful.
Ideal personal profile
- An experienced executive who understands the direct shirt-sleeves involvement necessary to running a performing arts organization with a small staff on a financially sound basis, and who also understands how to work with a strong volunteer Board.
- A strategic thinker who can establish and communicate, in challenging economic circumstances, a vision and plan for artistic excellence for the company and for developing sustainable resources to support it.
- A confident and respected leader who can strengthen the trust of the board, staff, volunteers, and community in the opportunities for ALO’s future.
- A strong communicator who can present a renewed ALO effectively to its audiences, its stakeholders, and the public.
- A service-oriented individual who has ability to work with diverse groups of people to achieve their satisfaction with ALO.
- An individual with strong artistic and philanthropic principles and a demonstrated commitment to the performing arts.
- A leader with the maturity, demeanor, ethics and standards to be an effective and respected representative of the Austin Lyric Opera.
- A good sense of humor, a kind heart, and an even temper would help too!
For more information contact:
Dorothy Drummer
Dorothy Drummer & Associates
Executive Search Consulting
Phone: 512-320-9983
Cell: 512-750-1664
Fax: 512-320-9984
dorothy@dorothydrummer.com
100 Congress Ave., Suite 810
Austin, TX 78701
