Executive Director - Portland Symphony Orchestra

Company: Management Consultants for the Arts
Location: Portland
Posted on: May 3, 2025

Job Description:

OPPORTUNITYPortland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) invites dynamic and enterprising leaders with a passion for music to apply for the role of Executive Director of this highly respected regional orchestra. The Executive Director will lead the entire PSO team - musicians, staff, and Board - in charting a path for continuing impact and artistic achievement as the orchestra enters its second century as a premier cultural institution within the state of Maine. Through creativity, smart planning, strategic risks, and a spirit of collaboration, the Executive Director's purposeful approach to non-profit cultural stewardship will lead to decisive action on how to expand PSO's reach, influence, and operational resilience. The Executive Director will shape the organization's vision in tandem with the PSO's Music Director, the top curator of PSO's commitment to artistic excellence, and deepen the connective tissue between the orchestra musicians, staff, and Board. The Executive Director will optimize the PSO for success by clearly defining and acting upon goals, taking the time to craft measurable plans, and communicating effectively and often all of the PSO's opportunities and challenges to all its constituents so that its broadening community can participate in a bright and exciting future for this legacy institution.POSITION RESPONSIBILITIESPortland Symphony Orchestra's Executive Director serves as the top leader of a high performing team and reports directly to PSO's Board of Directors. Key priorities for the role are:

• Confident Operational and Financial Oversight: The PSO's financial and operational health will be a primary focus of the Executive Director's core responsibilities. The Executive Director will take a lead role in creation of a budget plan that allows the PSO to deliver fully on its mission in a responsible and financially sustainable manner. Balancing operational stability with artistic ambition, the Executive Director will plan and execute each season's programming, including concerts, educational programs, and special events in close collaboration with the PSO's Music Director.
• Expanding a Culture of Philanthropy: The Executive Director will be called upon to serve as a transformational leader in the area of fund development for the PSO. Undertaking a significant capital campaign will run parallel to an expanding annual campaign. Working closely with PSO's development team, the Executive Director will create new ways for the PSO to engage donors, attract significant individual, corporate, and foundation gifts, and to find new innovative ways for the PSO to secure funding to ensure continuing artistic excellence.
• Visionary Strategy Centered on Decisive Action: The Executive Director will serve as the chief architect of defining an energized vision for the organization that can celebrate its tremendous legacy while finding new pathways for expression, growth, and impact.
• Brand Awareness and Entrepreneurial Leadership: The Executive Director will bring new entrepreneurial energy to the PSO's business tactics and develop innovation in the areas of marketing, brand awareness, and expanding an audience base.
• Inclusive Ambassadorship to the Community: In taking on the role as the Executive Director of the PSO, the new leader will center their commitment to the Portland and greater Maine community by forming authentic and meaningful relationships with patrons, supporters, community allies, and influencers within civic, governmental, and business circles.QUALIFICATIONSWhile no one individual will likely possess all of these qualifications, Portland Symphony Orchestra is interested in these skills and abilities in qualified candidates:
• A strong passion for and connection to orchestral music combined with an ability to excite people about that artistic discipline.
• Ambition grounded in demonstrated past experiences in leadership and contributing to organizational success.
• A respectful and professional approach to forging dynamic and meaningful relationships.
• Excellent communication skills and a love of written and verbal storytelling about the mission of an organization.
• Demonstrated skill and proven success in taking a significant role in fundraising efforts of an organization of this size.
• Visionary, strategic leadership.
• Experience building strong bonds with musicians, staff, and Board.
• Financial acumen and a talent for planning for various scenarios and outcomes.
• A self-starter attitude, the ability to work without a predetermined road map combined with the talent for building a road map to the future that can be executed successfully.
• Talent for mentorship and guiding a team to perform beyond expectations.
• A deep love of the Northeast and eagerness to root in and contribute to the betterment of the Portland, ME community.COMPENSATION AND START DATEThe annual salary range for the Executive Director role of Portland Symphony Orchestra begins at $140,000 and includes a full benefit package commensurate with other organizations of its size. The PSO intends to make a hiring decision by late summer or early fall of 2025, with the selected candidate transitioning into the position shortly after that time.Portland Symphony Orchestra is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
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