Opera San Jose

Opera San José (OSJ) invites applications and recommendations for the position of General Director.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the General Director provides for the overall leadership of this $5 million company, with ultimate responsibility for all creative and operational aspects of administration and production. The General Director is the primary leader in artistic planning, fund-raising, building relationships with individuals and organizations in the community, and fulfilling the mission of the company.

The General Director is the Chief Executive Officer of Opera San José, reporting to the Board of Directors, responsible for artistic direction and overall organizational management. Specific responsibilities include the oversight of fund-raising, strategic planning, opera production, digital initiatives, fiscal stewardship, diversity/equity/inclusion commitments and community relations.

The General Director partners with Music Director and Principal Conductor Joseph Marcheso and with highly dedicated and motivated artistic and management teams. Maestro Marcheso’s musical leadership has been an essential element in elevating OSJ to a nationally recognized company.

We seek a dynamic, charismatic leader who will build on the company’s solid foundation and reputation while attracting ever greater public support. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to emerging artists, excellent artistic standards, and digital creation. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of effective leadership, fiscal responsibility, and fund-raising, with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and community/educational partnerships.

The General Director is expected to maintain a profile as a leader of the opera industry and should foster a strong presence in San José. The position requires the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with artists, board members, community leaders, administrative and artistic staff, foundations, artists’ managers, corporate and individual donors, the operatic community, the media, and the audience. A strong contact network throughout the opera industry is vital.

Education and Experience:

Training in opera and business management would be helpful, as well as prior experience in opera company leadership, knowledge of the repertoire, and general knowledge of not-for-profit arts revenue generation (subscription and single ticket sales, all aspects of fund-raising), strategic and operating planning, budget development, office administration, board relations and governance, information systems, and human resource management.

The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills, inspire enthusiasm, and be comfortable in the role as key spokesperson for the company.

Application Process:

Interested candidates are invited to submit a letter of interest, resume and references, in confidence to:

Margaret Genovese

Senior Partner

Genovese Vanderhoof & Associates

gvamargaret@aol.com

416/340-2762

For additional information: www.osj.org; www.genovesevanderhoof.com.

Deadline for Applications: Friday, September 10, 2021