***Please submit a cover letter for consideration***
About The National Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1931, the Orchestra has always been committed to artistic excellence and music education. In 1986, the National Symphony became an artistic affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where it has performed a full season of subscription concerts since the Center opened in 1971. Located on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., the Kennedy Center is the nation’s cultural center and living memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
At the Kennedy Center, we strive to foster belonging and empowerment at work. We are able to advance our mission because of our committed and passionate employees. We are fortunate to be able to leverage their diverse perspectives, life experiences and skills to inform how our workplace can be a safe, transparent, and replenishing community. The Kennedy Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law.
Mission Statement: As the nation's performing arts center, and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across America and around the world, reaching and connecting with artists, inspiring and educating communities. We welcome all to create, experience, learn about, and engage with the arts.
Why Join Us
We offer a comprehensive range of benefits to all full-time employees including:
- Staff offers for discount tickets
- Retirement plan with organization matching (after 1 year of employment)
- Qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
- Commuter programs including pre-tax options for discounted parking and SmartBenefits (WMATA)
- Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Personal Days available immediately upon hire
- 11 paid holidays per year
- Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits with FSA and HSA options, and paid FMLA
- Flexible work arrangements
- We like to have fun! Check out the Kennedy Center National Dance Day 2024 staff video!
Job Description
The Director of Orchestra Personnel (DOP) is a full-time, non-playing member of the management team. The DOP is the primary staff liaison between the musicians and the administration. The DOP is responsible for enforcing management policies, ensuring that musicians comply with their professional obligations under the master agreement, and ensuring that conductors comply with rehearsal and concert rules in the master agreement. The DOP is responsible for ensuring that all orchestra services are properly staffed with all the necessary musicians, balanced against musicians’ leave obligations and budget constraints. The DOP oversees all auditions and musician hiring and is closely involved in any disciplinary action involving a musician. The DOP attends all orchestra committee meetings, senior staff meetings, and production meetings.
The DOP works closely with other production staff to ensure that the musicians’ needs are met during orchestra services, with the shared goal of providing an environment for the best possible music making. The DOP apprises staff of any major concerns expressed by musicians and advises staff regarding compliance with the master agreement and NSO policies. The DOP supervises the Orchestra Personnel Manager.
Key Responsibilities
- Manages all leave requests and obligations, including sick leave, personal days, emergency leave, unpaid leave, and required relief weeks.
- Plans and manages all permanent and substitute auditions. Determines extra and substitute needs for all programs and hires extra and substitute musicians as needed.
- Creates and monitors personnel department budget. Prepares weekly orchestra payroll adjustments, including media payments.
- Covers all rehearsals and concerts (in coordination with Assistant Orchestra Personnel Manager). This includes taking attendance, making announcements, informing conductor of work rules and any critical personnel issues, starting service at proper time, calling intermission, cutting off service if necessary, and solving any immediate personnel problems. Covers personnel duty on all tours and runouts.
- Communicates NSO policy to musicians and enforces NSO policies.
- Other duties as assigned.
Key Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required. Music or Arts Management degree helpful, but not necessary.
- Minimum 2 years of experience as an orchestra personnel manager in a major orchestra; or 4 years as personnel manager of a smaller orchestra; or four years as assistant personnel manager of a major orchestra; or five years of closely related orchestra experience (such as in orchestra concert production).
- Thorough knowledge of classical orchestral repertoire and experience working with professional musicians.
- Thorough understanding of master agreements between orchestra unions and managements.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to listen and respond quickly to musicians’ concerns, ability to enforce policies fairly.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Good judgment, grace under pressure, and professional demeanor.
- Candidate must be local or willing to relocate to the DMV area.
Additional Information
- Works occasionally in outdoor environments (Wolf Trap, Carter Barron, Capitol).
- Routinely walks stairs during orchestra services and auditions.
- Works many evenings and weekends in coordination with Assistant OPM.
- Must travel with orchestra on all runouts, foreign and domestic tours.