Director of Artistic Administration
DESCRIPTION
Palm Beach Opera seeks a Director of Artistic Administration to begin full-time work in August/September 2024. This position leads the planning and implementation of the artistic aspects of the company’s mainstage activities. The Director of Artistic Administration is a key member of the senior management team, and works in close collaboration with the Director of Productions & Facilities and the Director of Resident Artist Programs, with the support of the Company Manager. This vacancy is part of a restructuring of the department following the recent promotion of the company’s longtime Director of Artistic Administration to the role of General Director. The ideal candidate will be highly-organized, meticulously detail-oriented, diplomatic, calm under pressure, and a creative problem solver with outstanding communication skills and an unwavering determination to achieving excellence.
Primary Responsibilities
Artistic Planning
Participate in strategic planning discussions of future season repertoire and productions.
Create and manage artistic budgets for mainstage productions in collaboration with Director of Production & Facilities.
Research artists and their availabilities and make recommendations for casting of principal artists and engagement of directors and conductors.
Manage contacting process for principal artists, conductors, and directors, including negotiation with artist managers, and the preparation, issuing, collection, and filing of contracts and related documents.
Engage and contract supernumeraries and dancers in collaboration with Super Captain and/or local partner organizations.
Prepare and file visa petitions for contracted international artists.
Determine editions and cuts for mainstage repertoire with conductors and stage directors, and create and distribute scores.
Develop long-range rehearsal plans for each mainstage production in collaboration with stage directors.
Manage, edit, and/or create all artistic content for the program book and website, including biographies, synopses, personnel listings, and program notes.
Procure supertitles, and ensure clarity and accuracy of translations.
Manage artistic check requests, payroll, and expense reporting.
Negotiate corporate agreements with company hotel and rental car provider.
Oversee implementation by Company Manager of artist logistics, including flights, rental cars, housing, hospitality, complimentary tickets, and cast gifts.
Oversee implementation by Company Manager of daily schedule requests from production staff, music staff, and development and marketing teams.
Chorus Personnel Management
Determine roster needs and music rehearsal schedules for each production in collaboration with Chorus Master.
Organize and manage annual Chorus audition process.
Determine Chorus casting in collaboration with Chorus Master, and manage contracting process including preparing, issuing, collecting, and filing all documentation.
Manage and submit chorus payroll.
Engage and contract Children’s Chorus as needed in collaboration with local partner organization.
Update Chorus Handbook annually in collaboration with Chorus representative.
Orchestra Personnel Management
Manage implementation and adherence to all collective bargaining terms, and negotiate successor agreements with the AFM.
Determine instrumentation needs and music rehearsal schedules for each production in collaboration with conductors.
Contract roster musicians and substitute musicians.
Determine editions with Orchestra Librarian, and communicate cuts.
Communicate all orchestra logistics with the contracted roster.
Engage and oversee Orchestra Stage Manager.
Manage and submit Orchestra payroll.
Organize and manage the process for Orchestra auditions as vacancies occur.
General Responsibilities
Supervise and manage all artistic personnel including conductors, stage directors, principal artists, chorus, supers, dancers, and orchestra.
Regularly attend rehearsals and all performances to ensure artistic quality.
Prepare and present lectures and speeches, backstage tours, and other related audience development activities throughout the season.
Prepare and present reports for the Board of Directors.
Represent Palm Beach Opera at community events.
Administer ArtsVision and enter and update production information. Maintain music library, company database, production files, and archival records.
Travel for auditions, performances, and other company related activities.
Qualifications and Requirements
Must have the ability to work flexible hours, including extended hours, evenings, and weekends. Regular attendance at evening and weekend rehearsals and events is required from November-April.
A background in the opera industry and extensive knowledge of repertoire and vocal technique is required.
Ability to establish priorities and multitask, with strong organizational and creative problem-solving skills, and meticulous attention to detail.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to interact with a wide range of personalities.
Discretion with confidential and sensitive information.
Knowledge of computerized information systems and their application, including Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Office. Familiarity with ArtsVision or similar programs is an advantage.
Access to reliable transportation.
This job description is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. While this listing is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, the company reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed or assigned.
ABOUT THE COMPANY Palm Beach Opera is one of the nation's most highly regarded opera companies, noted for its more than 60-year legacy of excellence in mainstage productions featuring internationally-renowned singers, a robust education program which has a history of deep impact throughout Southeast Florida, and one of the premier resident artist training programs in the industry.
The recently completed 2024 season was a triumph in each area of the company's mission. The three mainstage productions at the 2,220-seat Kravis Center for the Performing Arts were a showcase of superstars, from the sensational US debut of Anastasia Bartoli in Tosca alongside legendary bass-baritone Greer Grimsley, to the return of Kathryn Lewek in the tour-de-force role of the Four Heroines in The Tales of Hoffmann, to Angela Meade's generation-defining interpretation of Norma. The 2025 season builds on these successes with classic productions of Roméo et Juliette, La traviata, and The Marriage of Figaro.
The company's community engagement programs continue to be a vital force for arts education in the region, reaching thousands of children and adults each year, from frequent classroom concerts, to panels with visiting scholars, and many more activities designed to inspire a lifelong love of the performing arts, including an exciting partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs in which the children create and perform their own operas.
PBO has also become one of the leading training centers for emerging artists in the opera industry. Since the company’s first iteration of a formalized resident artist program in 2004, which included then-rising-star Nadine Sierra among its participants, PBO has built an impressive track-record of success in identifying and training the next generation of singers, and this season marked the milestone of PBO's third National Grand Finals Winner of the Metropolitan Opera's Laffont Competition in just the past four years. With the current three-tiered structure, PBO provides opportunities and mentorship for artists at several key stages of their development – from high school voice students preparing for college as part of PBO Studio, to recent conservatory graduates building professional experience in the Apprentice Artist Program, to singers on the verge of launching careers as principal artists through the Young Artist Program.
Palm Beach Opera is located in one of the world’s great resort communities, which boasts an unparalleled quality of life and is known for beautiful weather, pristine beaches, abundant outdoor activities, world-class dining, and a vibrant cultural scene.
BENEFITS
Pay Range: $80,000 - $100,000 Annual
Full medical and dental benefits without employee contribution.
Company 403b contribution equal to 3% of salary, without a match required.
Generous vacation policy.
HOW TO APPLY
Please forward your cover letter and résumé in pdf format to: pboHR@pbopera.org. Please address communications to James Barbato, General Director.