Executive Director/President and Chief Executive Officer

About the Role

The Greensboro Symphony Orchestra is seeking an energetic, strategic, and relationship-oriented Executive Director/President and Chief Executive Officer to guide the organization into its next phase. This leadership position builds on the orchestra's strong reputation, talented artists, committed supporters, longstanding educational programming, a world-class Music Director, advanced performance and rehearsal facilities, and its significant cultural role in Greensboro. The ideal candidate should bring a forward-thinking mindset, a proven track record of turning vision into actionable outcomes, and experience in expanding audience reach, boosting donor involvement, increasing sponsorship and ticket sales, as well as enhancing community impact.

As the chief executive and strategic leader, this role is accountable for advancing the artistic mission, ensuring financial sustainability, maximizing community engagement, and driving organizational excellence. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors and collaborating closely with the Music Director, the Executive Director/President and CEO leads a complex organization comprising board members, musicians, staff, donors, volunteers, a guild, civic partners, and audiences.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide visionary and strategic leadership to all facets of the symphony orchestra's operations.
• Unite board members, musicians, staff, volunteers, donors, and community stakeholders around a shared vision.
• Manage day-to-day operations effectively.
• Develop and implement growth strategies leveraging organizational strengths.
• Set actionable goals and drive measurable results in artistic, financial, and audience development areas.
• Collaborate with the Board Chair and members to establish and deliver a compelling strategic vision.
• Guide the board on governance best practices, long-term planning, fiduciary duties, and institutional stewardship.
• Support board recruitment, engagement, education, and succession planning.
• Help trustees become effective ambassadors and philanthropic leaders.
• Maintain clear communication with the board about organizational performance and challenges.
• Lead consensus-building discussions on artistic priorities, finances, audience engagement, and community impact.
• Clarify governance and management roles among the board, Executive Director/President and CEO, and Music Director.
• Foster a respectful, collaborative, and productive partnership with the Music Director.
• Balance support for the Music Director's artistic vision with organizational strategy and financial realities.
• Facilitate healthy communication among the Music Director, board, musicians, and staff.
• Oversee daily administrative functions, including IT and financial reporting.
• Manage supervision of office, production, marketing, development, and administrative personnel.
• Promote a professional and accountable workplace culture.
• Lead contract negotiations with musicians, guest artists, and institutional partners.
• Manage contractual relationships with city venues such as the Tanger Center, Cultural Arts Center, and Green Rehearsal Hall.
• Ensure contracts support artistic excellence and operational efficiency.
• Drive recruitment, retention, staff supervision, performance management, evaluation, and professional growth.
• Oversee institutional branding, audience development, public relations, and communications strategy.
• Collaborate on expanding audiences and increasing public visibility across various communication platforms.
• Serve as a compelling public spokesperson for the orchestra.
• Advance a philanthropic culture focused on long-term sustainability.
• Engage actively in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Lead efforts in sponsorships, individual giving, foundation grants, and campaign fundraising.
• Manage budgeting, financial planning, and fiscal oversight in partnership with board and staff.
• Monitor revenues and expenses responsibly to ensure financial health.
• Support artistic planning, educational programs, and community engagement initiatives.
• Represent the orchestra positively in community, civic, business, educational, and arts partnerships.
• Advocate for music, arts education, and cultural investments in the broader community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required; advanced degrees in arts administration, nonprofit management, business, public administration, music, or related fields are preferred.
• Extensive senior leadership experience within nonprofit, arts, cultural, educational, or mission-driven organizations.
• Proven success in fundraising, sponsorship development, and community engagement.
• Strong financial management, budgeting, and operational oversight capabilities.
• Experience in supervising staff and collaborating effectively with boards, donors, artists, volunteers, and leadership teams.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and public speaking skills.
• Leadership style marked by positivity, clarity, and accountability.
• Genuine appreciation for orchestral music and its community value.
• A collaborative approach balancing artistic ambitions with operational and financial needs.
• Demonstrated capacity leading through influence, collaboration, and relationship management across multiple stakeholders.

Preferred Attributes

• Experience specific to symphony orchestras or performing arts organizations.
• History of increasing ticket sales, donor participation, and sponsorship revenue.
• Knowledgeable about nonprofit governance, earned income, contributed revenue, and campaign strategies.
• Strong ambassadorial presence inspiring confidence among stakeholders.
• Commitment to diversity, accessibility, and broad community involvement.

Contact and Application

To apply, submit a Letter of Interest or Cover Letter accompanied by a Resume or CV. All inquiries and applications will be handled confidentially.