The Oregon Symphony is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as our Vice President or Senior Director of Operations & General Manager. This role sits at the intersection of artistry and execution—ensuring that the Symphony’s artistic vision is translated into seamless, high-functioning, and sustainable operations. As a key member of the senior leadership team, this role aligns musicians, staff, and external partners around shared goals while overseeing orchestra operations, labor relations, and long-term planning.

This role may be filled at either the Senior Director or Vice President level, depending on the scope of leadership experience and strategic impact demonstrated by the selected candidate.

Here’s how you’ll make a difference:

• Partner with the President & CEO and senior leadership to shape and execute organizational strategy, with a focus on operations, orchestra personnel, and long-term sustainability
• Provide strategic guidance on policy, labor, and operational matters across the organization
• Lead long-range and annual planning processes, including development and oversight of the orchestra calendar
• Represent Operations in Board and leadership settings, communicating priorities, risks, and progress.
• Oversee the planning and execution of all orchestra activities, including concerts, rehearsals, tours, recordings, and community programs
• Ensure compliance with safety, accessibility, and contractual requirements across all performance and rehearsal environments
• Support the realization of artistic programming across Classical, Popular, Presentations, Education/Community Engagement, and external partnerships
• Lead execution of electronic media projects (e.g., recordings, broadcasts) in partnership with Artistic leadership
• Oversee musician personnel strategy in partnership with Artistic leadership and the Director of Orchestra Personnel, including auditions, hiring, and contract administration
• Lead labor relations strategy, including negotiation, administration, and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements for musicians and stagehands
• Foster strong, collaborative relationships with musicians, union representatives, and staff
• Resolve complex personnel and labor-related matters in partnership with Orchestra Personnel, Production, and HR
• Lead budgeting and forecasting for orchestra operations and programs
• Ensure alignment between artistic priorities and financial sustainability
• Oversee resource allocation and cross-departmental coordination to support efficient execution
• Lead, develop, and support operations, production, and library staff, fostering a high-performing and collaborative culture
• Support staff development and succession planning
• Build and maintain relationships with venues, contractors, and community partners
• Advance organizational commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility

How to Apply:

If you’re ready to bring your organizational skills and positive attitude to the Oregon Symphony, we would love to hear from you. Please submit a cover letter and resume to careers@orsymphony.org with the job title in the subject line.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred. Minimum of 8 years of related experience in arts management, orchestral operations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with labor relations and union negotiations; strong understanding of collective bargaining agreements.
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong leadership presence, emotional intelligence, and the ability to build trust and motivate diverse teams.
• Proficiency in OPAS and advanced Microsoft Office skills; experience with project management tools is a plus.
• Familiarity with orchestral repertoire and production environments preferred.

About Oregon Symphony

The Oregon Symphony is a vibrant, growing organization, which has achieved record ticket sales and contributions in recent years. At a time when many orchestras are reducing their classical programming, the Oregon Symphony has continued to invest in the art form, expand its season, reach new and bigger audiences, and expand its collaborations in the community. Now in its 127th season, the Symphony continues to champion living composers with a robust commissioning program, celebrate diverse artistic voices across our Classical, Pops, and Specials performances series, and explore the pressing issues of our time through the medium of music. The Symphony unites exceptional musicians, a world-class conducting staff, an unrelenting focus on excellence, a compelling vision, and a strong commitment to the greater good. The result is something special and rare: an energy that can be felt in every note and performances that move its listeners. As one of the region’s cultural jewels, the Symphony is central to the thriving arts community in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Propelled by the desire to bring the power of music to more people in new ways, the Oregon Symphony is always moving musi...c forward. Each year, the multi-Grammy nominated Oregon Symphony performs more than 115 concerts at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland and performs regularly in Salem, Newberg, and other cities in the region. It also produces award-winning educational and community engagement events. The Symphony’s programs directly serve more than 250,000 people annually and reach tens of millions more around the globe through its broadcast and recordings programs. The institution is supported by thousands of individuals, businesses, and foundations and receives funding from the Regional Arts & Cultural Council, the State of Oregon Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.The Oregon Symphony Association employs 76 full-time union musicians who are led by David Danzmayr. The Association’s annual operating budget is approximately $22 million, of which 80% is spent on artistic and engagement programs. It employs a full-time staff of 50, who are responsible for concert production, marketing, public relations, education, community engagement, fundraising, customer service, accounting, and financial reporting. It is governed by a volunteer board of directors, who each year contribute thousands of hours and personally contribute more than $2 million.

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