Earl R. Merrill: Director, Learning & Leadership Programs, League of American Orchestras

Lead the delivery of flagship professional development programs and learning events (including the League’s Emerging Leaders Program) and of two national regranting programs (including the American Orchestras’ Futures Fund).

In addition, s/he collaborates with Chief Executives from orchestras across the United States, to deliver convenings, conference sessions and other professional development opportunities that inspire, inform, and engage orchestras in topics of vital importance to the field’s future.

Position Summary:

The position is one of two Directors, Learning and Leadership Programs, reporting to the Vice President of Knowledge, Learning and Leadership, and is part of the nine-person Knowledge, Learning and Leadership team. S/he leads the delivery of flagship professional development programs and learning events, including the League’s Emerging Leaders Program and two national regranting programs (the American Orchestras’ Futures Fund and a new regranting program designed to build the capacity of orchestras around their work in diversity, equity and inclusion).

The Director, Learning and Leadership Programs works closely with distinguished faculty and panelists, to ensure that these programs deliver optimal impact to the League’s members and the wider orchestra field. In addition, s/he collaborates with Chief Executives from orchestras across the United States, to deliver convenings, conference sessions and other professional development opportunities that inspire, inform, and engage orchestras in topics of vital importance to the field’s future.

This is a leadership position with national visibility and networking potential, offering the opportunity to build and shape a significant portfolio of programmatic activity in service of the orchestra field.

Primary Responsibilities:

Program development and delivery: Lead the ongoing development, delivery and evaluation of League program areas, in support of the League’s strategic plan and in alignment with organizational attributes including excellence, member-centricity, and diversity, excellence and inclusion, with a focus on the following areas:
Regranting programs: Optimize application processes and materials, applicant and grantee support, adjudication panel management, and impact evaluation, ensuring that member-centricity is upheld and that learning produced by the programs is disseminated within the grantee cohort, the League and the field.
Professional development opportunities: Ensure alignment with field and League needs, clarity of learning objectives, and excellence in content delivery. Identify speakers / faculty, review and revise content / curricula, and evaluate and articulate program impact. Cultivate learning cohorts where appropriate.
Constituency liaison work: Convene member working groups and task forces, including in-person meetings of orchestra Chief Executives at the League’s National Conference and Mid Winter Managers’ Meetings: collaborate with leaders in the field, and ensure co-ordination between constituency liaison work and other programmatic activity.
Program leadership: Seek opportunities to further the League’s strategic plan and embed its organizational attributes in all aspects of program delivery. In particular:
Work collaboratively and proactively with staff in all departments, to ensure connectivity between programs and areas of work.
Identify and implement improvements to existing League programs, in alignment with strategic objectives and organizational attributes, and support the development of new programs and services.
Maintain and apply awareness of trends and key issues in regranting, professional development and association work, as well as in the orchestra field.
Contribute to team and organizational planning.
Lead grant management activities for relevant programs, ensuring that conditions of funding are met and that appropriate impact measures are collected and reported. Contribute to grant proposals and reports, and liaise direct with major funders when required.
Initiate and contribute to the development of program communications plans.
Manage program budgets.
People management: Supervise and coach one direct report (Manager, Programs), ensuring that high standards of member service and grant maker accountability are upheld.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties assigned.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years ‘progressive experience in non-profit program management, and a proven track record in successful program development and delivery. S/he will have proven strengths in problem solving and in strategic and analytical thinking, and his / her capacity for innovation will be coupled with sound judgment and decision-making capabilities. S/he will demonstrate a strong aptitude for cross-organizational working. Candidates should display exemplary project management and people management capabilities, coupled with the ability to balance multiple programmatic and organizational demands: they should have a strong track record of seeing complex projects through to completion. Their work history should demonstrate their initiative and team orientation, as well as their excellent communication and interpersonal skills. A proven ability to build and develop multi-organization partnerships is also advantageous.

Candidates will be equipped with the necessary expertise to act as a specialist advisor to senior managers. They may have a specialist interest in diversity, equity and inclusion, in regranting, and / or in adult learning, and / or in orchestra and arts management. Performing arts / music / orchestra experience is desirable but not a requirement.

Salary: Please contact Karen Yair (kyair@americanorchestras.org) for an informal discussion.

Recruitment Process:

Please email your resume and a cover letter stating salary expectations to kyair@americanorchestras.org. Please also include up to three writing samples. Your application materials must clearly demonstrate how your experience, knowledge and skills qualify you for the position as outlined above.

Recruitment Timetable:

Closing date for applications: October 29th (8am EDT).
First round interviews (by video call or at our NYC offices): October 30th, November 1st and 2nd.
Second round interviews (at our NYC offices): November 7th, 8th, 9th.

Anticipated Start Date: December 1st 2018 (flexible).

Job Location: League offices, Manhattan.