Chief Operating Officer

May Festival, Vocal Arts Ens, Cincinnati Boychoir•Cincinnati, OH

25d

About The Position

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a strategic partner to the Executive Director, translating the vision, priorities, and long-term goals of the May Festival, Vocal Arts Ensemble (VAE), and Cincinnati Boychoir into organizational strategies and execution. The COO leads strategic planning, operations, earned revenue, education, and community engagement, aligning resources, systems, and people to advance each organization’s mission and impact throughout Greater Cincinnati. Working with staff, board members, donors, community partners, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO), the COO leads strategic initiatives, oversees business operations, supports audience and revenue growth, and strengthens organizational systems and processes. The position provides leadership for educational and community programs, evaluates performance using data and impact measurement, supports fundraising and board engagement, and fosters an inclusive, mission-driven culture. The role helps build the infrastructure, partnerships, and operational excellence needed for organizational growth and long-term sustainability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Arts Administration, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, Marketing, Communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
Significant leadership experience in nonprofit, arts, cultural, educational, or mission-driven organizations, including responsibility for strategy, operations, team leadership, and organizational growth.
Experience managing budgets, financial performance, and revenue-generating activities.
Experience working with Boards of Directors and supporting governance activities.
Experience supporting philanthropic initiatives through donor engagement, stewardship, grant support, and relationship-building with funders and community partners.
Experience overseeing marketing, communications, audience development, or brand strategy initiatives.
Commitment to fostering inclusive, collaborative, and mission-driven workplace cultures.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with education, community engagement, or outreach programming.
Knowledge of classical and/or choral music.
Experience with Tessitura, Prospect 2, or Adobe.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Executive Director to develop and execute long-range strategy for the May Festival, VAE, and Cincinnati Boychoir.
Implement strategic priorities by evaluating data, informing organizational decisions, and reporting progress to leadership and the Board of Directors.
Identify staffing needs, define roles, and build infrastructure to support the May Festival’s strategic growth.
Optimize internal processes and procedures, and monitor trends in the performing arts, choral music, and Greater Cincinnati civic landscape.
Lead earned revenue strategy, including ticket sales, festival passes, group sales, program-related income, pricing, and patron services in collaboration with CSO box office and communications teams.
Set and monitor earned revenue goals and budgets, identify audience and revenue growth opportunities, and provide data-driven recommendations for financial sustainability.
Provide strategic oversight to the Marketing Manager and collaborate with CSO Communications and Digital Media teams on content, messaging, marketing, and audience growth.
Steward the brands of the May Festival, VAE, and Cincinnati Boychoir, maintaining distinct and cohesive identities across visual and verbal communications.
Review monthly financial statements, monitor performance, identify variances, and recommend corrective action.
Provide strategic leadership and oversight for education and outreach programs across the three organizations.
Build relationships with schools, community organizations, teaching artists, and civic partners to advance choral arts in Greater Cincinnati.
Oversee evaluation, measurement, and reporting of education and outreach initiatives and use outcomes to inform decisions and demonstrate community impact.
Serve as the primary liaison for the shared services partnership among the May Festival, VAE, Cincinnati Boychoir, and CSO.
Support the Executive Director with board meeting preparation, reports, materials, and follow-up on action items.
Partner with the Executive Director on fundraising and philanthropic engagement, aligning donor communications, impact reporting, program data, and organizational narratives to support grants, donor cultivation, and stewardship.
Support a respectful and inclusive culture for patrons, donors, volunteers, artists, board members, and staff.
Perform other duties as assigned.