Director, Orchestra Operations

NASHVILLE SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION•Nashville, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Orchestra Operations manages the day-to-day operational coordination of the Nashville Symphony orchestra, supporting efficient scheduling, effective communication with musicians and staff, and compliance with applicable labor agreements. The Director works collaboratively with artistic, production, and administrative colleagues to support rehearsals, concerts, recordings, tours, and community performances. The role reports to the Chief Operations Officer and is full-time and exempt. It contributes to long-range planning for orchestra services, schedules, and operational requirements; develops and maintains the orchestra master schedule; and coordinates schedules and logistics for orchestra activities at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and off-site venues. The Director maintains scheduling information in ArtsVision and supports communication with the Orchestra Committee and AFM Local 257. The Director works with the Orchestra Personnel team on musician-related operational matters and collaborates with conducting leadership, programming, production, education, and community engagement teams. The role manages orchestra operations budgets and expenses, coordinates recording and media activities, and administers recording projects, including budgets, repertoire tracking, AFM paperwork, and Electronic Media Guarantee reporting. It also estimates musician labor costs for off-contract services, supports the Schedule Review Committee and annual Ballet Addendum budgeting, applies collective bargaining agreement terms, and provides information for collective bargaining preparations and negotiations. The Director identifies orchestra operations equipment and capital needs and recommends them to the Chief Operations Officer.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Music, Music Business, Business Administration, or a related field.
At least five years of experience in an orchestra or performing arts organization, preferably including orchestra operations, scheduling, or personnel administration.
Extensive knowledge of orchestral music and best practices in orchestra operations and management.
Familiarity with collective bargaining agreements and musician relations, with a collaborative and respectful approach.
Strong scheduling, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to collaborate across departments and communicate clearly with musicians, conductors, staff, and external partners.
Commitment to the organization’s equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging efforts.
Sound independent judgment, discretion, and ability to keep the supervisor informed of significant activities and issues.
Ability to analyze and interpret complex documents, agreements, schedules, and reports.
Ability to prioritize urgent and routine responsibilities while remaining composed and professional.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Arts Administration, Music Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Experience with ArtsVision or comparable scheduling systems.

Responsibilities

Foster a collaborative and supportive working environment among artistic operations staff, musicians, and colleagues.
Contribute to long-range planning for orchestra services, schedules, and operational requirements.
Develop and maintain the orchestra master schedule in collaboration with the Director of Programming, Chief Operations Officer, and relevant staff, balancing artistic priorities, available services, budget considerations, and collective bargaining agreement requirements.
Coordinate and monitor orchestra schedules for rehearsals, concerts, tours, recordings, special events, and community performances.
Coordinate facilities and logistics for orchestra performances outside the Schermerhorn Symphony Center with programming and community engagement colleagues.
Maintain accurate orchestra scheduling and calendar information in ArtsVision, including dates and confirmations for the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and off-site venues.
Support the Chief Operations Officer in communications with the Orchestra Committee and AFM Local 257, as appropriate.
Work with the Orchestra Personnel team on musician-related operational and personnel matters in a musician-centered manner consistent with the collective bargaining agreement.
Coordinate with conducting leadership, artistic programming, production, education, and community engagement teams to support the operational execution of services and events.
Prepare and manage orchestra operations budgets and related expenses with the Chief Operations Officer and Finance team.
Coordinate operational requirements for recording and media activities and maintain working knowledge of applicable agreements, including the Integrated Media Agreement and Sound Recording Labor Agreement.
Coordinate recording-session schedules and logistics with record producers, engineers, and internal teams.
Administer recording projects by maintaining budgets, tracking album repertoire, and completing and submitting related AFM paperwork.
Ensure compliance with Electronic Media Guarantee reporting for related orchestral engagements using organizational and external recording-partner data.
Prepare quotes estimating musician labor costs for internal and external off-contract orchestra services, events, and gigs.
Serve as staff liaison for the Schedule Review Committee.
Compile and maintain the annual Ballet Addendum to the budget with the Chief Operations Officer, estimating musician labor costs payable by the Nashville Ballet for annual orchestra engagements.
Apply and uphold collective bargaining agreement terms in orchestra operations; research precedent and elevate questions of interpretation to the Chief Operations Officer as needed.
Provide operational information and support to the Chief Operations Officer for collective bargaining preparations and negotiations with AFM Local 257.
Coordinate orchestra operations needs for education and community engagement performances with relevant departments.
Identify orchestra operations equipment and capital needs and make recommendations to the Chief Operations Officer.