Genre Manager, Awards

The GRAMMY Museum•Santa Monica, CA

5h•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a hybrid position requiring an average of one day a week in the Santa Monica, CA office. WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR Celebrating music through the GRAMMY® Awards, the Recording Academy continues its legacy as the premier membership organization for honoring achievements in the recording arts and supporting and advocating for the music community. Through our affiliate organizations (Latin Recording Academy, Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, MusiCares, GRAMMY Museum), we offer services focusing on music education, health & human services, and financial support. The Awards Department is seeking a seasoned and dynamic Genre Manager to oversee and advocate for one or more musical genres within the GRAMMY Awards process. You will be responsible for managing the full lifecycle of genre-specific Awards activity, conducting year-round education and outreach, building and maintaining strong relationships across the global music industry, and championing for the rights and recognition of music creators. You are a well-connected, knowledgeable, and culturally fluent professional with a passion for music. You have a deep understanding of the music ecosystem and trusted relationships to work closely with a diverse/global group of creators in the music community.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in music, media, or data management.
7+ years’ experience in the music industry, ideally in roles related to a combination of the following: strong contextual knowledge of music and the recording process, artist relations, A&R, relationships with artists/songwriters/producers, and a strong background in specific music genres.
Deep knowledge of one or more of the following music genres: Global Music, Gospel, Contemporary Christian Music, Children’s Music, Comedy, Audio Book, New Age, Ambient or Chant, and Contemporary Instrumental Music. Demonstrated familiarity with its history, key players, current trends, and global impact.
Strong relationships within the music community with proven engagement and a trust-building track record.
Experience with project management, committee facilitation, judicious decision-making, and cross-functional team collaboration.
Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to connect across cultures and industry sectors.
Strong organization, collaboration, and attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple high-stake projects simultaneously.
A passion for music creators’ rights, equity, and inclusion within the industry.
Availability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Responsibilities

Genre Management & Awards Process Serve as the Awards department expert and primary point of contact for assigned genres. These may include, but are not limited to, the following: Global Music, Gospel, Contemporary Christian Music, Children’s Music, Comedy, Audio Book, New Age, Ambient, or Chant, and Contemporary Instrumental Music.
Oversee the end-to-end genre-specific submission, screening, nomination, and voting processes in the assigned genres and Awards categories, working closely with your supervisor, the VP of Awards and senior members of the Awards team.
Learn all procedures and entry systems . Answer helpline calls during online entry process.
Process, screen, and audit Awards entries in accordance with Awards department best practices.
Assist in developing timetables and implementing departmental procedures.
Cultivate and maintain a large array of professional relationships in the recording industry and with the volunteer committees that are a hallmark of the peer-to-peer Awards process.
Assist with the online voting process.
Participate in high-level projects as requested.
Provide data status reports and feedback to management.
Document business requirements and process flows.
Lead and manage annual screening committee meetings in assigned genres to ensure genre integrity and eligibility compliance.
Analyze trends, submissions, and voting data to recommend potential category updates, procedural refinements, or advocacy initiatives.
Promote diverse, equitable, and inclusive community engagement.
Educate current and aspiring members on Academy engagement.
Collaborate with internal teams at the direction of the senior Awards leadership team (e.g., Membership & Industry Relations, the Songwriters & Composers Wing, the Producers & Engineers Wing, Grammy U, Communications, Marketing, Digital Media, Socials, Editorial, and IT) to ensure genre accuracy and representation across all Awards-related systems and communications.
Industry Outreach & Education Build and sustain strong relationships with global music creators, producers, labels, managers, business professionals, associations, and cultural organizations across assigned genres.
Develop and lead outreach and education initiatives, including presentations, webinars, panel discussions, and one-on-one meetings to promote understanding and engagement in the GRAMMY Awards process.
Identify and engage emerging communities, independent creators, and underrepresented groups to expand participation in the Awards, often working in alignment with the Member Outreach Manager in Membership & Industry Relations.
Represent the GRAMMY brand when requested by the Awards senior management team as a trusted and visible ambassador at curated industry events, festivals, and conferences worldwide.
Creator Advocacy & Support Actively participate in the Academy’s broader mission to support and protect music creators, collaborating with Advocacy, Membership, and other departments on initiatives affecting genre communities.
Monitor and communicate to key Academy colleagues regarding the emerging issues affecting music creators in assigned genres, including legal, economic, and technological developments.
Advocate for equitable access, inclusion, and representation within the Awards and the broader industry ecosystem.
Strategy & Insights Provide seasoned insight and strategic recommendations to department leadership on the evolution of musical genres, cultural shifts, and opportunities for increased impact and relevance.
Contribute to cross-departmental strategy sessions on genre categorization, Awards growth, and global expansion.
Participate in annual planning, goal-setting, and post-Awards evaluation sessions with the Awards team.
Communications & Representation Collaborate with Communications and Digital Media teams as requested to ensure genre-relevant messaging is authentic, timely, and culturally sensitive.
Prepare reports, memos, and presentations for Academy executives, trustees, and stakeholders as requested.