The Opportunity

The LPO’s Executive Director will join a dynamic team of talented and dedicated professional orchestra administrators and musicians whose work makes possible performances, education programs, and community engagement activities of the highest quality. The LPO is based in New Orleans, Louisiana; one of the world’s most fascinating cities. The orchestra is deeply involved in the rich musical culture of the city, presenting not only classical symphonic repertoire but also opera, ballet, pops, and jazz concerts. It is the largest arts organization in the state of Louisiana. Steeped in a history of influences from Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, and beyond, it is a brilliant mosaic of culture, food, and music. The New Orleans metropolitan area has an estimated population of 1.167 million people and is the 46th largest city in the United States.

Position Summary and Qualifications

The Executive Director will be charged with stewarding the organization’s mission while helping to craft the next stage of the organization’s growth. Working closely with the board, music director, musicians, community, and staff, the Executive Director will work to deepen the LPO’s organizational capacity to attract resources and funding, continue to make its work more visible to the broader community, and ensure its ongoing relevance and sustainability. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Trustees and is a 52-week contract with a generous benefits package and salary commensurate with experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To position the organization for the future, the Executive Director will be expected to:

• Represent the LPO and develop strategic relationships with diverse stakeholders including government, community institutions, corporations, funders, and media.
• Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with major donors and key institutional funders.
• Work closely with the Director of Development to recruit individual and corporate support.
• Oversee the finances and solvency of the orchestra to assure fiscal correctness and financial health
• Articulate and execute the organization’s vision for continued growth.
• Work with the LPO’s board, musicians, and staff to craft the strategic plan for the next 3-5 years, keeping in mind the goals of pursuing organizational health and sustainability and deepening programmatic impact.
• Actively work with the Board of Directors to diversify and expand its members, to ensure its active involvement and support for a comprehensive program.
• Oversee financial and marketing plans for continued organizational growth.
• Align LPO resources with the organization’s vision and mission in order to maximize productivity and maintain program quality while ensuring the financial health of the organization.
• Attract, retain, and actively develop an energetic, talented, and diverse administrative staff committed to the values and practices of the organization’s core.