Career Center

As our Director of Orchestra Personnel, you will play a central role in ensuring the seamless coordination of all musician-related activities. Your leadership will connect artistic priorities with operational execution, supporting musicians, conductors, and staff in delivering exceptional performances. Here’s how you’ll make a difference:

• Lead the day-to-day coordination of orchestra personnel operations, ensuring rehearsals and performances run smoothly and in alignment with artistic goals.
• Assign musicians to services in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), collaborating closely with the Music Director and VP/General Manager.
• Prepare and manage program rosters, ensuring accuracy and clear communication across all stakeholders.
• Maintain and engage a strong roster of substitute and extra musicians to meet artistic and operational needs.
• Oversee auditions and tenure review processes, ensuring compliance with the CBA and a positive candidate experience.
• Negotiate and issue contracts for regular, acting, substitute, and extra musicians.
• Administer musician leave processes and anticipate staffing needs, proactively identifying coverage gaps and associated costs.
• Serve as a primary liaison among musicians, Union representatives, and management, fostering clear communication and strong working relationships.
• Interpret and administer the CBA consistently, addressing concerns and resolving issues in collaboration with HR and organizational leadership.
• Supervise and support the development of the Assistant Orchestra Personnel Manager.
• Manage budgets related to extra and substitute musicians, balancing artistic needs with financial stewardship.
• Coordinate payroll-related processes and reporting in partnership with Finance and HR, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality.
• Oversee logistics for runouts and tours, including travel and lodging coordination.
• Provide on-call support to address time-sensitive personnel or operational needs that arise during orchestra services.

This role is pivotal in ensuring that the Symphony’s artistic work is supported by thoughtful, responsive, and well-coordinated personnel management. If you’re excited to work at the intersection of artistry, operations, and people, we’d love to have you on the team.

If this role interests you but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply. For the right individual, we’re open to hiring at a slightly lower level with a clear path for development and growth.

How to Apply:

If you’re ready to bring your organizational skills and positive attitude to the Oregon Symphony, we would love to hear from you. Please submit a cover letter and resume to careers@orsymphony.org with the job title in the subject line.

Qualifications:

• At least three years of experience as an Orchestra Personnel Manager or in a similar role; experience as a performing musician preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Collective Bargaining Agreements and the needs of professional musicians.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to navigate complex situations with diplomacy and professionalism.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) and working knowledge of OPAS.
• Experience with budgeting and forecasting processes preferred.
• Ability to troubleshoot logistical and operational challenges effectively, including those related to performance environments.

About Oregon Symphony

The Oregon Symphony is a vibrant, growing organization, which has achieved record ticket sales and contributions in recent years. At a time when many orchestras are reducing their classical programming, the Oregon Symphony has continued to invest in the art form, expand its season, reach new and bigger audiences, and expand its collaborations in the community. Now in its 127th season, the Symphony continues to champion living composers with a robust commissioning program, celebrate diverse artistic voices across our Classical, Pops, and Specials performances series, and explore the pressing issues of our time through the medium of music. The Symphony unites exceptional musicians, a world-class conducting staff, an unrelenting focus on excellence, a compelling vision, and a strong commitment to the greater good. The result is something special and rare: an energy that can be felt in every note and performances that move its listeners. As one of the region’s cultural jewels, the Symphony is central to the thriving arts community in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Propelled by the desire to bring the power of music to more people in new ways, the Oregon Symphony is always moving musi...c forward. Each year, the multi-Grammy nominated Oregon Symphony performs more than 115 concerts at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland and performs regularly in Salem, Newberg, and other cities in the region. It also produces award-winning educational and community engagement events. The Symphony’s programs directly serve more than 250,000 people annually and reach tens of millions more around the globe through its broadcast and recordings programs. The institution is supported by thousands of individuals, businesses, and foundations and receives funding from the Regional Arts & Cultural Council, the State of Oregon Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.The Oregon Symphony Association employs 76 full-time union musicians who are led by David Danzmayr. The Association’s annual operating budget is approximately $22 million, of which 80% is spent on artistic and engagement programs. It employs a full-time staff of 50, who are responsible for concert production, marketing, public relations, education, community engagement, fundraising, customer service, accounting, and financial reporting. It is governed by a volunteer board of directors, who each year contribute thousands of hours and personally contribute more than $2 million.

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