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Posted: 03-Jun-25
Location: Bakersfield, California
Type: Full Time
Salary: $80,000 - $100,000 DOE
Preferred Education:
Executive Director, Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra
Purpose
We don't just dream of a rich, beautiful culture — we cultivate it and celebrate it with our community.
About Us
Bakersfield is a vibrant place in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California, where the arts thrive, and the outdoor environment inspires. Bakersfield’s people and institutions are committed to support and celebrate local-to-global creators, actors, and musicians and to offer diverse ways for all people to access inspiring cultural experiences.
We believe orchestral music nurtures the human spirit, enhances the quality of life, and is integral to the preservation and the evolution of culture. The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra provides professional orchestral performances, education programs, and community enrichment to the Kern County to transform lives through the power of music.
Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra Website: https://www.bsonow.org/about
About the Role
The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors through the Board Chair. In close partnership, the Music Director and the Executive Director are the strategic leaders of the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra; the Executive Director ensures day-to-day coherence through operational excellence. The Executive Director prioritizes fundraising and designs and implements sound financial policies and decisions for the organization. The Executive Director serves as an ambassador for the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra and is involved in the community and its organizations. The Executive Director works together with the Music Director and the Board of Directors, and staff, to further the Symphony’s purpose in bringing the power of music to life through performances, education, and community engagement.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership with a Growth Mindset:
Serve as the strategic and operational leader of the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra to inspire professionalism, explore new ideas for growth, and collaborate well with key figures including staff, Board of Directors, Symphony musicians, to foster a positive and sustainable work environment. The Executive Director, in partnership with the Music Director, will be a vital part of the Symphony’s visionary leadership. The ideal candidate will raise the presence and brand of the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra across Kern County and Southern California and shall be dedicated to advancing the Symphony's purpose and goals.
Fundraising and Development Expertise:
Materially increase the number, size, and duration of sponsor and donor commitments. Prioritize annual and longer-term goals for earned and contributed revenue that ensure the sustainability of the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra.
Cultivate and nurture relationships with individual donors, potential corporate sponsors, foundations (especially the Bakersfield Symphony Endowment Foundation), and other funders in collaboration with the Music Director and Development Committee to support increased contributed revenue.
Financial Stewardship:
Manage the development and implementation of a realistic budget. Oversee effective cost management and realistic spending to maintain sustainable, balanced financial plans.
Foster Community Engagement:
Serve as a knowledgeable and passionate external ambassador for the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. Build trust and credibility with audiences, stakeholders, elected officials, the business community, media, and donors and sponsors.
Build, nurture, and elevate the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra’s reputation as an innovative and welcoming performing arts organization through attendance at community events and promotion of its high- quality and diverse programming.
Demonstrate exceptional relationship management practice that builds strong partnerships with individuals and organization to enhance the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra’s presence and resources.
Effective Communication and Integrity:
Foster collaboration between staff, Board of Directors, and musicians; communicate effectively with stakeholders; lead by example; and maintain integrity, humility, and gratitude.
Commitment to Operational Excellence:
Demonstrate exceptional management skills and balance short-term tasks with long-term goals for organizational success. Develop and maintain a team environment with staff, Board, and musicians. Negotiate all contracts and agreements to support the Symphony’s operations, and other duties as assigned.
The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Required Skills
- Demonstrated ability and success in fundraising for annual gifts, sustained donations, and capital campaigns.
- Demonstrated passion for and knowledge of classical music and how to produce meaningful professional experiences for the community.
- Demonstrated strong leadership of non-profit arts organizations. Align activities to organizational mission, vision, and goals.
- Demonstrated acumen in organizational financial management.
- Demonstrated sound management strategies. In addition to organizational leadership, the Executive Director must be able to hire and coordinate Symphony staff in alignment with the organization’s vision, mission, and goals in a sustainable and efficient manner.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain productive and congenial working relationship with stakeholders (e.g., Board of Directors, the Bakersfield Symphony Endowment Foundation board, donors, community leaders).
- Demonstrated actions to engage with donors, potential donors, stakeholders, and other sponsors.
- Demonstrated ability and results in connecting with the community. Must be able and willing to develop strong relationships with local government, businesses, and universities.
- Demonstrated ability to build cohesive organizational administration.
- Frequent standing and walking throughout the workday.