PRESIDENT & CEO OPPORTUNITY

Grand Rapids Symphony (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

SUMMARY

As it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2030, The Grand Rapids Symphony seeks an accomplished, mission driven President & Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization through its next chapter of artistic excellence, community impact, national relevance, and long-term sustainability.

In partnership with a committed Board of Directors and Music Director Marcelo Lehninger, the incoming CEO will play a central role in propelling the Symphony’s artistic and organizational success, including through the development and implementation of strategies that will magnify its marketing and fundraising efforts; deepen community relationships; and fortify organizational culture and resilience.

The Symphony has an annual operating budget of approximately $12 million; an independent, non-profit Foundation dedicated to its financial success; an endowment of $42 million; an administrative staff of 27; and a complement of 77 exquisite musicians.

The Grand Rapids Symphony seeks candidates prepared for a projected date in late summer 2026. The hiring range begins at $220,000 and includes a competitive benefits package.

The search is led by Brett Egan and Syrah Gunning of the DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management. To learn more about the organization, community, etc. and apply, use the link or contact segunning@DeVosInstitute.net.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Direction

• Through a strategic planning process, partner with the Board of Directors, Music Director, and staff to set an ambitious, distinctive strategic direction.
• Through thoughtful change management, lead implementation of the plan’s initiatives to propel the Orchestra’s programmatic excellence, service to community, visibility, Board productivity, human resource development, and financial resilience. 
• Serve as a trusted partner and collaborator with the Music Director, operationalizing their vision and producing the organizational structures and resources to achieve it.
• Maintain an ongoing, thoughtful commitment to advanced planning, supporting multi-season artistic and programmatic visioning; strong institutional and programmatic marketing plans; multi-year fundraising initiatives; and pro-active coordination with the Board and Music Director to create and sustain a healthy, forward-thinking organizational culture. 

Financial Sustainability

• Partner with the Finance Committee of the Board and the Vice President of Finance & Administration to develop, manage, and calibrate the annual budget.
• Ensure balance sheet resilience through multi-year capitalization planning, including through partnership with Board and Foundation leadership to deliver careful stewardship of endowments, reserves, and working capital.
• Monitor and manage cash flow through active and recurrent forecasting and scenario planning. • Ensure responsible stewardship of contributed, earned, and investment-based revenue.
• Collaborate with Board and Foundation leadership to maintain and calibrate, as necessary, financial policy, with a special focus on controls, reporting, transparency, audit, tax filing, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation. 

Annual Planning and Labor Relations

• Support artistic planning within clearly defined financial parameters, serving as the primary management partner to the Music Director.
• Lead the Symphony’s collective bargaining efforts, and maintain ongoing, open, respectful communication with musicians.

Fundraising

• Partner closely with the Board and Vice President of Development to set fundraising strategy, priorities, performance expectations, and to monitor results.
• Serve as a key prospector, cultivator, solicitor and steward of current and new major donors, foundation, corporate and government funders.
• Build the Development team’s leadership, systems, and overall efficacy.
• Collaborate with Board Chairs and the Vice President of Development to motivate the Board and Foundation’s roles in fundraising and revenue development.

Constituent, Staff, and Board Leadership

• Provide consistent, effective communication and alignment with key organizational constituencies: Board of Directors, Foundation Board of Trustees, artistic leaders, orchestra musicians, administrative staff, and donors and patrons.
• Function as the key staff representative in liaison with the Board of Directors and the Foundation Board of Trustees, engaging staff in these relationships in a manner appropriate to their roles.
• Work with Board of Directors and Foundation Board of Trustees leadership to:

o Maintain clarity of roles, authority, and decision-making across Board of Directors, Foundation Board of Trustees, artistic leadership, and staff.

o Motivate and steward ongoing board engagement, education, and major initiatives.

• Support board recruitment, orientation, governance best practices, and leadership succession. 

Community & External Engagement

• Act as the Symphony’s chief ambassador and spokesperson, strengthening current relationships and developing new partnerships across arts, education, healthcare, and civic organizations.
• Represent the Symphony with peer institutions and national arts organizations.

Organizational Leadership

• Provide executive oversight of administrative operations, including human resources, benefits, contracts, and facilities.
• Foster a collaborative organizational culture while cultivating a team-centered focus throughout the Symphony’s key groups. Support and empower a positive working relationship among the senior leadership team, artistic leadership, administrative staff, and musicians.

THE TEAM

The President & CEO reports to the Board of Directors.

The President & CEO is the final authority for organizational strategy, financial decisions, and labor agreements, in partnership with the Board of Directors.

Direct reports to the President & CEO include the Vice President of Finance & Administration, the Vice President of Development, and the senior leadership team. The President & CEO oversees directly or indirectly an administrative team of 22 employees and 5 contractors.

The role partners closely with the Music Director, who also reports to the Board of Directors. The Symphony employs 52 A-contracted and 25 B&C-contracted musicians over a 40-week season.

The President & CEO also serves as President of the Grand Rapids Symphony Foundation and works in close partnership with the Foundation Trustees.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of senior executive leadership experience in nonprofit, arts, or complex mission-driven organizations with previous orchestral experience highly valued
• Superior financial acumen
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and board partnerships
• Experience leading organizations through periods of transition or realignment strongly preferred
• Experience working with unionized or professional staff environments preferred
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred