Executive Director and CEO

About the job

We welcome nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director and CEO to lead the Orchestras future growth and development.

The Opportunity
The next Executive Director and CEO of the symphony will take the helm of an organization with a reputation for superior artistry, fiscal responsibility, and community engagement. The symphony aspires to be the model for innovative orchestras in the 21st century, and places special emphasis on community and programming that appeals to a wide variety of Houston audiences.

The symphony recently adopted a long-range strategic plan. The keystone of that work was the restatement of the Orchestras mission, vision for the future, and core values. The mission of the symphony is to inspire and enrich the lives of our diverse citizenry through outstanding symphonic music performed by our great orchestra. The Orchestras vision is to be the entrepreneurial cornerstone of the performing arts in Houston through our performances, partnerships, outreach and educational activities. The Orchestras core values  artistic excellence, organizational excellence and excellence in stewardship remain unchanged.

The next Executive Director and CEO will provide leadership in the recruitment of the Orchestras next Music Director and in the plan to create a more intimate and acoustically superior concert hall. The next Executive Director and CEO will lead the symphony in celebration of its centennial in the 2013-14 Season.

The next Executive Director and CEO will become part of a vibrant community with a strong, diverse economy and a reasonable cost of living. With 2.14 million residents, Houston is the fourth most populous city in the nation. The city is a major energy, industrial, commercial, educational and financial center. Major arts and cultural organizations include the symphony, Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Ballet, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Menil Collection, and the Contemporary Arts Museum. The Houston Theatre District ranks second only to New York number of theatre seats in a concentrated downtown area.

The Orchestra is one of the oldest and finest performing arts organizations in Texas. The Orchestra can proudly point to a rich history of musical excellence under the direction of internationally acclaimed music directors such as Leopold Stokowksi, Sir John Barbirolli, Andre Previn, Sergiu Comissiona, and Christoph Eschenbach. In 2001, Hans Graf assumed artistic leadership as the Orchestras 15th Music Director.

The symphony performs approximately 170 concerts a year for an audience of more than 350,000 Houstonians. The season includes a rich offering of classical concerts, pops concerts, family concerts, holiday programs and a wide variety of indoor and outdoor summer programs. Education programs bring music, mentors and musical instruments to schools and underserved communities. Through the Orchestras newest outreach endeavor, the Houston Symphony Community Connections, musicians volunteer to go into the community as soloists, in small ensembles, and as coaches where they perform for Houstonians in schools, hospitals, retirement homes, shelters, and community centers.

The symphony performs at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in downtown Houston. Summer concerts take place at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and Miller Outdoor Theatre.

The symphony receives generous underwriting and sponsorship for concerts and concert series from corporations, including Fidelity Investments, Shell, Target, Chevron, Macys, JP Morgan Chase, GDF SUEZ, and the Houston Chronicle. Foundations and individual donors are also strong supporters of the Orchestras concerts and educational activities.

The symphony currently records under its own label, and for NAXOS Koch International Classics. Recordings are also available on the Telarc, RCA Red Seal, Virgin Classics, and Koch International Classics labels. Concerts are broadcast locally on KUHF 88.7 FM. Carnegie Hall will present the Orchestra in January 2010; later in the year, the Orchestra will travel to the United Kingdom.

The current operating budget of the symphony is $25 million. Last summer, facing significant challenges due not only to the troubled economy and loss of endowment earnings but also to the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, the musicians of the symphony joined with the administrative and artistic staff in accepting adjustments to reduce overall payroll costs with an amendment to the current collective bargaining agreement. The contract expires in October 2010.

The symphonys Board of Trustees includes 50 Governing Directors. Additional support is provided by non-governing Trustees and members of the Houston Symphony League. Orchestra has an administrative staff of 56. Matthew VanBesien, Executive Director and CEO since 2005, will step down at the end of 2009 to take the position of Managing Director of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Australia. Maestro Graf has announced that he will leave the post of Music Director at the end of the 2012-2013 Season.

The Position
The Executive Director and CEO is the chief executive officer of the symphony, responsible and accountable for the artistic, organizational, and financial success of the organization. S/he provides leadership and vision to ensure that the symphony fulfills its mission, realizes its vision, and achieves its institutional goals for excellence, innovation, and service to the community.

The Executive Director and CEO represents the symphony throughout the community. S/he is a visible and articulate spokesperson for the Orchestra and ensures that the symphony maintains positive and productive relationships with Houstons philanthropic community; arts, education and cultural institutions; government; and other community organizations. S/he leads the Orchestras fundraising efforts. S/he is an advocate for the symphony with the national and international music business, actively seeking opportunities to expand the reach and enhance the reputation of the Orchestra.

The Executive Director and CEO manages the human and financial resources of the symphony. S/he is responsible and accountable for all aspects of administration, including planning, budgeting and financial management; fund raising; marketing, public relations and audience development; labor relations and collective bargaining negotiations; concert production and operations; educational activities; and community engagement.

The Executive Director and CEO provides impetus and support to the work of the Board and its committees. S/he engages, supervises, motivates and leads a high caliber administrative team. The Executive Director and CEO is a strong partner with the Music Director in creating programs and activities that promote artistic growth. S/he fosters an environment that allows the Music Director, guest artists, and musicians of the orchestra to do their best work. S/he provides guidance and support to the efforts of those who volunteer for the Orchestra.

Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will be an experienced orchestra executive with proven leadership ability, excellent management skills, entrepreneurial instincts, and a track record for success with fundraising, audience development, and community engagement. S/he will have a thorough understanding of the challenges facing symphony orchestras today and the creative vision to address these challenges effectively.

The successful candidate will be fully knowledgeable about symphony orchestras, repertoire, artistic administration, and operations. S/he will have the demonstrated ability to work effectively with a Music Director, professional musicians, and other creative artists in a collective bargaining environment. Additional work experience beyond the orchestra field will be viewed as an asset.

The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic fundraiser with the demonstrated ability to compete successfully for philanthropic support and the willingness to devote substantial time and effort to fundraising. S/he will have superb oral and written communication ability and interpersonal skills.

The successful candidate will understand strategic marketing. S/he will have the demonstrated ability to build customer loyalty, develop brand awareness, and increase audience size, diversity, and demand.

The successful candidate will be a person of integrity and high ethical standards with a reputation for fairness and transparency. S/he will have an abiding love for music and respect for orchestras and musicians. The successful candidate will fully embrace the mission, vision, goals, and core values of the symphony. S/he will welcome the opportunity lead a new era in the growth and development of the Houston Symphony.

Compensation
Compensation, including benefits, is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Applications and Nominations
Nominations of potential candidates are welcome. Please provide contact information.

Applicants should submit a cover letter that describes both qualifications and specific interest in the symphony with a professional resume. The Search Committee may request additional information, including salary history and references, at a later date. All applications will be treated as confidential.

Electronic submissions are preferred. Please send to:

MS Word or Adobe Acrobat attachments only, please.