Artistic Administrator

Seattle Symphony Orchestra Inc; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Seattle Symphony Orchestra seeks an experienced Artistic Administrator to support the Chief of Artistic Planning in implementing the orchestra's artistic strategy and ensuring the smooth operation of the Artistic Planning department, including visiting artists, orchestras, and ensembles. The role requires meticulous organization, flexibility, and commitment to the Seattle Symphony values.

The position is hybrid, with remote Mondays and Fridays and on-site Tuesdays through Thursdays at

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in music or arts management strongly preferred.
• 8–10 years arts administration experience with a symphony orchestra or festival.
• Highly organized with ability to manage deadlines on multiple timelines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to handle routine to emergency situations.
• Knowledge of ArtsVision software is highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Manage administration for classical programming including guest artist contracts, riders, payments, tax forms, visas, and conductor forms.
• Contribute to shape and implement the artistic strategy of the Seattle Symphony.
• Program repertoire and negotiate fees for projects.
• Oversee the Artistic Planning budget and track expenditures.
• Identify artists, conductors, and program concepts; explore commissioning and partnerships.
• Collaborate with Education, Community Engagement, Marketing, and Communications.

Skills

Arts admin

Budgeting

Contracting

Artist liaison

MS Office

ArtsVision

Education

Bachelors in music

Tools

ArtsVision

MS Office

Job description

Department: Artistic Planning

Reports to: Chief of Artistic Planning

Supervises: Artist Liaison/Asst. to the Music Director

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary: $85,000-95,000 annual

The Seattle Symphony unleashes the power of music, brings people together and lifts the human spirit. Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives, and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has garnered five Grammy Awards, 26 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle, reaching over 500,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts.

Position Overview:

The Artistic Administrator supports the Chief of Artistic Planning to implement the artistic strategy of the Seattle Symphony, ensuring the smooth operation of the Artistic Planning department including in particular pertaining to visiting artists, orchestras, and ensembles.

This position requires attention to detail, flexibility, and commitment to the Seattle Symphony values of Excellence, Innovation, Curiosity, Collaboration, Respect, Inclusivity, Integrity, and Service. This position supports the Seattle Symphony’s principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

This position is hybrid remote and in-person with Mondays and Fridays remote and Tuesdays-Thursdays at Benaroya Hall. Regular evening and weekend work is required and scheduled on a monthly basis.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

Reporting to the Chief of Artistic Planning, the below summarizes the position’s key responsibilities:

1. Artistic Planning and Strategy:

• Manage administration for classical music programming including guest artist contracts, riders, payments, tax forms, international visas, and conductor forms.
• Contributing to shape and implement the artistic strategy of the Seattle Symphony.
• Programming repertoire and negotiating fees for specific projects.
• Providing oversight and managing the Artistic Department budget with entry and tracking of all budget items; leading discussions in budget meetings; tracking expenditure and reporting variances.
• Identifying artists, conductors, composers, program concepts, researching new repertoire, commissioning and partnership opportunities, artist availabilities, and other ideas to keep the Seattle Symphony artistically fresh, innovative, and aligned with its long-term artistic vision.
• Collaborate with Education and Community Engagement to fully integrate opportunities for access and amplification of programs.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to review and edit program notes as well as the monthly program magazine Encore with an eye for program and guest artist content.
• Performing concert duty including concert/event oversight.
• Providing administrative support for Chief of Artistic Planning as needed.

2. Supervision of Staff:

• Manage one direct report, Artist Liaison / Assistant to the Music Director.

3. Recording and Media:

• Devising plans, managing the schedule, and obtaining artist approvals for monthly radio broadcasts on Classical KING 98.1 radio.
• Contributing to the selection of potential projects for Seattle Symphony Media releases.
• Negotiating artist approvals for Seattle Symphony Media, other recording projects, and additional usage of recordings where required.

4. Octave 9 New Music Series:

• In consultation with Chief of Artistic Planning, programming and hosting the new music series in Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center. Continuing to build the profile and activity of Octave 9 within the Seattle artistic community and further afield.
• Building relationships with similar artistic organizations and explore collaboration between them on creative projects.
• Contributing to the artistic planning process and introduce new programming ideas, with thorough knowledge of classical artists, repertoire, and industry trends.

5. Relationships:

• Developing and maintaining relationships with guest conductors, soloists, composers and other artists, as well as managers and/or business agents for artists.
• Building relationships with other orchestra administrators and presenters.
• Participating in production and operations meetings and collaborating with artists and production staff.

6. Other duties as required

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in music or arts management strongly preferred
• 8-10 years’ professional experience in arts administration with a symphony orchestra or festival (or equivalent) is required.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented ability to manage project deadlines on competing timelines.
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task, as well as manage interdepartmental processes and maintain accurate follow-up.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills. Ability to handle calmly and efficiently situations ranging from routine to emergency.
• Ability to manage relationships with conductors, guest soloists, staff conductor(s), administration colleagues, musicians, volunteers, and other constituents.
• Demonstrated proficiency with computer technology and experience with Microsoft Office and Windows is required. Knowledge of ArtsVision software is highly desired.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise good judgment.

Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements described here must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The functions of this position are performed primarily in an office environment
• Regular activities include frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching and bending
• This position may require occasional pulling, lifting and climbing stairs
• Ability to speak, hear and communicate clearly while handling staff inquiries, telephone calls and customer requests
• Specific vision abilities require close visual acuity for viewing a computer screen and reading, preparing, entering and/or analyzing data
• This position requires repetitive motions of the wrists, hands and fingers for typing at a standard keyboard and regular pinching, picking up and holding pencils and other desk tools
• Must have the ability to lift 30 pounds as needed

The Seattle Symphony values diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace. Individuals who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives are encouraged to apply. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity (EOE) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Seattle Symphony will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.