Director of Operations

Musical America; United States; Remote; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Part time

Job summary

Chamber Orchestra of America seeks an experienced Director of Operations to start as a part-time role for 6 months, transitioning to full-time with COA’s growth. This role will build operational infrastructure, manage performances and tours, budgeting, and musician services, reporting to Joshua Bell’s management team.

The position emphasizes establishing workflows, policies, and production schedules while coordinating with presenters and artists to deliver financially responsible projects.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in arts administration or related field.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Experience with budgets, contracts, and financial tracking.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to travel periodically for performances and tours.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain operational systems, procedures, calendars, databases, and documentation that allows COA to operate and grow efficiently and sustainably.
• Develop clear communication and workflows for managing performances, tours, projects, personnel, contracts, and payments, in partnership with Music Director’s management and COA’s booking agent.
• Identify operational needs and develop solutions.
• Help establish policies and best practices appropriate for a developing nonprofit arts organization.
• Coordinate communication among Music Director, Artistic Director, musicians, and presenters, in partnership with Joshua Bell’s management and COA’s booking agent.
• Lead the operational planning and execution of COA performances, residencies, tours, and special projects, including:
• Develop detailed production timelines and performance schedules.
• Coordinate musician contracting and help establish and maintain COA’s musician policies, agreements, and operational procedures.
• Coordinate payments, expense reimbursements, and related documentation and reconcile against approved budgets.
• Coordinate travel, lodging, ground transportation, rehearsal schedules, venues, hospitality, and other logistical requirements between COA musicians and presenters.
• Oversee on-site operations as needed for COA engagements.
• Anticipate logistical challenges and proactively develop solutions.
• Coordinate the preparation, execution, and tracking of artist, presenter, musician, vendor, and other operational agreements.
• Track contractual obligations, payment schedules, cancellation provisions, insurance requirements, and other key terms.
• Participate in strategic planning and organizational discussions as appropriate.
• Full Time (in addition to the above)
• Support the Artistic Director and Music Director in developing the infrastructure necessary for COA’s long-term growth.
• Help develop financial forecasting and planning systems as the organization grows. As the organization grows, help identify additional staffing and external resources needed to support its activities.

Skills

Arts administration

Project management

Budgeting & contracts

Communication

Independent work

Travel readiness

Job description

ABOUT CHAMBER ORCHESTRA OF AMERICA

Chamber Orchestra of America (COA), founded and led by internationally celebrated violinist and conductor Joshua Bell, brings together today’s exceptional young professional musicians to create a dynamic new model for developing and empowering the next generation of artists.

Established in 2025, COA is in its building phase. We envision it as an organization capable of presenting high-quality performances on both major stages and in accessible, community settings, as well as leading impactful educational initiatives that invest in and support young aspiring musicians.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Chamber Orchestra of America seeks an experienced individual for the position of Director of Operations. This position will start as a part-time role for 6-months, with the expectation of transitioning to full-time employment thereafter, subject to the successful establishment and growth of COA’s operations.

The Director of Operations will play a central role in building and managing the operational infrastructure of the Chamber Orchestra of America. Working closely with COA’s Artistic Director and Music Director Joshua Bell’s management team at Park Avenue Artists, this individual will help translate COA’s artistic vision into well-organized, financially responsible, and successfully executed projects.

During the initial 6-month period, the Director of Operations will focus heavily on establishing systems, processes, and production workflows that will support COA’s long-term growth. The Director will also be responsible for the execution of its performance and touring activities, including budgeting, advancing, and servicing the orchestra musicians. As the position transitions to full-time, the Director will assume ongoing responsibility for the organization’s day-to-day operations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Initial 6 months

• Build and maintain operational systems, procedures, calendars, databases, and documentation that allows COA to operate and grow efficiently and sustainably.
• Develop clear communication and workflows for managing performances, tours, projects, personnel, contracts, and payments, in partnership with Music Director’s management and COA’s booking agent.
• Identify operational needs and develop solutions.
• Help establish policies and best practices appropriate for a developing nonprofit arts organization.
• Coordinate communication among Music Director, Artistic Director, musicians, and presenters, in partnership with Joshua Bell’s management and COA’s booking agent.
• Lead the operational planning and execution of COA performances, residencies, tours, and special projects, including:
• Develop detailed production timelines and performance schedules.
• Coordinate musician contracting and help establish and maintain COA’s musician policies, agreements, and operational procedures.
• Coordinate payments, expense reimbursements, and related documentation and reconcile against approved budgets.
• Coordinate travel, lodging, ground transportation, rehearsal schedules, venues, hospitality, and other logistical requirements between COA musicians and presenters.
• Oversee on-site operations as needed for COA engagements.
• Anticipate logistical challenges and proactively develop solutions.
• Coordinate the preparation, execution, and tracking of artist, presenter, musician, vendor, and other operational agreements.
• Track contractual obligations, payment schedules, cancellation provisions, insurance requirements, and other key terms.
• Participate in strategic planning and organizational discussions as appropriate.

Full Time (in addition to the above)

• Support the Artistic Director and Music Director in developing the infrastructure necessary for COA’s long-term growth.
• Help develop financial forecasting and planning systems as the organization grows.
  As the organization grows, help identify additional staffing and external resources needed to support its activities.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate is a highly organized, proactive arts administrator who enjoys building something from the ground up. They should be equally comfortable with creating spreadsheets, discussing logistics with presenters, coordinating with musicians, creating and managing production schedules, and solving problems calmly and efficiently.

Because COA is a new organization, the successful candidate should be excited by the opportunity to help shape how the organization works, not simply administer an established set of procedures.

Required

• 5+ years of experience in arts administration, orchestra management, artist management, concert presenting, performing arts production, or a related field.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Experience managing complex schedules, multiple stakeholders, and competing priorities.
• Experience with budgets, contracts, and financial tracking.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative in a developing organization.
• Strong attention to detail without losing sight of the larger strategic picture.
• Ability to handle sensitive information and relationships with discretion.
• Willingness to travel periodically for performances and tours.

Preferred

• Experience working with orchestras, chamber ensembles, classical musicians, or performing arts organizations.
• Experience with touring and presenter relationships.
• Familiarity with musician contracting and/or orchestra personnel management.
• Experience working with high-profile artists and their management teams.
• Knowledge of nonprofit arts organizations and their administrative structures.
• Experience building systems and processes for a new or growing organization.