Executive Director

Arts Hacker; Town of Wausau (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site with occasional remote days

PTO and retirement benefits

Employee benefits

Job summary

The Wausau Conservatory of Music seeks an experienced Executive Director to lead its mission-driven team in Central Wisconsin.

The role partners with the Board, staff, and faculty to ensure financial health, strategic growth, and high‑quality music education for students of all ages.

Candidates should demonstrate fundraising expertise, community engagement, and the ability to steer a small nonprofit toward sustainable impact.

Qualifications

• Degree in arts administration, nonprofit management, music, or a related field.
• Master’s degree preferred; significant leadership experience in nonprofits or arts organizations will be considered.
• Strong fundraising, donor development, and financial reporting experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership in partnership with the Board of Directors.
• Ensure the organization is financially healthy, well‑governed, mission‑focused, and positioned for long‑term success.
• Foster community partnerships and represent the Conservatory publicly.
• Oversee enrollment, programming, staff and faculty support, and development of staff.

Skills

Leadership experience

Fundraising

Financial management

Board collaboration

Communication

Community partnerships

Strategic thinking

Staff development

Advocacy & representation

Education

Bachelor’s or higher in arts admin/nonprofit/music

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAUSAU CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC | WAUSAU, WISCONSIN

For more than 40 years, the Wausau Conservatory of Music (WCM) has provided exceptional music education and performance opportunities to students and families throughout Central Wisconsin. We are now seeking an experienced, collaborative, and forward-thinking Executive Director to lead the Conservatory into its next chapter.
The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of the Wausau Conservatory of Music and works in partnership with the Board of Directors, faculty, and staff to advance the organization’s mission and ensure its long‑term success.
This is an opportunity for a leader who believes deeply in the value of music education and enjoys both the big‑picture work of moving an organization forward and the day‑to‑day work of making that vision happen. The next Executive Director will build upon WCM’s strong history while helping the organization continue to grow, evolve, and respond to the needs of its students and community.

ABOUT THE WAUSAU CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC

Our mission is to provide exceptional music education and performances that enrich and improve the musical life of our students and our communities.
Founded in 1981, the Wausau Conservatory of Music is a non‑profit community music school serving children and adults throughout Central Wisconsin.
WCM offers traditional and Suzuki instruction, individual lessons in more than 15 instruments, as well as early childhood classes, ensembles, summer camps, music appreciation, and community programming. The majority of students are K‑12 in age. One in four students receives tuition assistance.
Our faculty includes more than 20 artist educators who are active throughout Wisconsin. WCM’s facility, which is owned by the organization, provides teaching, rehearsal, and performance spaces – including the Caroline Mark Recital Hall – and serves as a gathering place for music education and performance in our community.
Our annual budget of $750,000 is funded by tuition, fundraising, grants, and a strong endowment.
For further information visit: https://wausauconservatory.org/

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for a hands‑on leader who can combine strong organizational leadership with a genuine commitment to music education.

The successful candidate will be someone who can build relationships, lead people well, think strategically, manage the practical realities of a small nonprofit organization, and represent the Conservatory enthusiastically within the community.

Important experience and abilities include:

• Leadership experience in a nonprofit, arts, educational, business, or related organization
• Strong organizational and personnel leadership skills
• Experience with fundraising, donor development, grants, or other forms of fund development
• Financial management experience, including budgeting and financial reporting
• Ability to work effectively with a Board of Directors
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills
• Experience developing community partnerships and representing an organization publicly
• Ability to lead change while also recognizing and preserving what an organization does well
• Commitment to high‑quality, accessible music education
• A strong understanding and appreciation of, or meaningful experience with music, music education, or the performing arts
• Demonstrated integrity, initiative, sound judgment, and a collaborative leadership style

A degree in arts administration, nonprofit management, business, music or music education, or a related field, is required. A master’s degree is preferred. Relevant professional and leadership experience will be strongly considered.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Working in partnership with the Board of Directors as well as working closely with a staff of three and WCM’s faculty, the Executive Director provides strategic and day‑to‑day leadership for the Conservatory, The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring the organization is financially healthy, well‑managed, mission‑focused, and positioned to serve students successfully for the long term. Key areas of leadership include organizational operations, staff and faculty support, financial management, fundraising and development, enrollment and programming, community partnerships, and Board collaboration.

OTHER INFORMATION

This is a full‑time, 12‑month, exempt position based primarily on‑site at the Wausau Conservatory of Music. The position includes flexibility for occasional work‑from‑home administrative days as organizational needs allow, along with PTO, retirement, and other employee benefits.
Salary Range: Commensurate with experience.
Some evening and weekend availability will be required for performances, events, meetings, and other Conservatory activities.

Application deadline: September 30, 2026

The Wausau Conservatory of Music is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

ABOUT WAUSAU

Wausau offers affordable housing and short commutes; is a state‑level all‑season recreation hub (skiing, snowshoeing, bike and walking trails, boating, trails, parks, the Ironbull Summer Triathlon and the Wausau Winter Triathlon); has an accessible riverfront and a vibrant arts and culture scene (Grand Theatre, Conservatory, Ballet School, Woodson Art Museum, Center for the Visual Arts, Arts Coalition, Pro Musica and Wausau Lyric Choirs, Central Wisconsin Orchestra, Wausau Community Theatre, River & Woods Theatre Company, Central Wisconsin Children’s Theatre); and has a busy community events calendar (Farmers Market, Festival of the Arts, Concerts on the Square, Blues Fest, ChalkFest, Hmong Festival), and more. In addition, Wausau is home to excellent schools and is served by two large hospital systems. For more information, visit: https://www.visitwausau.com