Interim Executive Director

Department
 

HUM Staff: Music

About the Department
 

One of Chicago’s oldest and most distinguished concert series, the University of Chicago Presents was founded in 1943 as the University of Chicago Chamber Music Series (now the Classic Concerts Series) with the mission of sharing world-class music through concerts and educational programs with audiences across Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. In its early seasons, the series brought many of the most significant figures of both performance and composition to the University’s Mandel Hall, such as Igor Stravinsky, Artur Schnabel, Isaac Stern, Arnold Schoenberg, and the Budapest Quartet. In addition to offering top-notch performances, guests of the series offered public master classes and lectures on music and composition, a legacy that continues to this day.

Job Summary
 

The University of Chicago seeks an individual interested in providing interim leadership for a highly respected organization dedicated to the presentation of a wide range of musical events, primarily classical and contemporary music but also early music, world traditions/creation, and jazz. The University is open to expanding the range of offerings to encompass additional performance forms such as dance, music theater, spoken word, and performance art, reflecting a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and practices.
The Interim Executive Director of the University of Chicago Presents (UCP) plays a variety of roles in managing a diverse concert and performance program, ranging from full programming responsibilities in the case of the University’s chamber music series, presenting concerts in partnership with the Chicago Center for Contemporary Composition and its faculty leadership (CCCC), to guiding the operations of a range of professional musical and performance events. The Director supervises a staff of one full-time position (the Director of Production and Education), and three part-time positions (the Marketing and Communications Manager, the Communications and Production Assistant, and the Graphic Designer), and has overall leadership responsibility for 25–30 professional music concerts and arts events at the University of Chicago and other venues. This position also has primary fundraising responsibilities for UCP, working in coordination with the Humanities Division, the Provost’s office, and University staff. Typical recent seasons have included up to seven chamber music concerts, three to five early music concerts, five jazz concerts, three new music concerts presented with the CCCC, up to three concerts by University resident artists, three world music events, and other festival or non-series events.
The Interim Executive Director will provide UCP with artistic direction, including but not necessarily limited to its current presentation genres and formats, representation in programming discussions with University faculty and staff, professional oversight of the administration and daily operations of the concert office, and dedication to the mission and ideals of the University of Chicago and UCP. This includes collaboration with faculty in Music, Theater and Performance Studies (TAPS), and other units such as the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture or the Center for Gender Studies. In addition, this role is a leader in the broader University arts initiatives, serving as a member of various UChicago Arts committees and working closely with the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, as we continue our work of community outreach, innovative programming, and cross-disciplinary creation.
The Interim Executive Director reports to the Chair of the Department of Music and the Senior Advisor to the Provost for Arts and collaborates with the Executive Director of the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts and the chairs and directors of the relevant academic disciplines and professional arts organizations.

Responsibilities

• This is a one-year position with a duration to last from the date filled to one year from that date. 
• Develops and programs a season including 25–30 professional music concerts and arts events, building on current offerings in classical, world, and jazz musics. 
• Works together with the staff of the Department of Music’s Performance Program to coordinate performances and related events presented by the Don Michael Randel Ensemble in Residence.
• Advances University commitments to innovation, diversity and inclusion.
• Works closely with the Department of Music, the Committee on Theater and Performance Studies, the Department of Visual Arts, other interested faculty, the Senior Advisor to the Provost for Arts, the Executive Director of the Logan Center for the Arts, and others to develop programming with links to University curricula.
• Follows developments in various fields of music and other forms as well as with relevant presenters across the US (e.g., national meetings of world music presenters and Chamber Music America). 
• Works with the Chair of the Department of Music and the Senior Advisor to the Provost for Arts to advise on the future of UCP.
• Cultivates partnerships with artists, artists’ representatives, colleagues, and academic and presenting organizations across the University, the city, and beyond. Serves as a leader for the arts at the University of Chicago and builds synergistic relationships with pertinent University Departments, Units, and key stakeholders.
• Meets quarterly with selected Department of Music faculty and UChicago Arts staff to update them on program planning. 
• Cultivates relationships with artist representatives, ensemble managers, and others. Coordinates with the Department of Music’s Director of Performing Groups, Rockefeller Chapel, and the Chair of the Department of Music on the annual schedule in order to avoid conflicts and promote cooperation.
• Works to expand accessibility to a wide range of audiences.
• Presents concerts in partnership with the Chicago Center for Contemporary Composition under the artistic guidance of the director of the CCCC. Maintains ongoing contact with the board of the CCCC with the goal of maintaining its role as Chicago’s most established new music ensemble and achieving its artistic, production, audience-building, and fundraising goals.
• Negotiates and supervises concert and program implementation including marketing, communications and ticket operations in partnership with colleagues across the University.
• In coordination with the Director of Production and Education, negotiates and supervises terms of relationships with venues (e.g., load-in, comps, available equipment and services, etc.). Ensures smooth functioning of ticket and subscription sales with the UChicago Arts Box Office manager and, if called on, collaborates on ticketing with other annual music events (e.g. Rockefeller Memorial Chapel’s annual production of Handel’s Messiah ) on campus.
• Oversees all marketing and communications in coordination with the Marketing and Communications Manager. Works closely with University, Humanities, UChicago Arts, and Logan Center Communications staff to coordinate marketing efforts with the broader UChicago Arts initiative.
• Provides overall management and administrative leadership needed to ensure that UCP is financially viable and cost-effective in its use of resources in partnership with the Office of the Provost, the Humanities Division, and the Music Department.
• Supervises the Director of Production and Education, the Marketing and Communications Manager, the Communications and Production Assistant, the Graphic Designer, and student staff.
• Develops an annual budget and provides mid-year projections as needed; oversees all financial activity for UCP; ensures that activity is within budget.
• Works with the staff of the Humanities Division and University on contracts to ensure that they are prepared and processed appropriately.
• Ensures compliance with University financial procedures, including maintaining and reconciling UCP budget against University-generated ledgers.
• Works with grants and fellowship staff in the Humanities Division in the pursuit of foundation and other grants to support UCP performances.
• Works in close collaboration and communicates regularly with Alumni Relations and Development staff in the Humanities Division and University on prospect cultivation, fundraising strategies, and other development-related issues.
• Provides direction in developing and implementing the annual fundraising campaign, including special projects and fundraising events. 
• Maintains strong relationships with donors, including subscribers, community leaders and corporate partners to build UCP’s donor base. 
• Reviews and finalizes the guest lists, assists with mailing invitations and creates complex brochures for the event.
• Implements ideas for improvement as they are identified in addition to providing post-event feedback on turnout and vendor performance.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree. 

Experience:

• Background managing budgets. 
• Supervisory experience. 
• Seven years of management experience in a music or related organization; some previous interaction with academic institutions.
• Lead a music and/or performing arts organization. 
• Fundraising experience. 

Technical Skills or Knowledge: 

• Expertise in classical music and related forms of performance. 
• Manage budgets and finances. 
• Understanding of financial concepts and financial management. 
• Expertise in classical music, new music, other musical forms, and related forms of performance. 

Preferred Competencies

• Build strong relationships with donors. 
• Demonstrated capacity for creative, original program development. 
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including ability to address live audiences. 
• Ability to lead.
• Evidence of skill in managing staff and motivating colleagues. 
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with a wide variety of constituencies, including artists, faculty, students, staff, and community arts leaders.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion. 
• Demonstrated comfort in a collaborative environment. 
• Organizational and multitasking skills.
• Deep appreciation of scholarly and artistic activity and their possible interrelations. 

Working Conditions  

• This is a one-year position with a duration to last from the date filled to one year from that date.  
• Office environment. 
• Walk to various parts of campus and most concert venues. 
• Work some evenings and weekends.

Application Documents  

• Resume/CV (required)
• Letter of Interest in this position (required)
• References Contact information (3)(required)
• Please attach a response to this scenario - What project would you propose that would either widely engage the campus community, attract new audiences, or bring greater renown to the series? (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Communications

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Requires Compliance with University Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.