Enid Symphony Orchestra
POSITION PROFILE
The Enid Symphony Orchestra (ESO) seeks an enthusiastic, collaborative, and mission-driven leader of to serve as its next Executive Director.
This is an opportunity to lead Oklahoma's oldest civic orchestra and help shape the future of a respected cultural institution serving Northwest Oklahoma. The Executive Director works closely with the Board of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Directors, Artistic Director, musicians, donors, volunteers, and community partners to support the orchestra's artistic, financial, and organizational success.
Candidates with orchestral experience are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Executive Director serves as the organization's senior administrative leader and is responsible for fundraising, financial oversight, community engagement, organizational operations, and advancing the mission of the Enid Symphony Orchestra.
The Executive Director reports directly to the Board of Directors and works in close partnership with the Artistic Director.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Enid Symphony Orchestra is a vibrant community-based arts organization with deep roots throughout Northwest Oklahoma. The organization seeks a leader who understands the unique role orchestras play in their communities and who is excited to help strengthen the orchestra's artistic impact, financial sustainability, and community presence.
The next Executive Director will inherit:
- Strong artistic leadership
- Deep community support and visibility
- Dedicated musicians, volunteers, donors, and Board members
- Established educational programming and outreach initiatives
- A unique performance and event facility in the Enid Symphony Center
The successful candidate will build upon these strengths while fostering audience growth, fundraising success, and meaningful community engagement.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership and Administration
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Enid Symphony Orchestra and Enid Symphony Center
- Work collaboratively with the Board of Directors and Artistic Director to advance organizational goals
- Support implementation of Board-approved strategic priorities
- Maintain organizational policies, records, and administrative systems
- Ensure compliance with nonprofit, grant, and reporting requirements
- Support concert production and organizational activities throughout the season
Fundraising and Development
- Serve as the organization's primary fundraiser and community ambassador
- Cultivate and steward relationships with donors, sponsors, foundations, and community partners
- Coordinate annual fundraising efforts and special events
- Prepare and manage grant applications and reporting requirements
- Work with the Board of Directors to strengthen contributed revenue and donor engagement
- Identify opportunities for new funding sources and partnerships
Financial Management
- Prepare and monitor annual operating budgets in collaboration with Board leadership
- Oversee financial reporting and responsible stewardship of organizational resources
- Monitor revenue and expenses and support long-term financial sustainability
- Assist with financial planning and forecasting
- Identify opportunities to strengthen earned and contributed revenue
Community Engagement and Marketing
- Serve as a visible representative of the organization throughout the community
- Build relationships with local businesses, schools, civic organizations, and community partners
- Support audience development, patron retention, and ticket sales initiatives
- Promote educational and outreach programming
- Strengthen the orchestra's visibility throughout Northwest Oklahoma
Organizational Leadership
- Supervise administrative staff and contracted personnel
- Foster a collaborative and positive organizational culture
- Support effective communication among musicians, volunteers, Board members, and patrons
- Encourage volunteer engagement and participation
- Assist in maintaining strong relationships across all organizational stakeholders
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Demonstrated experience working with or performing in an orchestra, symphony, chamber orchestra, opera company, university orchestra program, youth orchestra, or similar orchestral music organization
- Understanding of orchestra operations, musician relations, concert production, and the unique challenges of nonprofit arts organizations
- At least 1 year experience in nonprofit administration, fundraising, grant writing, arts management, community engagement, or a related field
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Strong organizational and project management abilities
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with musicians, volunteers, Board members, donors, and community stakeholders
Preferred
- Experience in arts administration or nonprofit management
- Fundraising and donor stewardship experience
- Grant writing experience
- Budget management experience
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
Candidates with backgrounds in orchestra administration, orchestra operations, music education, development, community arts organizations, or related fields are encouraged to apply.
TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS
The ideal candidate will be demonstrate:
- Passion for orchestral music and community engagement
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
- Initiative and self-motivation
- Professionalism and integrity
- Adaptability and resourcefulness
- Collaborative leadership style
- Sound judgment and problem-solving ability
- Commitment to the mission of a community-based arts organization
The successful candidate will inspire confidence and collaboration among musicians, Board members, volunteers, donors, patrons, and community stakeholders while helping guide the future of one of Oklahoma's most historic cultural organizations.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
The Executive Director reports directly to the Enid Symphony Association Board of Directors and supervises administrative staff and contracted personnel.
The Executive Director works collaboratively with the Artistic Director, orchestra musicians, volunteers, and Board leadership to advance the mission and long-term success of the organization.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Salary: $50,000 annually
Benefits include health insurance reimbursement, paid time off, and professional development opportunities as available.
This position offers the opportunity to lead Oklahoma's first and most respected civic orchestras while making a meaningful impact on the cultural life of Northwest Oklahoma.
ABOUT THE ENID SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Enid Symphony Association was established in 1971 to foster the Enid Symphony Orchestra, which was founded in 1905. In 1983 Douglas Newell became the first full-time Music Director and Executive Director of the Enid Symphony Association. Each season the ESO presents a five-performance Subscription Series, a free outdoor July 4th performance in Meadowlake Park, four Carnegie Hall Link Up educational concerts. The ESO presents Run-Out concerts throughout Oklahoma as scheduled.
Annually, the ESO reaches audiences in excess of 12,000 throughout Northwest Oklahoma. Although the primary service area is Garfield County, the ESO's subscriber base extends across 11 Oklahoma counties and beyond.
Funding for the ESO is derived from ticket sales, program advertising, corporate and private contributions, facility rental revenue, grants from public and private foundations, support from the Oklahoma Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts, and Board-led fundraising initiatives. The organization is governed by a twelve-member Board of Directors.
Performances are held in the Enid Symphony Center, located within Enid's historic second Masonic Temple. The Center includes the Joan L. Allen Symphony Hall, the Jane Champlin Art Gallery, the Park Avenue Thrift Theatre, and the Eleanor Hornbaker Banquet Hall. The facility serves as both a performance venue and a community gathering space and is fully accessible to the public.
The Enid Symphony Orchestra has been featured in regional and national publications including Oklahoma Today, Southern Living, and Symphony magazine and serves as a significant cultural asset for Northwest Oklahoma.
To Apply: Please send a current CV/Resume including contact information for 3 professional references to:
[email protected]
Douglas Newell
Enid Symphony Orchestra
301 W. Broadway Ave, Enid, Oklahoma 73701
Email: [email protected]
office: (580) 237-9646
cell: 580-278-9818
Website: enidsymphony.org
Pay: $45,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Relocation assistance
Work Location: In person
