Vice President of Artistic Planning & Operations

The New Jersey Symphony is looking for an experienced and passionate music strategist for the position of Vice President of Artistic Planning & Operations. This position plays a critical role in the organization as it is responsible for working with the staff and the Symphony’s Music Director in the planning and execution of concerts and related events. As the Symphony embarks on its new era, the selected candidate will be presented with the chance to build on its programming and initiatives at the organization’s new home in Jersey City and across the Garden State.

Department: Artistic Operations
Reports to: President & CEO
Supervises: Director of Orchestra Operations, Personnel Manager, Artistic Coordinator, Librarian, and Staff Conductors
Location: Principal Office – Newark, New Jersey until the Symphony Center opens, at which point Jersey City
Status: Full Time, Exempt
Salary: $115,000 to $120,000

About the New Jersey Symphony: As an integral part of the musical landscape in the country’s most vibrant cultural corridor, the New Jersey Symphony (Symphony) has for over one hundred years continued to enrich lives through a passion for musical excellence and a commitment to New Jersey, its people, and its communities. The Symphony has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal as “a vital, artistically significant musical organization,” led by Music Director Xian Zhang – a “dynamic podium presence” – since 2016. The New York Times has praised Zhang for her “technical abilities, musicianship, and maturity.”

The New Jersey Symphony, with an annual operating budget of more than $15 million and a modest endowment, currently serves as the resident orchestra of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center with additional performance series in four other outstanding venues throughout New Jersey. With more than 140,000 New Jerseyans of all ages enjoying more than 160 concerts, education and community events each year, and with numerous partnerships with arts organizations, universities, and civic organizations, the Symphony has cultivated broad support, including approximately 3,000 donors and a rebuilding subscriber base of 3,300 post-pandemic.

In addition to its lauded artistic programming, the New Jersey Symphony presents a suite of nationally recognized education and community engagement (ECE) programs that promote meaningful, lifelong engagement with live music, annually serving as many as 60,000 New Jerseyans in nearly all of its 21 counties. Core program offerings include Concerts for Young People; the New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestras; Preschool Program; and the touring chamber music program, New Jersey Symphony Community Partners. Through its diverse array of programs, the Symphony expands access to quality music instruction as well as provides vital arts learning experiences that reinforce social and emotional learning outcomes, foster confidence, and bring joy.

At the forefront of addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the orchestral industry, the New Jersey Symphony launched in 2019 a multi-year professional learning module for staff, musicians, and trustees as well as the Colton Fellowship for early career musicians from communities historically marginalized in symphonic music; the Colton Fellowship expanded in 2023 to include a conducting fellow position. In 2021, the Symphony added a Resident Artistic Catalyst (now titled Resident Artistic Partner) role to its artistic leadership team to compose, perform, and advise the Symphony to allow its programming to become more modern and inclusive of world-class artists from all walks of life. These initiatives grew out of the Symphony’s continuing commitment to transforming all aspects of the organization to reflect the diversity of the communities it serves – a commitment which has deep roots in the Symphony’s one-hundred-year history.

Fresh off its blockbuster 2022–23 Centennial Season, with $61 million raised from a $50 million capital campaign, the New Jersey Symphony is riding a wave of momentum as it enters an exciting new phase in history. The Symphony adeptly navigated the pandemic, earning Emmy awards for its virtual concerts featured on NJ PBS; completing its first-ever professional branding engagement with an outside branding agency; and moving to a new ticketing, CRM and eCommerce system, which has resulted in single ticket sales exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The artistic and organizational foundation remains strong, with musicians under contract through August 2027 and Music Director under contract through the 2027–28 season.

With a new strategic plan in the final stages of development, the New Jersey Symphony now embarks on a bold vision for the future, the centerpiece of which will be a new Symphony Center that includes a 550-seat, versatile performance space in Jersey City. This transformational initiative and expansion into Jersey City will make the organization a community place-maker and will be the largest venue in Jersey City’s Powerhouse Arts District – a city that is on track to surpass Newark as the most populated city in the state. The new 44,000-square-foot Symphony Center will also include space for administrative offices, establish a permanent rehearsal hall for the musicians, and expand performance, education programs and community engagement opportunities. The Symphony Center will diversify earned revenue through rentals and presenting activities, and increase contributed revenue associated with capital projects and expanded community programs. The City has recently announced its partnership with New Jersey Symphony to activate and manage the venue, with final interior theater construction expected to be completed by Winter 2026 for a Fall 2026 expected public opening.

About the Role

As a senior member of the New Jersey Symphony’s leadership team, the Vice President of Artistic Planning will be responsible for leading and executing the Symphony’s multiyear artistic strategies in collaboration with Music Director Xian Zhang and the President & CEO. In addition to overseeing all programming for the orchestra, the VP of Artistic Planning will be responsible for programming our chamber music performances, preparing the annual artistic budget and collaborating with our Resident Artistic Partner.

Roles and Responsibilities

Artistic Planning

In collaboration with the Music Director and President & CEO, lead and oversee implementation of all the Symphony’s artistic programmatic activity, including mainstage concerts, digital activity, and public-facing chamber music programs.
Build the Symphony’s future season calendars in accordance with the CBA and in collaboration with partner venues, VP of Marketing & External Affairs and President & CEO.
Monitor and evaluate all Symphony artistic and programmatic activity for quality and achievement of goals.
Propose, research, and communicate repertoire and format for concerts to conductors and soloists, as necessary. Negotiates all guest artist contacts and manages the Symphony’s commissioning program, with specific focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Research and identity artists (conductors, soloists, composers etc.) for inclusion in Symphony programming, including travel as necessary, with specific focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Develop and nurture industry relationships with management and artists.
Develop and expand Symphony’s collaborative artistic relationships with partner venues, universities, religious/community institutions, and other arts organizations across the state.
Lead and oversee all Symphony artistic leadership searches (staff conductors, Artist/Composer in Residence, Music Director).
Serve as primary contact and representative for the Music Director and Resident Artistic Partner across the institution.

Artistic Operations

Lead the Artistic Operations team, ensuring the successful implementation of all New Jersey Symphony mainstage programming, including travel and logistics for five primary partner venues.
Oversee the planning of auditions for musicians and supervise the Personnel
Manager in the hiring of substitute and extra musicians.
Manage institutional relationships and contracts with labor unions (IATSE, AFM) and partner venues.
Develop and oversee the artistic operations budget.
Oversee musician payroll, including media payments.
Oversee Symphony’s electronic media strategy and activity including recording, broadcasting, streaming; serve as primary liaison with the Electronic Media Association.
Serve as the organization’s expert on the musicians’ collective bargaining agreement, ensuring its consistent application while identifying solutions that balance contractual obligations with the best interests of the orchestra, its players, and the institution.
Serves on the negotiating team for the collective bargaining process.
Collaborate with marketing team to align production logistics with audience experience initiatives.

Executive Team

Attend and participate in Board meetings, including Executive Committee meetings.
Serve, where appropriate, as a public-facing spokesperson for the Symphony.
Serve as a management liaison to the Artistic Advisory Committee and Orchestra Committee.

Traits and Characteristics

Bachelor’s degree (master’s degree preferred) or equivalent combination music performance and/or music management preferred.
Minimum five years’ administrative experience in an arts organization, arts management and education.
Strong working knowledge of standard Microsoft Office applications. Experience with OPAS (Orchestra Planning and Administration Software) and/or databases helpful but not required.
Experience with AFM and IATSE union environments and collective bargaining agreements.
Strong working knowledge of concert production, orchestral and chamber music repertoire, and guest artists/conductors in the field.
A demonstrated understanding of the needs of professional musicians and how to support them to perform at their best.
Passion for making classical music accessible to new and diverse audiences.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
High level of organization and professionalism.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Strong attention to detail and ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
Demonstrated experience managing a high-functioning and fast-paced team.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary and Benefits: The salary range for this position is $115,000 - $120,000, commensurate with the applicant’s skills and experience, and benefits package including paid time off, a generous health insurance plan, pension, parking, and other employee benefits, as available.

Hours: Full time, evenings, and weekends required, specifically for working at concerts and events in multiple locations throughout northern and central New Jersey.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Many functions of the job will be performed during the evenings and on Saturdays and Sundays, as the New Jersey Symphony’s performance schedule dictates. Access to an automobile and valid driver’s license are encouraged; frequently, the venues are not directly accessible through public transportation.

The New Jersey Symphony celebrates the cultural vibrancy of our communities and builds meaningful relationships that elevate and strengthen them. We seek to create a culture of inclusion and a work environment that values hard work, professionalism and creativity. We are committed to diversity and equal opportunity in our recruitment and hiring. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are welcome to apply for open positions.

To Apply

Please email resume and cover letter to:

Philip Leininger, Chief of Staff & Board Liaison
pleininger@njsymphony.org (include “Vice President of Artistic Planning & Operations” in the subject line)

The New Jersey Symphony is an equal opportunity employer. No phone calls please.