Executive Director

Position: Executive Director, Reporting to the Chair of the Board of Directors

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

Type/FLSA: Full Time - Exempt

Compensation: Commensurate with experience, plus medical/dental/vision/life insurance benefits

The Opportunity: The Executive Director will commence on or before July 1, 2020, and will work in partnership with the Artistic Director (currently Executive & Artistic Director) to accomplish the company’s goals. The successful applicant will develop and manage the annual budget, and develop and implement a comprehensive development plan. They will also hire and manage all administrative staff.

Key Responsibilities:

Develop and manage the Annual Budget and detailed department budgets in order to guarantee the continuation of the company’s consecutive debt-free operations.

• Serve as primary staff liaison to the Board of Directors and Board Committees.

• Supervise all company business functions, including, but not limited to, financial management, accounting, general office administration, IT, ticket sales, CRM implementation and maintenance.

• Hire and manage all KO administrative employees, interns, and volunteer staff (excluding artists and production staff).

• Supervise the development of new Marketing and Public Relations campaigns.

• Work with the Artistic Director and Board in developing short and long range plans for the company.

• Represent and advocate for the company by engaging with community groups, elected officials, etc.

Develop and implement a comprehensive Development Plan that addresses individual, corporate, foundation, and government support.

• Identify and write all grant applications. • Advise and collaborate with the Knoxville Opera Guild’s fund-raising activities.

• Identify donor trends and opportunities as well as develop strategies to retain current and develop new donors. Selection Criteria:

• Bachelor’s Degree is required.

• Professional fundraising certification (CFRE) is preferred but not required.

• Extensive knowledge of fund-raising “best practices,” principles, and ethics.

• Minimum of 5-7 years of personally designing and executing successful fundraising campaigns is required.

• Expertise working with PatronManager and/or other fundraising databases is required.

• Minimum of 5-7 years of successful financial and personnel management experience (preferably with a non-profit organization) is required.

• Exceptional written, oral, presentation, and organizational skills are required.

• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills with the ability to effectively gain the respect and support of various stakeholders, including Board members, donors, and community members is required.

• Required computer skills include the Microsoft Office Suite programs.

• Proven ability to work independently, meet deadlines, multi-task, adapt to change, be creative, and problem-solve.

• The successful candidate will be eager to become a valuable member of the East Tennessee community, and be committed to accomplishing the company’s financial and artistic goals in collaboration with the Artistic Director, staff, and Board of Directors.

The Company:

Knoxville Opera is currently celebrating its 42nd Season with main stage productions of Madame Butterfly (Puccini), Romeo and Juliet (Gounod), and Harriet Tubman (Okoye/Tennessee Premiere). Among its annual 100 Education/Community Engagement events are the Knoxville Opera Goes to Church concert, the Rossini Festival, and in-school Opera 101/African-American Voices/staged abbreviated opera presentations. The company, which has operated debt-free for the past 14 years, has an annual budget of $1.3 million and an operating reserve of $1+ million. The company’s activities and history may be reviewed in detail on its website: www.KnoxvilleOpera.com.

The Region:

The Knoxville/East Tennessee region is well-known for: great natural beauty (rivers, lakes, forests), tourist destinations (Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Dollywood, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), a robust arts community (e.g. Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Clarence Brown Theatre, Knoxville Museum of Art, Big Ears Festival), Innovation Valley Economic Development Partnership, major employers (e.g. U.S. Dept. of Energy, University of Tennessee, Pilot Flying J, Covenant Health, Clayton Homes, Discovery, Jewelry Television, DeRoyal Industries), a thriving television/film production community, affordable housing costs, fiscally responsible local government, and no state income tax.