Director of Advancement
Director of Advancement
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$ 75000 - 90000
1 Vacancy
Job Description
Job Title Director of Advancement
Classification Fulltime Exempt
Reports To General Director & CEO
Start Date Summer 2025
About Kentucky Opera
Kentucky Opera is a vital component of the cultural health of our region contributing to a compassionate open minded and vibrant community. We spark discovery joy and connection among varied and diverse communities throughout the Commonwealth with the shared experience of opera. Kentucky Opera produces its season in two venues: The Brown Theatre and The Kentucky Opera Center for Cultural Health. Youth and Community programs are central to the companys mission and purpose.
Scope & Principal Accountabilities
The Director of Advancement plays a critical role in the growth of Kentucky Opera. This position is responsible for strategic oversight of the externalfacing functions of the company including Marketing Development Communications and Patron Services departments in achieving the revenue goals of the organization. Serving as a key partner on the Senior Leadership team the Director of Advancement works to create and oversee multiyear campaign initiatives that generate the necessary revenue to move the organization forward in its impact and sustainability. In addition the Director of Advancement works to create long term strategies for expanding the companys audience base while continuing to broaden the brand and reputation of the organization across the Commonwealth and throughout the opera industry. This position promotes deep collaboration between departments to engage people with the artform and to create greater impact in the community.
Essential Functions
Marketing Sales and Fundraising 80
Lead and mentor a professional marketing and development team to build financial support build strategic communications and provide quality patron services In partnership with the General Director CEO and board set and achieve revenue goals create and implement strategies and tactics to regularly report progress while balancing short and longterm financial goals of the organization. Revenue sources include individual and institutional gifts for annual and capital campaigns individual planned gifts for endowment campaigns and subscription and single ticket sales for each opera season.
In partnership with all staff and board create and implement a comprehensive approach to audience development and donor community and volunteer engagement consistent with our values and goals codifying the goals strategies and tactics in an annual work plan to support the operating and capital needs of Kentucky Opera
Establish and maintain best practices and professional standards policies and procedures in alignment with the Operas priorities
Lead strategic subscription and single ticket pricing to ensure capacity is optimized and ticket sales goals are achieved
Serve as a principal ambassador and fundraiser for Kentucky Opera and personally identify cultivate solicit and steward donors and prospects in accordance with performance goals while adhering to the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Standards
Ensure brand cohesion and appropriate constituent/stakeholder messaging in external materials and events
Recommend and lead new branding efforts as appropriate for the advancement of the organization
Act as liaison with all departments to facilitate the effective marketing of all company key initiativesensuring that patrons receive key messaging at the correct time
Establish effective recruiting onboarding professional development performance management and retention practices for advancement staff members
Adhere to company federal state and local business requirements and compel compliance
Valuesaligned Leadership 20
Serve as thought leader in partnering with other company leadership to align the operas programming and partnerships to its mission and vision demonstrated by measurable positive impact for everyone we serve
Identify and package organizational priorities as fundraising priorities to support multiyear grants and funding requests
Advise the General Director & CEO on matters relating to Kentucky Operas growth and sustainability strategies
Develop multiyear growth and sustainability plans including campaigns to ensure the longterm fiscal health of the organization in collaboration withand the engagement of the General Director CEO and Board of Trustees
Facilitate the successful stewardship of the General Director CEO portfolio of donors through timely and strategic requests for support
Serve as planning liaison to the advancement committee of the Board
This position is a good fit for someone who
Courageously builds cultural competency in self and in direct reports eager to work towards Kentucky Operas stated objective to be a communitycentered institution centering the companys mission and values in all they do
Successfully achieving revenue goals for nonprofit institutions preferably in the visual or performing arts demonstrating the ability to create and implement multiyear ticket sales and fundraising campaigns
Is comfortable talking about money. Understands the complexity of financial planning and fiscal management including grants management and restricted funds release management
Exercises good judgment; demonstrating an understanding of ethics related to revenue generation activities and communitycentered practice; and uses discretion when building internal and external relationships
Possesses exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with senior leadership prospects donors and board members and other volunteers in a wide range of roles in small and large groups; demonstrate patience with a wide variety of personality types and build effective longterm relationships
Expresses clearly and beautifully verbally and in writing
Supervises and develops employees including organizing prioritizing and scheduling work assignments; evaluating performance; and mentoring and coaching employees to achieve maximum productivity
Leads by example consistently showing initiative diligence and follow through
Enjoys their work as a team player while balancing work independently and as a selfstarter in a collaborative environment
Possesses computer literacy and broadexperience with Microsoft Office Tessitura and other fundraising and marketing technologies and integrated database systems.
Is knowledgeable about communitycentered best practices in the field
Effectively manages multiple complex projects while meeting multiple deadlines
Fosters a cooperative work environment
Models integrity openness and trust
Displays strong leadership in a fastpaced collaborative environment
Thrives when leading through change
Is passionate about and committed to the performing arts and their importance in our world
Exudes a positive attitude
Kentucky Opera is willing to teach
Intricacies of opera as a collaborative artform
Industryspecific procedures around artmaking staffing and scheduling
Kentucky Opera policies and procedures
Kentucky Operas CRM database policies and procedures
special requirements
Ability to work many nights and weekends. This position requires a great deal of local travel not accessible by public transportation requiring use of a personal vehicle. Additionally this position requires the ability to lift 40 lbs. or more on an occasional basis with or without assistance.
COMPENSATION
Salary is $75000 $90000 commensurate with experience plus benefits. Kentucky Opera offers a generous benefit package including medical insurance as well as paid vacation holidays and sick leave. Compare cost of living in the vibrant city of Louisville. Kentucky Opera is an equal opportunity employer that values a varied and diverse staff who bring a variety of perspectives to the company.
TO APPLY:
Please send cover letter and resume to Lisa Bury Principal of Lisa Bury Consulting LLC at no later than April 15 2025.
Required Experience:
Senior IC
Employment Type
Full-Time
