Vice President of Operations and Artistic

Vice President of Operations and Artistic

Now in its 50th season, Opera Philadelphia stands at the forefront of innovation, redefining opera for our time. As the region's premier opera producer and one of the country's most influential companies, Opera Philadelphia continues to expand and transform as a vibrant hub for operatic experiences, connecting audiences and artists in ways that give voice to the present, reimagine the past, and shape the future of the art form for generations to come.

Founded as a regional company focused on traditional productions in a single venue, Opera Philadelphia has evolved into an internationally celebrated trailblazer in contemporary opera. Praised by The New York Times as a "hotbed of operatic innovation," the company remains committed to 21st-century opera while actively performing in its original home at the historic Academy of Music. Opera Philadelphia also creates interdisciplinary experiences in diverse spaces across the cityfrom immersive performances at the Barnes Foundation and the Philadelphia Museum of Art to pop-up cabaret shows in converted garages, and free outdoor screenings on Independence Mall for tens of thousands of Philadelphians.

Employment : Salaried, exempt

Reports to : General Director and President

Direct Reports : Director of Production, Director of Artistic Administration, Director of Music and Chorus, Director of Guest Services, Director of Marketing

Important Staff Relationships : General Director & President; Chief Development Officer, Vice President of Community Initiatives; VP of Administration & Human Resources, PR Consultant, Finance Consultant

Central Role : This position provides management of Opera Philadelphia's overall day-to-day operations and artistic functions, working closely with the General Director to implement strategic plans and ensure efficient execution across all departments, including managing teams, optimizing processes, and driving overall operational excellence to achieve company goals.

Summary : The Vice President of Operations and Artistic plays a vital leadership role at Opera Philadelphia, overseeing both the operational backbone and the strategic planning that supports the company's artistic vision. In close partnership with the General Director, this position helps shape and implement artistic plans while ensuring the organization's internal systems, resources, and teams are aligned to support creative goals. The VP leads cross-functional coordination across departmentsincluding artistic planning, production, and administrationto ensure seamless integration of day-to-day operations with long-term artistic strategy. They identify opportunities for innovation, remove operational barriers, and promote a culture of accountability and collaboration.

Operations

• Provides day-to-day leadership in support of the organization's strategic plan, mission, core values, and objectives
• Partners with the General Director to carry out Opera's vision and strategy
• Intentionally leads with a focus on advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging practices
• A senior leader for the organization and has oversight of major functions and departments within Marketing and Communications, Guest Services, Leadership Development and Equity, and Community Engagement & Volunteer Management.
• Works closely with Finance, Community Initiatives, Human Resources & Administration, and Development.
• Collaborates with Administration & Human Resources to implement systems and processes for staff rollout
• Works with the Leadership Team to develop and implement plans for the operational infrastructure of systems, processes, and employees to achieve business goals.
• Creates, implements and rolls out plans, internal infrastructures, reporting systems and policies all designed to foster growth, funding, community impact, internal operations and efficiencies within Opera Philadelphia.
• Manages the finance function within the organization
• Provides organizational budget oversight in collaboration with the Finance Consultant
• Works with the General Director and Leadership Team to establish annual, quarterly, and monthly strategic priorities and facilitates workflows
• Supports internal culture and engagement activities

Artistic

Experience & Attributes

Required Qualifications and Experience :

Opera Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to the principle of anti-racism and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All hiring decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications. We do not discriminate in our process based on race, color, religion or belief, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or family status. Opera Philadelphia strongly encourages individuals from historically marginalized communities to apply.