Director, Music Administration

REPORTS TO: Vice President, Artistic Operations & Administration

STATUS: Full-Time, Exempt

Through artistic excellence coupled with innovative, relevant programming; initiatives to connect with and grow new audiences; engagement with communities to ignite creativity across Chicago; and a modernized Opera House that is the setting for truly great experiences, Lyric is leading the advancement of opera. This collaborative vision will deliver ever more exciting, thought-provoking and inclusive audience and community experiences – while increasing the gravitational pull of our art form, our company, and our city.

The Director, Music Administration provides strategic and operational leadership for all Music Administration functions, ensuring exceptional support for Lyric’s Orchestra, Chorus, Dancers, and Assistant Conductors. This role requires exceptional interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and the ability to build and maintain strong, productive relationships in a complex, unionized environment.

Reporting directly to the Vice President, Artistic Operations & Administration, the Director leads the Orchestra Personnel Manager; Manager, Music Administration, Managing Librarian, and Principal Librarian (union role per CBA). The position oversees personnel management, contract administration, union relations, budgeting, and compliance; ensures the Department of Music Administration meets all union and internal deadlines; and resolves escalated personnel or contractual issues.

The Director works closely with the Music Director and the Chorus Director and Head of Music to align staffing and budgetary decisions with artistic requirements, approves final rosters and instrumentation, serves as a key negotiator in union agreements, and ensures the timely preparation and distribution of all musical materials. Success in this role requires balancing artistic priorities with contractual obligations and fiscal responsibility in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership, Oversight, and Collaboration

• Lead the Manager, Music Administration; Orchestra Personnel Manager; Managing Librarian; and Principal Librarian, providing guidance, mentorship, and decisive leadership.
• Oversee all orchestra operations, including approving final instrumentation in consultation with the Music
• Director or guest conductors, and making all offers to new Regular and Substitute Members in accordance with the CBA.
• Approve final chorus rosters in consultation with the Chorus Director and Head of Music, approve final dancer rosters based on production paperwork and budget parameters.
• Consult on Assistant Conductor assignments with the Chorus Director and Head of Music to ensure contractual and budget alignment and confirm logistical support from Music Administration.
• Oversee the Music Library’s acquisition, preparation, and distribution of all musical materials, ensuring accuracy and alignment with repertoire decisions made by the Music Director and Chorus Director and Head of Music.
• Resolve escalated personnel, contractual, and union compliance issues before further escalation to the Vice President, Artistic Operations & Administration.
• Assist with orchestra auditions as needed. If requested, serve as a panelist on chorus auditions.
• Approve program listings for all Music Administration ensembles, ensuring accuracy, contractual compliance, and consistency across all ensembles before publication.
• Serve as a consulted resource for the Chorus Director and Head of Music on musical versions, cuts, and stage band plans to confirm feasibility, budget alignment, and CBA compliance.

Union Relations and Compliance

• Lead Assistant Conductor agreement negotiations.
• Represent Lyric in AGMA and CFM negotiations in collaboration with the Vice President, Artistic Operations & Administration.
• Serve as the primary management representative in standing union meetings, including monthly “AGMA Informal Meetings” and requested CFM meetings.
• Ensure the Department of Music Administration meets all union and internal deadlines.
• Oversee CBA administration for Music Administration ensembles, including drafting, execution, and compliance monitoring.
• Oversee Music Administration’s compliance for media capture, licensing, and distribution, coordinating with relevant artistic and technical stakeholders.
• Oversee contractual and budgetary elements of commissions involving Music Administration personnel, ensuring artistic, scheduling, and financial alignment.

Budget and Financial Management

• Lead the creation of the multi-million dollar Music Administration budget, integrating input from ensemble managers, the Music Library, the Music Director, and the Chorus Director and Head of Music.
• Ensure budget proposals meet union obligations, support artistic needs, and align with fiscal goals.
  Partner with the Artistic Finance Manager to monitor spending, address variances, and ensure adherence to approved budgets.
• Make final determinations on compensation questions escalated by ensemble managers, ensuring decisions align with CBAs and fiscal parameters. The Director holds final accountability for all departmental payrolls; ensemble managers are responsible for processing payroll for their respective groups, with the Artistic Finance Manager playing a critical role in proofing and resolving discrepancies with managers and the Payroll Department.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities for the position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. All positions are required to perform any additional tasks assigned by the supervisor.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Bachelor’s degree in music or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum 5 years of music administration experience at a  major arts organization, preferably opera, with at least 2 years of experience in a managerial role.
• Proven experience working with unionized performing groups, including contract negotiations and administration (Experience with AGMA and AFM a plus).
• Deep knowledge of operatic repertoire, orchestral instruments and seating, and opera chorus repertoire; familiarity with voice types, vocal technique, and singer evaluation.
• Ability to read and interpret full orchestral scores preferred.
• Demonstrated success drafting original contract language.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and ArtsVision (or similar).
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and foster collaboration.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a high-pressure environment with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Familiarity with Italian, German, and/or French preferred.

WORK CONDITIONS:

• Evening and weekend work required in alignment with rehearsal, performance, and event schedules.
• Willingness to travel domestically as required.
• Frequent movement between office, rehearsal, and performance environments.
• Periods of sitting, standing, and walking.
• Ability to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, telephone, and other standard office equipment.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and adapt to shifting priorities.

COMPENSATION:

Application Deadline: Monday, September 22, 2025 (5:00pm CT)

Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt

Salary is $115,000-$125,000

Lyric Opera offers benefits including health, dental, vision 403B (no company match, 401(k) with company match, PTO (including sick, vacation, and personal days, and holidays), life/AD&D coverage, opportunities for professional development, and complimentary tickets.

Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, parental status, socio-economic status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We strongly encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.