General Director, Arizona Opera

Network(s)

General, Executive, & Artistic Directors

DESCRIPTION

Arizona Opera has reopened an international search and invites nominations and applications for the position of General Director, available July 1, 2025.

Arizona Opera, founded in 1971, is a cornerstone of the arts and culture community in Arizona, serving both Phoenix and Tucson with a mission to connect and inspire its communities through artistically vibrant programs and productions that combine music, storytelling, and the human voice. Over the years, Arizona Opera has become known for its innovative productions, prolific education and community-centric programming, and commitment to both classic and contemporary works.

The Opportunity

The next General Director of Arizona Opera will join an organization that has responded to significant pandemic-related financial and operational challenges. The Company has embraced a framework for long-term budget and program growth that will reimagine how a vibrant regional opera company produces both traditional opera and new work in ways that ensure financial stability, deepen community impact and awareness, and expand the audience for opera in Phoenix, Tucson, and throughout the state.

The Position

The General Director is the chief executive officer of Arizona Opera and reports to the Board of Trustees through the Chair. The General Director provides leadership to ensure that the Company fulfills its mission and realizes its vision “to be a statewide cultural community connected through resonant experiences that create a sense of inspiration and belonging for all Arizonans.” Within the strategic framework established by the Board of Trustees, the General Director ensures that the Company achieves its goals for organizational stability; community impact and awareness; and innovation.

The General Director is responsible and accountable for the artistic, financial, and organizational success of Arizona Opera. This includes determining repertoire, productions, and overseeing all aspects of the Company’s operations, including a $5 million budget. The General Director devotes significant time to fundraising and provides support to the Board in both annual and endowment fundraising.

The General Director ensures a safe and supportive work environment and a culture that celebrates diversity and instills the values of equity, inclusion, and belonging throughout the Company.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be an experienced executive with a passion for opera and a thorough knowledge of artists, repertoire, and all aspects of opera production. They will have a record of success in engaging, expanding, and retaining audiences for both traditional opera and contemporary work, as well as experience in fundraising and managing professional administrative and artistic staff.

The successful candidate will have a vision for the future of American opera and a personal desire to help move the art form forward in the decades ahead. They will be creative, curious, and imaginative, with a strong commitment to transparency in all aspects of the work.

Desired Start Date

July 1, 2025

BENEFITS

Pay Range

180,000 - $200,000 Annual

The salary range for this position is $180,000 to $200,000 per year, depending on qualifications and experience. Arizona Opera offers a competitive benefits package as well.

HOW TO APPLY

Arizona Opera welcomes recommendations, nominations, and applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, ethnicity, or national origin.

Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter that describes specific interest in Arizona Opera and outlines experience and qualifications for the position. Please send this letter with a resumé and include the names and contact information for several professional references. All applications will be treated as confidential. Electronic submissions are requested.

The position will remain open until filled; the Transition Committee will begin to review credentials in late February.

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Salary : $180,000 - $200,000