Description: The Impact and Innovation team at the San Diego Symphony leads the organization’s social impact and learning programs, building connections with cultural institutions, nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and schools to advance the orchestra’s role as an international cultural ambassador, civic leader, and hub for local community activity.

The Director of Learning & Leadership is responsible for developing, implementing and managing the San Diego Symphony’s programs for youth. This includes designing concert programs, building curriculum, organizing field trips, coordinating masterclasses, and building leadership programs. This position will create and steward relationships with schools, community groups, and arts organizations across the Greater San Diego region that support program growth and the experiences for youth.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced self-starter with the ability to manage the adminstration and logistics for multiple events, programs, and formal and informal learning experiences. The role requires strong project management and problem-solving skills, excellent and empathetic communication, and to enjoy building relationships and leading collaboratively. A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is expected.

Program Development

• Collaborate with VP of Impact & Innovation to develop long-term youth program vision, strategy, and impact assessment plans
• Plan, produce, and evaluate school and family concerts including program goals, themes, repertoire, scripts, digital media, and other technical elements; identify guest artists as appropriate, and help inform rehearsal strategies in alignment with the organizational strategy and values
• Coordinate scheduling with area school districts, private schools, and homeschools. Develop and distribute related classroom materials and curriculum
• Assess and manage musician professional development as required
• Develop and maintain relationships with local student performing organizations, public school music curriculum supervisors and local music educators from pre-school through collegiate level to identify needs and effectively develop and administer San Diego Symphony’s education programs to meet those needs
• Design measurement tools and collect and track participant feedback to assess impact and effectiveness of all programs
• Maintain a positive, proactive, and ongoing relationship with youth-serving organizations across the region including but not limited to school districts, teachers, school administrators, musicians, arts partners, social service partners, and educational networks
• Develop revenue and expense budgets for youth programs, monitor progress of each and adjust as necessary
• Manage youth engagement, including participant analysis, disability access needs, and executing paperwork
• Create contracts and check requests for guest artists and production partners, as appropriate
• Work closely with Development Department to support youth program funding
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to promote activities and communicate with outside stakeholders the importance of youth programs
• Schedule related musician services, assign musicians and communicate all logistics, context, and goals to those assigned. Utilize musician services following the guidelines of the Collective Bargaining Agreement
• Recruit and supervise volunteers to help staff youth activities

Administrative

• Maintain a positive, proactive, and ongoing relationship with youth-serving organizations across the region including but not limited to school districts, teachers, school administrators, musicians, arts partners, social service partners, and educational networks
• Develop revenue and expense budgets for youth programs, monitor progress of each and adjust as necessary
• Manage youth engagement, including participant analysis, disability access needs, and executing paperwork
• Create contracts and check requests for guest artists and production partners, as appropriate
• Work closely with Development Department to support youth program funding
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to promote activities and communicate with outside stakeholders the importance of youth programs
• Schedule related musician services, assign musicians and communicate all logistics, context, and goals to those assigned. Utilize musician services following the guidelines of the Collective Bargaining Agreement
• Recruit and supervise volunteers to help staff youth activities

• Requirements: Passion for music education and orchestra music
• 5+ years prior work experience in music/music education or related field
• Working knowledge of orchestral repertoire required
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community
• Ability to manage multiple projects in many stages at once, thriving in a fast-paced environment
• Collaborative and effective team player, with ability to anticipate internal and external stakeholder needs
• Familiarity with California and National education standards, especially for elementary general music education
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required
• Ability to work varied hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays

Benefits: This position is full-time with excellent benefits, based at San Diego Symphony locations: The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park and Jacobs Music Center. There is also the opportunity for this position to be hybrid (work from home and on site).

Salary range: $85,000 - $100,000 exempt