Position: Director of Learning & Civic Impact

Status: Full-time/Regular/Exempt

Reports to: General Director

Supervises: Education & Community Engagement Manager

Liaises with: Opera staff in all departments

Normal hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (37.5 hours per week) 

Duties will require evening and weekend hours during performances and related events.

Effective Date: July 2023

POSITION SUMMARY

Portland Opera seeks a collaborative, experienced, and team-oriented leader to serve as the Director of Learning & Civic Impact. This person will be responsible for developing and implementing programs that align with Portland Opera’s mission, vision, and values (MVV) which are core tenets of a strategic plan adopted in 2019.

The Director of Learning & Civic Impact role is an exciting opportunity for a visionary, collaborative, and empathetic leader to strengthen and build upon our educational and community-based programs and reach the broader community beyond the Portland metro area. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Vision & Program Leadership

• Establish long-range vision and annual goals for the department as defined in the strategic plan
• Understand and enhance the Portland Opera’s role as a civic institution in the Pacific Northwest
• Lead the design, development and implementation of creative and inclusive engagement, education, and learning opportunities and programs for all ages that:
  • Align with the strategic plan using the mission, vision, and values as an anchor to the community
  • Incorporate instructional best practices to achieve optimal learning outcomes for a range of audiences including multi-generational learning, families, students, and teachers. 
  • Reflect and enhance the legacy of Portland Opera while creating conversations and connections to contemporary social issues.
  • Welcome and engage diverse audiences, drive attendance, strengthen visitor experiences, and deepen connections to communities in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. 
  • Have a clear strategy and understanding of how this position contributes to earned and/or contributed revenue through civic, community and educational initiatives
  • Prioritize resources and create plans that are feasible within organizations capacity and goals

Community and Civic Impact & Partnership

• Build community and civic impact capacity, expertise, and initiatives throughout the organization
• Establish and nurture reciprocal collaborations and partnerships with a host of external partners
• Create a partnership of trust, open dialogue, and accountability with communities by centering audiences and communities, and their feedback.
• Develop mechanisms for representation and feedback including a strategy and structure for community engagement including an evaluation process.
• Expand and continually improve Portland Opera’s engagement with the Pacific Northwest community
• Deepen partnerships with PreK-12 schools, and colleges, community centers, and community at large in PNW. 

Team Building & Mentorship

• Establish annual goals, objectives, and priorities for each program
• Advocate and elevate the work of community and civic initiatives throughout the organization.
• Provide consistent, thoughtful leadership and supportive problem-solving

Administration & Operations

• Serve as a member of the Senior Executive Team
• Oversee development, implementation, and monitoring of the department budget (both expenses and revenue). Think strategically about the resources needed for sustainability and growth.
• Represent the department at Leadership, Board, and Committee meetings. Take a leadership role in the Board Engagement Committee.
• Play a significant role in working with the development department to assist in identifying, contributing to, implementing, and reporting on grant-funded opportunities. Assist in cultivating and stewarding donors interested in education, community and civic related programs.

(Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

OTHER DUTIES
Please note, this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

SKILLS/EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

REQUIRED / ESSENTIAL

• Strategic leader with understanding of the Portland arts ecosystem
• Knowledge of opera repertoire and production process
• Understanding of the role Civic Impact plays in a community
• Excellent personnel management and leadership traits
• Emotional intelligence
• Excellent Written and verbal communication
• Public speaking
• Leadership

JOB CONDITIONS

The Director of Learning and Civic Impact has a wide variety of duties, both inside and away from the office. Roughly 85% of the workday is spent either on the phone or working at a computer workstation. The work area has natural light and a combination of fluorescent and incandescent lighting.

EQUIPMENT USED:  In addition to computer workstation and telephone, this position requires use of a cell phone, copy/print and fax machines to perform duties.  Use of other office tools may occasionally be required. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  Concentrated use of computer keyboard and mouse is frequently required.  Lifting tasks are occasional and limited to 25 pounds or less without assistance.  Computer workstation, desk and other equipment are not shared and can be adjusted to make them more ergonomically comfortable.

OUR MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES

VISION
We celebrate the power of performance, storytelling, and song as an inclusive artistic leader.

MISSION
We gather and inspire audiences, artists, and collaborators to share opera experiences that enliven and connect us all, enhancing the cultural landscape of the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

VALUES
We realize our mission and vision with a constellation of values that guide our work:

The Art of Opera

We are unapologetically passionate about the live art of opera, and are energized by its roots as the people’s art form. We believe in its future. We continue the timeless tradition of storytelling, we celebrate the universal language of music, and we honor the brilliance of the human voice. 

Ensemble & Cultural Equity

Our work relies on being an ensemble, and our ensemble only thrives with diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect. We commit to actively confronting and dismantling white supremacy, patriarchy, and exclusion in our company, field, and community. We commit to being inclusive and strive every day to be an anti-racist organization. 

Our Shared Humanity

We sing stories about experiences, emotions, and moments that matter in life. In this practice we, together with audiences, aim to reveal and gain insight into the human condition—as a reflection of ourselves, and ourselves in relation to each other. 

Fiscal Strength & Stewardship

We are committed to the fiscal health of our organization, and its bright future. We are dedicated financial stewards of the community and the philanthropic funding that makes our work possible. 

Community Connections

We generate positive impacts for our community, fostering and co-authoring collaborations and programs to achieve meaningful engagement. We contribute to the civic and cultural life of our region, and amplify the contributions and insights of our peers, colleagues, and partners. 

Imagination & the Entrepreneurial Spirit

We accomplish our work with an enthusiasm to be creative, to innovate and transform, to adapt and collaborate. We hold ourselves and each other accountable to achieve sustainability, increase accessibility, and make space for curiosity in attaining our strategic goals. 

Compensation/Benefits: We work to empower and inspire all to be their very best. We are committed to keeping our employees and their families as healthy as they can be, which is why we provide a comprehensive benefits package.

• Compensation Structure: This position offers an exempt salary of $85,000 + per year, dependent on experience, with the below benefits:

• Our benefits start the 1^st of the month following your start date and include: 
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision options
  • HAS/FSA
  • Life Insurance 
  • Retirement plan w/employer match
  • Up to 18 days of PTO plus 16+ Paid Holidays off; including the last week of December off
  • Work-life balance with a 37.5-hour work week 
  • Two complimentary tickets to all Opera productions
  • Free parking or employer-paid monthly transportation allowance 
  • Indoor bike storage, shower, and locker room