Employment
Careers
Director of Institutional Gifts
The Director of Institutional Gifts is a senior member of the Development staff, reporting to the Director of Development. The Director of Institutional Gifts is responsible for raising approximately $5 million in institutional support through the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of gifts from foundations and government agencies for annual operations, special projects, and the company’s endowment. The Director supervises the Associate Director of Development Communications and the Manager of Institutional Gifts and works in close collaboration with the Director of Sponsorship.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
• Leads, directs, and manages all aspects of the solicitation, stewardship, and fulfillment of gifts and grants from institutional sources.
• Develops solicitation strategy and secures meetings with foundation program officers and government agency staff to secure annual grants, contributions and special project funding.
• Represents City Opera at meetings with institutional funders either alone or with City Opera’s senior executives and members of the Board of Directors.
• Provides leadership in developing new sources of support for annual operations, education and outreach programs, new productions, and capital projects.
• Participates with the Director of Development in a broad range of planning and strategy projects, including setting goals for annual, capital and endowment campaigns.
• Prepares briefing memos on institutional solicitations for the Board Chairman and President, the General Manager and Artistic Director, and the Director of Development as needed.
• Develops annual budget and cash-flow projections.
• Monitors monthly progress on revenue and expenditures for the institutional giving department, and ensures accuracy of gift tracking systems.
• Develops, writes, and supervises the completion of proposals, reports, and collateral material as needed.
• Drafts, edits, and oversees the production of printed fundraising materials as well as the company newsletter and annual report.
• Staffs the VOX and Education and Audience Development Board Committees.
• Serves at the Company’s government affairs representative to the Cultural Institutions Group.
• Represents the Company at events and meetings as appropriate.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required. Advanced degree or training preferred. The successful candidate should possess a verifiable achievement record in institutional fundraising, preferably within the New York arts community. Enthusiasm and imagination are vital to the role, as are superb communication skills. The ideal candidate will possess the ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects to meet assigned deadlines. He or she must interface effectively and appropriately with Board members, donors and prospects, volunteers, and other staff. Computer facility and ability to function in a networked PC environment are necessary. Candidates with five or more years of experience in fundraising for the performing or fine arts preferred.
TO APPLY:
Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to DevResumes@nycopera.com.
Please include “Director of Institutional Gifts” in the subject line. No phone calls, please.
Internships
Internships are available in New York City Opera's Marketing Department in General Marketing, Group Sales/Events, Corporate Sponsorship, Creative Services and Retail & Volunteer Services. This is an ideal opportunity to explore a career at a major performing arts organization and to work together with a busy marketing team. Interns will assist with a variety of research projects, outreach campaigns, graphic design, ongoing sales projects, proposal writing, special events, and more, depending on the focus of the internship. Internships begin mid-January, mid-May, and mid-September for 4-month periods and require a commitment of 20 hours per week. College juniors, seniors, or graduate students preferred, ideally familiar with music, opera or other performing arts.
Send cover letter and resume to NYC Opera Marketing via e-mail or via fax at 212.724.1120. No phone calls please.
Interns are also needed in New York City Opera’s Development Department to assist full-time staff members with a variety of fundraising and administrative tasks, including but not limited to: mailings and donor communications, database administration, special events, research, and other clerical duties. Three to six month commitment desired. Regular office hours are 10am to 6pm, but intern hours are somewhat flexible. Some evening and weekend hours may be required depending on the season. Applicants should be working towards or have completed a degree with an arts focus and have future career interests in Development and/or Arts Administration. Applicants should be outgoing, work well with others, be attentive to detail, and have at least basic computer skills. Course credit may be arranged commensurate with duties and hours.
Please send your cover letter and resume to New York City Opera Development via e-mail. No phone calls please.
New York City Opera is seeking a spring intern for its Press Department. Intern will work directly with the publicity coordinator on all aspects of campaigns, including press kit preparation, press releases and mailings, press clippings and press books. Additional duties include administrative functions such as filing and photocopying. Interns will also have the opportunity to attend opera productions and photo shoots. Ideal candidates will possess problem-solving and multi-tasking skills, excellent people skills, organizational skills, a strong work-ethic, and enjoy a fast paced work environment. An interest in classical music, opera and the performing arts is a must. The candidate should also have Word/Excel skills. This position offers a monthly MetroCard, and school credit can also be arranged. Ideally, the candidate will be able to commit from February - May and be able to work 3 days a week with the ability to work extra days when deemed necessary.
Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume (as a word document) to:
Shara Seigel at sseigel@nycopera.com
Online Archive Marketing Intern
New York City Opera is looking for an intern to help with the launch of a new online archive that will showcase the company’s performance history from 1944 to present. City Opera is a premiere repository of the history of opera in America in the latter half of the 20th century and this archive will record and preserve this heritage. The Online Archive Intern will work in City Opera’s Marketing department and requires a commitment of 20 hours per week, ideally working Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. A three to four month commitment is desired. This is an ideal opportunity for someone with an interest in archival work and the performing arts. College juniors, seniors, or graduate students preferred, ideally.
Responsibilities:
-Compile synopses, historical data, and season information in conjunction with the Dramaturg and Archivist
-Identify and label historical production photos
-Collect and format articles
-Upload all content into the Content Management System (CMS)
-Provide data quality assurance
The ideal candidate will be a college junior, senior, or graduate student, familiar with music, opera, or other related performing arts disciplines. Attentiveness to detail and strong communication and organizational skills are required. Knowledge of opera and strong writing and computer skills are preferred. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to marketing@nycopera.com and include “Online Archive Marketing Intern” in the subject; no phone calls.
Volunteers
New York City Opera Volunteer Services Volunteers play an important role at the New York City Opera. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, click here.