About LA Opera
LA Opera (LAO) is a mission-driven, non-profit organization that plays a significant role in the cultural life of Southern California. Founded in 1986, LAO’s mission is to serve the public by producing world-class opera that preserves, promotes and advances the art form while embodying the diversity, pioneering spirit and artistic sensibility unique to Los Angeles. LAO’s vision is for an engaged and enlightened community in which all members have the opportunity to collectively enjoy the rich aesthetic, emotional, intellectual and cultural experience of opera. LAO works with prominent conductors, directors, and designers from around the world, contributing to high-quality productions. LA Opera emphasizes diverse storytelling and often includes works that reflect various cultural perspectives.
LAO’s productions are experienced by more than 100,000 audience members each year at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles. The venue is noted for its beautiful design and excellent acoustics, making it a fitting home for opera performances. LAO presents a diverse range of operas, from classic works by composers like Verdi and Puccini to contemporary pieces. The opera season runs from September through May/June, with a varied schedule of productions. LAO has received various awards, including Grammy Awards and the prestigious National Opera Association award. LAO is recognized as an innovator in the opera scene and has been involved in the premieres of important new works, including operas that have gone on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music.
In addition to mainstage operas, LAO reaches over 100,000 audience members through its special concerts, educational programs, community events, Off Grand performances in venues across Los Angeles, and On Now digital content.
LAO offers a rich cultural experience with a commitment to excellence, innovation, and community engagement. LAO is committed to education and community engagement, offering the following programs for schools, local communities, including youth performances and workshops.
- For Schools and Teachers: LAO provides resources and training for teachers to incorporate opera into their curriculum.
- Performances & Events for All Ages: LAO offers child-friendly shows incorporating famous arias, interactive opera for babies, and informative lectures to further understand the art form.
- Community Ensembles: LAO offers a range of ticket prices to make performances accessible to the greater public. Subscriptions and single tickets are available, often with discounts for students and seniors. The venue is equipped with services for patrons with disabilities, including wheelchair access and assistive listening devices.
To learn more about LAO, please visit https://www.laopera.org/.
The Opportunity
Reporting directly to the Executive Vice President & Chief Strategic Officer (EVP), with dotted line reporting to the President/Chief Executive Officer, the Vice President of Development (VP) is part of LA Opera’s executive leadership team, which also includes the President/CEO; EVP/Chief Strategic Officer; VP of Artistic Planning; VP of Marketing, Communications, & Technology Services; VP of Finance/Chief Financial Officer; VP of Connects (Community Engagement & Learning); and VP of HR/Labor Relations.
Contributed revenue is a primary source of LA Opera’s income, and the VP will play a critical leadership role related to the company’s fundraising strategy and operations. The VP will lead the Development staff of approximately 16 employees and will have direct reports that include the Director of Major Gifts, the Associate Director of Major and Planned Gifts, the Director of Development Operations, the Director of Leadership Gifts, the Director of Institutional Giving and Government Relations, and the Director of Special Events and Sponsorships.
The VP will cultivate and steward relationships with donors up to the highest levels of giving and manage an extensive portfolio. They will provide strategic and operational oversight of all areas of fundraising, and along with the EVP, they will lead the strategy for a $250 million capital and endowment campaign. This leader will have an annual fundraising goal of at least $30 million.
This leader will play an essential role in supporting and developing the LAO’s Board of Directors. The VP will help to identify, recruit and engage individuals who are passionate about the opera and LAO’s mission. The VP will collaborate with the current Board and encourage their active participation in fundraising activities, guiding them to donor engagement and solicitation of efforts to build a strong network of support. The VP will also help to attract new opera members and spread the word about the many benefits of being an LAO member.
Candidate Profile
LAO is seeking candidates with extensive demonstrated success in frontline fundraising, including experience in cultivating, soliciting, and closing six- and seven-figure gifts, as well as overseeing a large Development staff and operations. A willingness to learn about opera is also essential. LAO is committed to creating a workplace where everyone has equitable opportunities, support, and a sense of belonging. The Vice President of Development will be expected to champion and embody this commitment.
While no candidate is expected to possess every quality outlined, leading candidates for the role will demonstrate many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:
An Expert in Development
The VP is an experienced and proven fundraising executive with a measurable track record of success in securing major gifts and new donor cultivation and stewardship. The VP brings expertise partnering with organizational leadership and boards on strategic planning and the ability to align fundraising goals with effective execution and implementation. The ideal candidate possesses an entrepreneurial ability to grow and enhance the organization’s pipeline to support donor and funder prospecting, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship through a variety of fundraising channels. The VP will have strong data and analysis orientation and the inherent curiosity and drive to use metrics to drive development decisions and meet goals.
Strategic Thinking & Planning
With a proven record of converting strategy into effective execution, the VP possesses the ability to set priorities decisively, delegate responsibilities, assure accountability and allocate resources to ensure results. The VP brings demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to focus on both the high-level objectives and the critical details required for successful implementation. An action-oriented executive, the VP brings experience partnering with leadership to set goals that are ambitious yet achievable. This leader proactively identifies opportunities and develops plans to mitigate the obstacles to achieving them. The VP is comfortable navigating ambiguity and working through competing priorities in a calm and organized manner.
A Relationship Builder and Communicator
The VP is comfortable being a public face of LAO and one of its primary ambassadors, sharing its mission and vision and working to increase the institution’s visibility more broadly. This leader will be a confident public speaker capable of telling LAO’s story, building interest and engagement across constituent groups. The VP is an outstanding communicator, with experience speaking and writing passionately about an organization’s history, impact, vision, values, and future direction. This leader will be a strong people connector, and influencer with an ability to gain new LAO members and built a culture of philanthropy. The VP enjoys team leadership and building fruitful relationships with direct reports and staff. This leader will also bring expertise with developing and iterating on a comprehensive and multi-faceted donor communication strategy. The VP is capable of developing a sense of shared purpose in others and motivating them to engage the opportunities and challenges at present. An engaged and passionate fundraiser, the VP inspires individual and institutional donors/funders to embrace the advantages of communities enriched by the arts and invest in them.
A Skilled and Compassionate Manager of People
The VP clearly communicates expectations to direct reports and provides timely, effective, and compassionate feedback to their employees. They assist their team members in eliminating barriers to excellent performance and provide coaching and encouragement for skill-building. They delegate responsibilities appropriately to their team and recognize and reward achievement. They champion and model adherence to company policies and procedures, as well as behaviors that support a respectful and inclusive workplace, and hold accountable employees who are not meeting expectations in these areas.
The VP is able to effectively energize and implement changes to system, processes, and strategies. They communicate a clear and compelling vision of what the change will accomplish. They take into account the ways in which the change will impact people and their work and develop and execute implementation strategies that are sensitive and responsive to this.
Passion for the Mission
If not already an opera lover, this leader will have an openness to acquiring knowledge about and championing the art form and its transformative power. This leader will also bring an appreciation for LAO’s rich history while continually innovating alongside the leadership team and Board to help expand its brand and reach. This leader will have a strong work ethic, emotional intelligence, a sense of humor and evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning and professional growth. Additionally, leader will embody the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and values, inspiring complete trust and confidence. Above all, the ideal candidate will deeply believe in the transformative power and potential of LAO, along with the opportunity to celebrate diversity and embody the vibrant artistic spirit of Los Angeles.
Compensation & Benefits
The anticipated annual salary range for this role is $225,000 to $265,000. This position is eligible to participate in LA Opera benefit programs, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; life and long-term disability insurance; 403(b) retirement savings plan with a company match; cell phone stipend; Employee Assistance Program; subsidized parking or public transit reimbursement; and complimentary and discounted tickets.
This is a full-time administrative staff position based out of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles. Presently there is hybrid work flexibility, with the possibility of working remotely one or two days a week in many weeks. Evening and weekend work is required, in addition to regular office hours, related to performances and events. The VP will attend most performances (approximately 40/year) as well as various donor events. The VP also will travel to other states and countries on donor cultivation trips (approximately two per year).
Contact
Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Chartise Clark and Judene Hylton. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.
Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
LA Opera is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
About Koya Partners
Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.