Constituent Relations and Audience Development Manager (Washington National Opera)

About the Washington National Opera

In 1956, the sound of opera rang out in DC, heralding the birth of a new company. Four decades and countless artistic leaps later, Washington National Opera continues to move boldly forward on the great adventure that began years ago in a university auditorium. Washington National Opera is now one of the nation's leading opera companies and plays to standing room audiences in the Kennedy Center.

At the Kennedy Center, we strive to foster belonging and empowerment at work. We are able to advance our mission because of our committed and passionate employees. We are fortunate to be able to leverage their diverse perspectives, life experiences and skills to inform how our workplace can be a safe, transparent, and replenishing community. The Kennedy Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law. 

Mission Statement: As the nation's performing arts center, and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across America and around the world, reaching and connecting with artists, inspiring and educating communities. We welcome all to create, experience, learn about, and engage with the arts. 

Why Join Us

We offer a comprehensive range of benefits to all full-time employees including: 

• Staff offers for discount tickets
• Retirement plan with organization matching (after 1 year of employment)
• Qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Commuter programs including pre-tax options for discounted parking and SmartBenefits (WMATA)
• Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Personal Days available immediately upon hire
• 11 paid holidays per year 
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits with FSA and HSA options, and paid FMLA
• Flexible work arrangements
• We like to have fun! Check out the Kennedy Center National Dance Day 2023 staff video!

Job Description

The WNO Constituent Relations and Audience Development Manager will develop, facilitate, and manage programs to build new, diverse audiences for Washington National Opera, and to strengthen WNO’s relationships with affiliate groups that widen WNO’s audience and donor pipelines. These activities will be designed to generate increased net revenue for WNO, both in the short term and over the long term through the renewal and expansion of WNO’s audience and constituent base.

These duties involve extensive independent responsibility for strategic planning, program creation, program management, and budget design and management. The Constituent Relations and Audience Development Manager will be responsible for developing consistent strategies for Audience Development across the organization, and seeking out opportunities to work with a range of institutional and community stakeholders to achieve the objectives in WNO’s Strategic Plan under “Audience Growth, Audience Diversity, and Audience Experience.” The Constituent Relations and Audience Development Manager will also help identify potential prospects for donor cultivation and will work closely with WNO’s Development Department and the Director of Administration and Governance to craft opportunities for deeper engagement.

The Constituent Relations and Audience Development Manager will design, manage, and launch special projects and events as well as oversee continued work with WNO Affinity Groups and the Marketing and Audience Development Committee of the WNO Board of Trustees. This work will be achieved by working closely with WNO and Kennedy Center staff, WNO Affinity Groups, WNO Board of Trustee leaders, WNO General Director and Artistic Director, Production, Marketing, Development, Education, Press, Young Artist Program Departments, and key volunteer leaders.

Key Responsibilities

• Affinity Group Development and Management: Independently coordinate with respective stakeholders on all aspects of day-to-day and long-term management for WNO’s existing affinity groups – BravO (WNO’s young professionals group), WNO’s Women Who Opera subscription group, and the WNO Women’s Committee. Ensure that these groups meet targets for generating net revenue for WNO through social events that support mainstage productions and/or raise funds to support WNO programs. Work with the Director of Administration and Governance to develop strategy, goals, and plans for each group, and develop tools for evaluating efficacy. Evaluate and pursue opportunities to create additional affiliate groups of WNO subscribers and single ticket buyers, with the goal of increasing the breadth and diversity of WNO’s audience.
• Audience Development Strategies and Events: Develop partnerships with community organizations and expand existing partnerships (e.g. with embassies, corporate sponsors, local alumni associations), to identify and cultivate potential new audiences throughout the Greater Washington area. Partner and cultivate relationships with existing groups, both in-house and outside (e.g., BravO, OPERA America’s Opera Teens, Kennedy Center MyTix, LINKS, Black-Letter Greek Organizations) to extend current programs and create new ones. Serve as project manager and event coordinator for community engagement initiatives such as (but not limited to), Alumni Night, and Pride Night Out, Military Night, etc. Evaluate and pursue initiatives to attract specific segments, such as family audiences or BravO members who have surpassed the BravO age limit. Review contracts with external vendors for the events, and collaborate with both internal marketing and subscriptions teams on designing promotional materials and tracking ticket and subscription sales.
• Financial Responsibilities: Oversee on- and offsite events that generate revenue for WNO. Responsible for designing programs budgets totaling approximately $350,000, and managing expenses and revenue to budget targets.
• Opera in the Outfield: In partnership with both internal and external stakeholders, serve as project manager and event coordinator for all aspects of WNO’s signature community engagement and audience development event, a free annual broadcast of a WNO opera at Nationals Park. Engage WNO Social Impact and Audience Development functions to ensure that the event meets goals for attendance, community impact, and introducing new audiences to WNO. Ensure that WNO constituent groups are engaged in promoting the event. Serve as primary contact for the Nationals Park, including negotiating and executing the contract with Nationals Park. Facilitate all production and promotional materials by collaborating with both Kennedy Center and Nationals media teams. Oversee all design/advertising collateral both internal and external to the Kennedy Center. Engage and coordinate staff across all departments of the Kennedy Center and contacts at the Nationals to prepare for and execute all event-planning requirements.
• WNO Marketing and Audience Building Committee: Serve as a co-staff lead for this committee of the WNO Board of Trustees, working in partnership with WNO’s Marketing Manager to drive the strategy for the Committee, and to provide project management and day-to-day support for the work of the Committee.
• Ongoing projects: Demonstrate strong project management skills to strategically manage the timeline and planning process for WNO’s Artist Ambassador program and any other events or initiatives – as developed to support Audience Development goals for WNO. Track progress against intended outcomes; financial and human resources allocations; and ROI.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

• 5+ years of administrative experience, preferably in the not-for-profit arts space and/or in special events, development, and audience development.
• Successful candidates will be customer service-oriented, and will be able to think strategically while also having the capacity to handle day-to-day details of program management.
• Excellent communication, writing, editing, and proofreading skills as well as creativity, flexibility, diplomacy, and problem solving skills are essential.
• Must have ability to manage a variety of projects simultaneously, to work independently, and to represent the WNO well in public settings and with various constituencies.
• Knowledge of opera or classical music desirable.
• Competency with Microsoft Office is highly desirable.

Additional Information

• Light travel throughout the city is needed to identify and visit locations for events and performances.
• Occasional evening and weekend hours are required as necessary to support events and other activities.