Production Manager - National Symphony Orchestra

***Please submit a cover letter for consideration***

About The National Symphony Orchestra

The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) enjoys international renown as one of America’s finest professional orchestras. The Orchestra has gained recognition through national and international touring, recording, radio and television broadcasts, and its excellent work in education and community engagement in the greater Washington area. The NSO has been in residence at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts since the Center opened in 1971. In 1986, the Orchestra became an artistic affiliate of the Kennedy Center. The NSO’s Music Director, Gianandrea Noseda, is widely recognized as one of the leading conductors of his generation.  

The NSO offers a classical subscription series and a pops series at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, gives summer performances at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and celebrates national holidays with televised concerts on the Capitol lawn. Chamber ensembles of NSO musicians perform at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theatre and Millennium stage and the orchestra participates in an extensive education program. NSO In Your Neighborhood brings more than 30 performances and events to schools, churches, community centers, and other local venues in a single week. NSO Sound Health brings musicians to facilities like Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NSO also continues to tour nationally and internationally. 

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 America's performing arts center, and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across the United States and around the world, connecting the greatest living artists with audiences of every stripe, no matter their background. We welcome all Americans and creators and visitors from across the globe to discover, experience, learn about, be inspired by, and engage with the arts.

Why Join Us

We offer a total rewards package to all full-time employees to include: 

• 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
• We like to have fun! Check out the Kennedy Center National Dance Day 2024 staff video!

Pay Details

The Kennedy Center strives to design equitable compensation programs. The projected salary range for this position is $72,000 - $82,000, commensurate with experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package. This is the targeted range of possible compensation for this role at the time of posting. This range may be modified in the future. Base pay within the range is ultimately determined by a candidate’s skills, expertise, and experience as it relates to the position qualifications and responsibilities.

Job Description

Reporting to the Senior Manager of Production & Orchestra Operations, the Production Manager arranges, provides, and implements day-to-day technical elements and production elements to produce all genres of concerts (classical, pops, education, etc.) and tours presented by the National Symphony Orchestra wherever the orchestra performs. The Production Manager must possess strong time management, organizational skills to successfully coordinate production, technical and artistic information based on the NSO’s concert season. The Production Manager works closely with a variety of parties (NSO and Kennedy Center staff, musicians, crew, guest artists, visiting technicians and management) and must have excellent communication skills and be adept at problem-solving.

The overall goal of this position is to ensure the highest degree of efficiency and professionalism for NSO productions, fostering an environment in which musicians and crew can perform at their best.

Key Responsibilities

Production Management/Concert Production

• Manage technical and logistical details for NSO rehearsals, concerts, and other special events at the Kennedy Center and in the local DC area.
• Produce all genres of NSO programming, including Classical, Pops, Young People’s Concerts, Family Concerts, and Community concerts.
• Hire and manage production contractors, including lighting designers, stage managers, sound engineers, recording engineers, and more.
• Stage manage and call lighting and video cues for rehearsals and performances as needed.
• Serve departmental duty for concerts as assigned.
• Coordinate and arrange for proper musical instrumentation including rental, purchase, repair and tunings of all required instruments and equipment. Create and maintain production photo documentation as needed. Create stage plots. Manage all aspects of advance and production for assigned concerts, and support production for complex concerts requiring more than one production manager.
• Create, compile, and disseminate production documents including technical schedules, stage plots, and event sheets.
• Liaise with the stage crew to ensure all lighting, sound, video, and other production elements are of excellent quality.
• Coordinate with internal and external vendors for equipment and instrument rentals including backline, lighting, sound, video, props, and costumes.
• Arrange piano tunings, teleprompting services, wardrobe calls in accordance with Local 772 call structures, and Hair & makeup calls in accordance with Local 798 call structures.
• Ensure safe working conditions for all musicians, crew, artists, and staff onstage.
• Work proactively to anticipate and solve production issues.

Touring/Off-site Concert Management

• Support NSO’s domestic and international tour planning, preparation, and implementation by acting as production liaison for all external venues, advancing technical and logistical needs for tour rehearsals and concerts, managing cargo arrangements (ground and air freight, carnet paperwork and other border crossing requirements), and other tour management duties as assigned. Advance venues and travel with the stage crew while on tour. 
• Serve as primary production contact for concerts at the US Capitol (Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day).  Coordinate and implement production requirements to ensure a smooth concert production while observing and adhering to IATSE and AFM union regulations.

Orchestra Equipment & Maintenance

• Coordinate with a variety of NSO and Kennedy Center staff on maintaining and improving Concert Hall related production issues, such as: keyboards (piano, organ, celesta, etc.), sound system, environmental regulation, etc.
• Manage yearly maintenance of the Concert Hall’s Casavant Organ (Rubenstein Family Organ.)
• Custom design and procure all orchestral instrument and equipment touring trunks as needed.

Other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

• College degree in music, theater and/or a related field is required. Must have working knowledge of musical instruments, be detail-oriented and be able to manage and produce a variety of concerts. A minimum of five years previous experience in concert/theatrical production, preferably with a mid-sized or major orchestra. Ability to read music, experience with labor unions (IATSE, AFM, etc.) and touring is strongly preferred.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to interact effectively with a diverse group of people is critical. Must have excellent interpersonal skills to work well under pressure, bring diverse groups of people together.

• Computer skills including Windows, Word, Excel, Publisher and learning new programs as needed (VISIO, OPAS, ArtsVision, etc.), are required.

• Ability to develop and monitor production budgets is required.

• Must hold a valid driver’s license in the United States.

• Candidate must be local or willing to relocate to the DMV area. Relocation assistance is not provided.
• Candidate must be willing to work onsite.

Additional Information

• Must be able to travel and work extended hours, including evenings, weekends and national holidays (Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day). Must hold a valid driver’s license in the United States. A personal vehicle is a plus.
• Ability to perform concert production related tasks in outdoor settings, sometimes in unpredictable weather conditions.
• Travel up to 15% may be required.