Assistant Artistic Administrator

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 $55,000 - $60,000, 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

The Assistant Artistic Administrator supports the Artistic Administrator, VP Artistic Planning and Senior Producing Director by acting as NSO concert producer and by managing day-to-day artistic and administrative operations of the department.  The approximate breakdown of concerts for this role is 25% classical, 75% non-classical.

The Assistant Artistic Administrator makes decisions and exercises discretion in order to prioritize assignments, and works under significant pressure, as many projects are time sensitive and involve concurrent deadlines.  An eagerness to take initiative, communicate and problem solve with a positive attitude is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Management: manage 50% of NSO concerts each season, including Artist advance, contracting, rider administration, comp ticket and other requests; oversee a complex array of administrative detail through to artist payment and report on performance results.
• Day-to-day management of production logistics, and overall facilitation of NSO concerts, including management of artist services and show duty.  Act as critical liaison between the NSO and artist and/or their representative(s). Maintain communication with production managers, press, marketing, digital, social media personnel, special events coordinators, theater managers, security and facilities personnel in order to ensure the flow of information between these departments and visiting artists. Build and maintain excellent relationships with artist management, hotels, travel agents, and other vendors.
• Act as liaison for NSO Principal Conductor/Artistic Advisor.
• Research, idea generation, and assistance towards implementation thereof, of artists, themes, and concepts as they pertain to NSO programming. Attend live performances of new products whenever possible.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Key Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree in a music-related field or equivalent knowledge.

  At least 3 years’ experience in artistic administration of major orchestras or festivals

• Must be extremely detail-oriented, have excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work in a fast paced, multi-tasked environment, work well under pressure and be able to meet deadlines. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access.

• 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.