Director of Artistic Administration

Job Summary

This senior leadership position is responsible for the strategic development and delivery of all artistic products for Opera North, from inception to final performance.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities:

- Provide strategic leadership for the Artistic Administration, Orchestra, Chorus, and Music departments, and, in collaboration with the General Director, lead the annual negotiation of the house agreements for the Orchestra and Chorus.

-Hold ultimate responsibility for the budgets and their management for each of these departments.

- Oversee the casting of all mainstage operas, concerts and special projects and collaborate closely with the Learning & Engagement department on the artistic personnel for their projects.

- Manage the creation and development of new commissions for the mainstage, the Howard Assembly Room and concerts, including r&d.

- Work closely with the HAR team on artistic programming.

- Spearhead the company's artistic talent development initiatives including the development of processes and programmes to diversify the artistic talent in the organisation.

- Bring each artistic project to fruition with careful curation and connection to creators, including maintaining a regular presence at stage and studio rehearsals to support creative teams and singers in delivering to the highest possible standard.

- Be responsible for supervising, coaching, and supporting your team, setting goals and expectations at regular 1-2-1s and team meetings, providing formal feedback at annual performance reviews, and resolving conflicts and issues punctually.

- Oversee personnel including the Senior Producer, Head of Orchestra & Concerts, Head of Music, Company Manager and Chorus Manager.

- Liaise with the General Director and Music Director regarding repertoire and production teams.

Job Requirements

Qualifications:

None required, but job holder will be required to work at the level of a degree holder.

Experience / essential skills required:

- Significant demonstrable experience in a similar role in an opera company or orchestra.
- Will be able to evidence extensive knowledge of the operatic repertoire and the UK / European opera scene.
- Excellent MS suite skills.
- Excellent people manager.
- A strategic thinker with excellent written and oral communication skills.

Functional/ leadership competencies:

- Flexible, resilient and able to balance competing priorities.
- Collaborative and supportive, able to work with a wide variety of people with fairness and integrity to foster a positive and inclusive working environment.
- Understanding and appreciative of artistic temperaments and able to motivate and amplify the work of different creative types.

Desirable skills:

- Experience of dealing with contracts and unions.
- Experience of Arts Council England and funder reporting.

Job Responsibilities

- Work closely with the Deputy General Director to build a practical and efficient schedule for all artistic company activity.

- In collaboration with the General Director and SLT, devise, deliver, and report on the artistic Arts Council England & Leeds City Council KPIs.

- Maintain excellent relationships with key artists, conductors and production team members and their agents to ensure ON can secure the most exciting artists for its productions.

- Represent Opera North at performances and development events, and attend other performances around the country as required to maintain currency with the industry.

- Liaise with the Board of Trustees and other internal and external stakeholders as necessary regarding ON's artistic output, including fundraising and audience development activities, and represent the company at Opera Europa/National Opera Coordinating Committee meetings.

- Be responsible for ensuring that the company in general and particularly the area within your remit,

Job Overview

Job Title: Director of Artistic Administration
Salary: £50k+
Hours: Full time
Role: Creative
Contract: Permanent
Closing date: Tue, 07 Apr 2026
Location:

Yorkshire

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Job: Director of Artistic Administration

Organisation: Opera North

Postcode: LS1 6PA

How to Apply

Please apply via the Employment Hero link below

Contact name: The People Team
Contact email: [email protected]

Apply now

About Opera North

Opera North is England's national opera company in the north and a leading European arts organisation. Based in Leeds, the company is committed to producing work of the highest quality that excites, challenges and entertains. We tour throughout the north of England, and also nationally and internationally. Acclaimed for its imaginative programming and innovative productions on the main stage, Opera North also programmes its own venue, the Howard Assembly Room with an enormous diversity of activ

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