Director of Youth Programs & Education

The Director of Youth Programs & Education is a senior strategic leader responsible for growing the Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s youth and education portfolio into a sustainable, revenue-generating division of the organization. This role leads the artistic, educational, and financial strategy for all youth orchestras, education concerts, school partnerships, and community-based learning programs. The Director will expand earned revenue streams, secure contributed support, build alumni and parent engagement pipelines, and develop innovative programming that strengthens the Symphony’s long-term impact and financial health.

This position requires an entrepreneurial leader who understands music education, nonprofit arts management, and revenue strategy. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable in a rehearsal, a board meeting, a grant conversation, or a school principal’s office.

Develop and implement a 3-year strategic growth plan for all youth and education programs, including enrollment targets, revenue projections, and earned income expansion

• Build the youth division into a sustainable financial contributor to the SSO

• Tuition revenue
• Education concert revenue
• School-based program income
• Grants secured
• Sponsorship and parent giving

Identify and launch new revenue-generating initiatives such as:

• Musical Petting Zoos (fee-based community activations)
• Chamber Players in Schools (contracted school residencies)
• Summer intensives or training programs
• Touring opportunities
• Masterclasses and regional workshops
• Travel-based educational experiences

• Lead artistic and administrative oversight of SSYO in partnership with conductors
• Develop a comprehensive recruitment strategy across the region
• Increase tuition revenue while maintaining accessibility through scholarship strategy
• Build and activate a Parent Leadership Council focused on recruitment and fundraising
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting for SSYO
• Create pathways for retention and long-term engagement

• Expand education concerts (minimum one annually, with growth potential)
• Design scalable school partnership packages with tiered pricing
• Develop district-level relationships that lead to multi-year contracts
• Work with marketing to position education programs as high-value regional offerings
• Explore touring and travel opportunities that enhance reputation and generate income

• Identify, cultivate, and steward grant opportunities specific to youth and education
• Partner with Development to secure foundation, corporate, and government support
• Serve as content lead for youth-related grant proposals

Develop and launch a Youth Annual Fund strategy targeting:

• Alumni
• Current and former parents
• Education advocates

• Build alumni database strategy in collaboration with Development

• Serve as primary relationship builder with:
• Public and private school districts
• Higher education institutions
• Community organizations
• Municipal leaders
• Expand Springfield Public School engagement with a structured multi-year curriculum partnership
• Represent the Symphony at community and professional forums
• Work closely with:
• Marketing to drive recruitment and enrollment growth
• Development to align fundraising strategy
• Finance for budget oversight and forecasting
• CEO and Board for long-term strategic planning
• Present regular performance metrics to leadership and board committees

• Build teacher resource guides and pre-concert engagement tools
• Drive attendance through proactive district outreach
• Ensure strong revenue outcomes and financial analysis of each event

• Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, Arts Administration, or related field required; advanced degree preferred
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in youth orchestra, music education, or nonprofit arts management
• Demonstrated success growing programs and generating revenue
• Experience securing grants and managing contributed income streams
• Strong financial literacy and budget management skills
• Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort building new initiatives
• Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills
• Ability to work flexible schedule including evenings and weekends

• Enrollment increased year over year
• Youth division operating at a positive net contribution to the organization
• Sustainable annual fund for youth programs established
• Multi-year school district contracts secured
• Expanded education concert revenue
• Recognized as a regional leader in youth orchestra innovation