President and CEO

Berkshire Opera Festival 54 Wendell AveSuite 5 Pittsfield, MA 01201

Date Posted:

June 12, 2026

Region:

Western Massachusetts Category:

Executive Type:

Full-Time

President and CEO Description:

Berkshire Opera Festival (BOF) seeks applications for the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/ President from individuals with broad practical experience in opera and/or performing arts management and fundraising. To steer thepany in the realization of its short-term and long-range goals, BOF is seeking an entrepreneurial, collaborative leader to serve as CEO. This is a full-time position requiring full-time, year-round residence in the Berkshires. The CEO will report to the Board of Directors and will also serve as President of the Board with fundraising as a primary responsibility, working in close collaboration with the Artistic Director and Director of Production, BOF's co-founders. The CEO will have controlling financial authority over all departmental budgets, including the production and artistic budgets, and will be solely responsible for ensuring that all departments ad to the budgetary parameters approved by the Board of Directors.

The Organization:

The mission of Berkshire Opera Festival is to entertain and enrich the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds throughout the Berkshire region by providing accessible and affordable performances of a broad range of operas and events with the highest artistic standards. Berkshire Opera Festival (BOF) is entering its eleventh year as a professional summer festival in Berkshire County, MA, and covering a catchment area including Litchfield County, CT, and Dutchess and Columbia Counties, NY. Adhering to the highest standards, BOF has and continues to produce performances throughout the Berkshiremunity. Every summer, BOF presents a season of diverse opera-related programming including one fully staged and orchestrated production. Director of Production Jonathon Loy and Artistic Director Brian Garman co-founded thepany in August 2014; and it began producing in the summer of 2016 with an inaugural season of two recitals and a fully staged production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Thepany has had critical artistic successes and has been acclaimed in the press for its productions, including in Opera News. BOF's annual budget is slightly above $1.0 million and thepany is poised for significant growth. BOF, is in a multi-year residency at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, MA. Supporting its main stage season at The Mahaiwe, BOF launched its Resident Artist Program in 2026. Unique in the field, the Resident Artist Program will culminate in BOF's second fully staged production each season. Additionally, BOF currently presents off-season events as well as auxiliary seasonal programming (concerts and recitals) themed around the main stage production to enhance the audience experience for that opera. This serves to buildmunity, from event to event, and enhances the "festival" aspect of thepany.

Position Summary:

The CEO is responsible for the planning,anization, and direction of thepany's activities including the critical responsibility of developing and maintaining relationships with supporters, donors and localmunityanizations. The CEO is responsible for fundraising and financial management, including developing with BOF's Artistic Director and Director of Production the annual budget, managing expenses, and working collaboratively with and managing the year-round staff. Berkshire Opera Festival's administrative and artistic staff includes thepany's co-founders, Artistic Director Brian Garman and Director of Production Jonathon Loy, plus a full-time Individual Giving Officer, full-time Operations Manager and a full-time Community Engagement Officer. Other seasonal and production support, such as stage management, set and costume design, etc., is contracted as needed by the Artistic and Production Directors.

Primary responsibilities include:

• day-to-day fundraising, including creation of fundraising strategies and activities; meeting fundraising targets; planning and coordinating grant submissions;
• supervision and management of staff;
• financial oversight, including development and implementation of the annual budget, monitoring and control of expenses;
• maximization of earned revenue;
• attending and participating in board of directors'mittees and quarterly meetings;
• board development—supporting efforts to identify and cultivate new board members and enhance the participation of the current board;
• building BOF's relevance to themunity through its educational activities, expanding relationships with area schools and colleges; and increasing the reach and diversity of the BOF's audience and stakeholders;
• representing BOF at appropriate regional and nationalanizations and events.

Qualifications:

The Board of Directors is seeking someone who inspires enthusiasm, has a track record in management, fundraising and audience development, and who is interested in running apany in its next phase of growth. Training in arts management and development/fundraising is desirable. A good contact network throughout the opera industry would be useful. A working knowledge of Bloomerang or other donor management software such as Raiser's Edge would be helpful. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of senior management experience in the opera/cultural field and will have the ability to work well in collaboration with thepany's current artistic leadership and staff, as well as withmunity volunteers, including the Board of Directors. Other required skills include experience in the development and management of budgets, knowledge of fundraising, marketing,petence in strategic problem solving, andpetency in the use of current business software such as QuickBooks, Microsoft 365, and GSuite. We seek a person with excellent oral and writtenmunication skills; someone who isfortable and adept in both private and public social and business situations with a well-developed sense of tact and diplomacy. An established professional network in Berkshire County is highly desired. This position requires full-time, year-round residency in the Berkshires.