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Job Description
Director of Music Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church - 5.0 Harvard, MA Job Details Part-time $14,000 - $18,000 a year 5 hours ago Benefits Flexible schedule Qualifications Choral worship music conducting Teamwork Management Collaboration Organ playing Religious music performance experience Piano Administrative experience Managing music teams Recruiting Newsletters (communication methods) Annual budget preparation Team motivation (leadership skill) Budget review Organizational budget management
Full Job Description Position Title:
Director of Music Position Type:
Salaried, Non-Exempt Position Hours:
Part-time avg 6-10 hrs/wk
Salary Range:
$14,000 - $18,000, commensurate with experience
Governance:
Supervised by the Minister, reports to the
Harvard Unitarian Universalists Church Board of Directors Location:
Harvard, Massachusetts Contact:
Start Date:
September 2026 Our congregation loves music! We have an enthusiastic 15-20 member choir in a growing church with regular Sunday attendance of around 80 people. We strive to build a musical community, whether that's congregational or choral singing, sharing a musical offering, or participating in a musical workshop or activity. If you are a collaborative pianist who is passionate about music, we want to talk to you! Please send a resume, letter of interest, and, as desired, video or audio recordings as examples of your work: . Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with an anticipated start date of September 2026. Music is a core pillar of our community at the HUUC. Expectations for the Director of Music's Role The Director of Music (the "Director") will be supervised by the Harvard Unitarian Universalists Church ("HUUC") Minister (the "Minister") on behalf of the HUUC Board of Directors (the "Board") to perform the following: To develop, implement, and oversee a comprehensive, quality music program within the context of our Unitarian Universalist congregation; To guide and spiritually nurture a lively community of those who wish to participate in the musical life of the Congregation and enhance the overall quality of congregational life; To honor the musical diversity of our community.
Position Responsibilities Worship services:
Perform / coordinate service music for weekly Sunday services and the Christmas Eve service on piano/organ including prelude, interludes, postlude, hymns, offertory. On Sundays when performing worship service, the Director is expected to direct and accompany the choir. Expect to take some Sundays off to permit other musicians to supply worship music / programming. (Approx once a month.)
Choirs:
Schedule and direct weekly rehearsals of the choir from late August through June; provide practice materials for choir members; communicate with choir members via email and phone; recruit and train new members; support enjoyment and musical growth of individual members and the group; serve as accompanist. Support the Junior Choir through regular recruitment and rehearsals.
Planning:
Collaborate regularly with the Minister, Ministry, and/or Worship Team to select hymns and special music compatible with the service theme, collaborate with the Music Committee to obtain publishers' permissions for the use of copyrighted materials. Work in conjunction with the Music Committee to prepare the annual music program budget and Annual Report.
Repertoire:
Review, select, and purchase instrumental and choral music as needed; maintain our choral library and a personal library of piano/organ literature.
Special Music:
Arrange for guest musicians from within and outside the congregation, as desired.
Promotion and Communication:
Advocate for and publicize the music program through the HUUC newsletters, website, along with other means.
Special Events:
Consult with other church leaders to plan and coordinate music for special programs such as concerts, fundraisers, etc.
Instrument Care:
Supervise the care, tuning, maintenance, and repair of the piano, harpsichord, and organ.
Substitutes:
Assist in arranging for a substitute musician when not able to be present. Required Core Competencies Highly developed keyboard skills; familiarity with a wide range of keyboard literature; ability to play the organ is encouraged but not required. Ability to function as a collaborative pianist to build a musical community that provides music as ministry versus performance. Choral directing experience and knowledge of a diverse choral repertoire, including classical religious music and folk, jazz, gospel, world, and popular music. Excellent interpersonal, organizational, communication, and leadership skills; the ability to motivate and work well with the choirs and coordinate closely with the Minister regarding the music program. Ability to respect the confidentiality of all participants. Ability to manage the administrative aspects of the music program, such as recruitment of choir members and guest musicians; arranging for piano, harpsichord, and organ maintenance and repair; and managing the music budget. Respect for Unitarian Universalism, willingness to learn about the history, principles and values of UUism, if the candidate does not identify as a UU.
Pay:
$14,000.00 - $18,000.00 per year, depending on experience.
