Jobs and careers

JOB POSTING: GENERAL DIRECTOR

Company: OperaDelaware
Company Location: Wilmington, Delaware
Job Location: In Person
Job Type: Full Time
Salary Range: $85,000 - $115,000, commensurate with experience 
Desired Start Date: June 1, 2026

OperaDelaware, one of the nation’s oldest professional opera companies and a leading cultural institution in the Mid-Atlantic region, seeks a bold, strategic, and visionary General Director to guide the organization into its next chapter of artistic excellence, community impact, and organizational growth.

Position Overview

The General Director serves as OperaDelaware’s chief executive and artistic leader, reporting to the Board of Directors. The General Director supervises senior staff, artistic and production personnel, and administrative teams. 

This position has overall responsibility for the organization’s artistic, administrative, and operational functions. The General Director sets the company’s artistic vision; leads programming and education initiatives; stewards donor, patron, and community relationships; and ensures the organization’s financial stability and long-term organizational health.

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape a compelling artistic identity, deepen community engagement, strengthen financial sustainability, and drive innovation in how opera is created, presented, and experienced. 

This is a highly visible role requiring a seasoned leader with deep artistic insight, business acumen, and exceptional relationship-building skills.

Key responsibilities 

  • Artistic leadership: Set and deliver a cohesive Main Stage and programmatic artistic vision that advances OperaDelaware’s mission and meets agreed artistic and financial targets. Defining and realizing an inspiring and cohesive artistic vision for the company is a significant component of the General Director’s responsibilities. 

  • Fundraising & external relations: Lead major gift solicitation, corporate and foundation cultivation, and public engagement to meet annual contributed revenue goals and broaden the donor base, dedicating significant time to donor identification and cultivation.

  • Financial & operational stewardship: Own the annual budget and financial planning, ensure compliance and risk management, and optimize use of physical assets to sustain long-term organizational stability.

  • Board partnership & governance: Advise and partner with the Board to shape strategy, provide timely information for decision-making, and support board development and recruitment.

  • People & culture: Recruit, lead, and retain high-performing administrative, artistic, and production teams; establish clear expectations and foster an inclusive, collaborative culture.

  • Community, education & audience growth: Serve as a visible and active ambassador for OperaDelaware throughout the community; expand partnerships, education and engagement initiatives to diversify audiences and increase access to opera across the region.

Qualifications 

  • Senior leadership experience in opera or comparable performing arts organizations 

  • Strategic thinker with the ability to balance artistic integrity and financial stewardship

  • Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising and donor cultivation 

  • Financial oversight experience, including budgeting and fiduciary responsibility 

  • Strong board-facing experience and governance literacy 

  • People leadership skills with experience building collaborative, inclusive teams 

  • Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) and experience advancing IDEA in programming and organizational practice 

  • Familiarity with regional performing arts ecosystems and community engagement strategies.

  • Track record of audience development, education program growth, or innovative artistic partnerships

  • Preferred experience negotiating artistic/venue contracts and working with labor partners

To Apply

Interested candidates are invited to complete this application form * to submit a cover letter, resume, and relevant supporting material. 

*Please note:  On the second page of the application, you will be asked to answer five YES or NO questions.  Please review below before beginning your application.  If you answer NO to any question, please use the “more info” question that follows in order to provide your closest related experience. If you're excited about this role but don't meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply.

Questions for Prospective Applicants

(1) Do you have executive or senior leadership experience within a performing arts organization, cultural nonprofit, or similar creative institution?

(2) Have you directly led or co-led fundraising efforts which consist of involvement in major gift solicitation, grants, sponsorships, or donor relationships?

(3) Have you previously reported to or partnered with a nonprofit board of directors, including participation in governance strategy and organizational oversight?

(4) Do you have experience developing and implementing organizational budgets and overseeing administrative operations such as Human Resources, finance, and compliance?

(5) Do you have demonstrative experience with artistic programming and season planning?

(6) This position requires regular, in-person work at the OperaDelaware office and is not a remote role. Are you willing and able to meet this requirement?



Applications will be received until February 6, 2026 and the Search Committee intends to notify applicants of their application status by February 20th. Should you have any questions, please contact Diane Shomper at dshomper@operade.org.