Director of Youth Programs & Education

Reports To: President & CEO
Direct Reports: Youth Orchestra Associate (PT), Conductors (in partnership), Program Staff as assigned
Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Position Overview

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.

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• 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
  • Establish clear KPIs around:

• Enrollment growth
• 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

Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestras (SSYO)

• 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

Earned Revenue & Program Expansion

• 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

Grants & Contributed Revenue

• 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

Community & School Partnerships

• 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

Cross-Department Collaboration

• 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

Education Concerts

• Design curriculum-connected concert experiences
  • 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

What Success Looks Like in 3 Years

• 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

• 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

About Springfield Symphony Orchestra

The SSO is considered a cultural cornerstone of the region and one of about 100 metropolitan professional orchestras of similar size in the United States. Founded in 1944, the SSO has built a reputation for delivering world-class performances and meaningful education programs. Each season, the SSO brings symphonic music to thousands of people at historic Springfield Symphony Hall through subscription concerts, youth orchestra programs, school partnerships, and community collaborations, which in recent years has included a Juneteenth Concert that is free to the community.

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