Business Manager

Cappella Amsterdam is seeking a passionate and enterprising executive director with an affinity for choral music and a vision for further expanding and renewing Cappella Amsterdam’s repertoire.

Key priorities for the coming years include maintaining and strengthening the substantive and financial robustness of the organization and its programming; expanding diversity in programming; preparing the organization for and steering it toward new grant applications (FPK, BIS); introducing a collective bargaining agreement; maintaining and developing relationships for the purpose of fundraising; and increasing the diversity of the organization.


ABOUT CAPPELLA AMSTERDAM

Cappella Amsterdam performs music that enchants and amazes at the highest level. For this, the choir has received the highest accolades in awards and reviews both nationally and internationally. Daniel Reuss (1961) is the artistic director of Cappella Amsterdam. Under his leadership, the choir has become a professional ensemble and has grown to international fame. In addition to Daniel, we collaborate with several resident artistic developers and young conductors to bring a wide range of productions to the stage.

Cappella Amsterdam produces its own a cappella concerts. In addition, we collaborate closely with the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century and engage in co-productions with many Dutch ensembles and orchestras. Cappella also performs internationally with ensembles and engages in multidisciplinary collaborations with companies and organizations such as the Holland Festival, Dutch National Opera & Ballet, and conductors like Barbara Hannigan and Marcus Creed. In collaboration with Harmonia Mundi and now Pentatone, new recordings by Cappella Amsterdam are released almost every year.

The choir performs approximately 15 productions per season, featuring both traditional and contemporary choral music, with a total of about 60 concerts in large and small concert halls throughout the Netherlands and abroad. Our office team works closely together and consists of the executive director, two production managers (one position currently open), and two marketing managers. Cappella Amsterdam is based at the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ in Amsterdam. For more information about the choir, visit www.cappellaamsterdam.nl.

Cappella Amsterdam adheres to the Cultural Governance Code, the Fair Practice Code, and the Diversity and Inclusion Code

PROFILE

The Executive Director works closely with the Artistic Director/Conductor to oversee and develop the artistic direction, positioning, and strategy. Policy, artistic, and production activities are coordinated through close collegial collaboration. The Executive Director, together with the Artistic Director/
, is accountable to the board.

Currently, the organization is in good financial health and receives multi-year support from the Performing Arts Fund and the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts. The choir is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The new executive director plays a vital role in ensuring Cappella Amsterdam’s continued success and growing recognition. Fundraising skills and a strong network are crucial to this.

The Cappella Amsterdam Foundation operates under a board-and-management model. The executive director and the artistic director form a two-person leadership team. Together, they bear ultimate responsibility to the board.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Policy

• In collaboration with the artistic director:the long-term artistic and strategic policy, based on a clear vision for the development of the performing arts in general and choral music in particular;
  
• Formulating policy plans;
  

Operations/Business management

• Has overall responsibility for the organization’s day-to-day operations, including responsibility for preparing the annual budget, providing interim financial reports to the board, and preparing the annual report; in this context, is responsible for supervising the freelance accountant;
  
• Maintaining and strengthening grant relationships and driving growth in fundraising, private donors, and sponsors;
  
• Seasonal scheduling of productions and concert ticket sales;
  
• Preparing for board meetings, which are held 4 to 5 times a year;
  

Leadership

• Immediate supervisor of the office team;
  
• Provide strategic direction for an effective marketing and communications policy and manage the marketing team;
  

External

• Representing Cappella Amsterdam, including strengthening Cappella Amsterdam’s positioning;
• Point of contact and liaison for (co-production) partners;
  
• Representation and attendance at concerts.
  

OUR IDEAL BUSINESS LEADER (F/M/X)

• Has experience securing grants from public and private funds, and a relevant network in this field;
  
• Has strong communication skills and a flexible, team-oriented attitude;
  
• Has strong strategic skills and extensive experience in marketing and communications;
  
• Is driven, enterprising, enthusiastic, and a team player;
  
• Has an affinity for, and preferably also a vision regarding, the genre of choral music and is able to articulate this vision;
  
• to articulate, justify, and communicate them effectively, and to put them into practice together with the employees;
  
• Identifies trends and developments and uses them to develop a vision for the future;
  
• Has a broad range of musical interests and a strong network in the music industry, or is able to build one quickly.
  

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer a challenging and dynamic position in an international environment.
Salary range: comparable to the Theater and Dance Collective Bargaining Agreement (CAO), scale X

INFORMATION AND PROCEDURE

The board of Cappella Amsterdam is being assisted in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People. For more information about this position, please call Winfred Voordendag, senior partner at Colourful People, at 06-28284706.

• To express your interest, please submit your cover letter and resume via the Colourful People website byMonday, October 10 at the latest;
  
• There will be two rounds of interviews. The interviews will be held onThursday evening, October 27, and Monday evening, November 7;
  
• A background check and possibly an assessment are part of the process;
  
• Start date as soon as possible, with a target date ofJanuary 1, 2023.