Employment & Internships

Pittsburgh Opera is seeking an organized, conscientious, unflappable individual to be the Manager of Audience Services to provide white glove, concierge services to subscribers and VIPs of Pittsburgh Opera for all ticketing and customer experience needs.

This role owns the set up of all performances and ticket packages in our Tessitura ticketing software and on our ticketing website opera.culturaldistrict.org. They act as the primary point of contact for staff at the Benedum Center and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

The position reports to the Director of Marketing & Communications.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Serves as primary liaison with Benedum and other venue ticketing staff day-to-day and at performances. Provides materials and training to box office staff on the operas, special offers, etc.
• Oversees the subscription campaign including online, phone, mail, and on-site procedures; plans and implements split-pay and other special offers for subscribers.
• Formulates recommendations for upselling subscribers, converting single ticket buyers into subscribers, and increasing telemarketing sales.
• Demonstrates a detailed knowledge of the Benedum Center seating arrangements and all patron services provided by the theater, as well as all other Pittsburgh Opera performance venues, and determines  how seats are to be assigned, when complimentary tickets are granted, and which seats are held back for last-minute VIP requests.
• Establishes and implements the Opera’s policy and procedures on returns, exchanges, and refunds, exercising discretion about special circumstances.
• Recommends ticketing price changes which may benefit Pittsburgh Opera, including base ‘list’ prices, appropriate discounts, and dynamic pricing.
• Collaborates with Group Sales Manager on which blocks of seats can be held for various groups, and other ticketing promotions and initiatives. 
• Collaborates regularly with the Development Department for projects related to both donors and ticket holders.
• Oversees performance-related email communications such as performance reminders and post-performance surveys. Creates surveys, reviews results, responds to patrons or escalates issues as needed.
• Listing and fulfilling ticket orders with third party ticketing platforms (e.g. SeatStir, VetTix, etc.)
• As Pittsburgh Opera’s primary liaison with the Ticketing, Customer Service, and Information Systems & Technology Services (ISTS) staff at the Cultural Trust
• Runs and updates all necessary ticket reports including subscriptions, single and group tickets, online sales, customer trends, and so on.
• Plans online subscription campaign and reviews online systems to ensure accuracy and functionality.

Other Internal Duties

• Proactively manages integrity of Tessitura database.
• Collaborates with Digital Marketing Manager on email marketing lists/tags/segments for patron communications such as our weekly enewsletter, ensuring custom content gets delivered to the correct groups of recipients
• Prepares mailing lists as needed for marketing mailings.
• Assigns and coordinates ticketing staff members and volunteers for processing renewals, new subscriptions and telemarketing orders, managing ticket mailings, and sending purchase acknowledgements.

Requirements

• A minimum of 3 years experience in sales/ticketing roles, ideally with concierge-level clients 
• Previous customer service-related work experience.
• Mature and unflappable temperament, superb interpersonal skills.
• Organized, with the ability to manage multiple, competing tasks and prioritize time-sensitive assignments.
• Ability to problem solve with multiple internal and external stakeholders.

Nice to Haves

• Previous experience with Tessitura software strongly preferred
• Previous experience with HubSpot software preferred.
• Pre-existing knowledge of opera

The salary range for this role is $50,000-$65,000, based on experience and demonstrated skills. Benefits include medical, and vision; paid vacation and holidays.

Pittsburgh Opera is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Apply here.

View the PDF of this job announcement here. 

Position: Resident Artist Stage Director/Assistant Director

Contract Dates: September 2024 – May 2025 (dates TBC)

Pittsburgh Opera is currently accepting applications for its Resident Artist Stage Director/Assistant Director position.

Hailed as one of the country's leading opera training programs, Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artist Program provides professional development and practical experience to emerging artists. As Assistant Director for Pittsburgh Opera’s productions, this individual will work closely with leading international directors, designers, conductors, and singers. In addition, the Resident Artist Stage Director will stage presentations featuring Resident Artist Singers and participate in professional development opportunities.

Specific duties may include the following:

• Serve as Assistant Director for Pittsburgh Opera’s six-production season
• Stage the Student Matinee performance
• Stage Resident Artist concert programs, including a monthly concert series and run-out community engagements
• Stage Resident Artist performances at fundraising events, including the company’s annual gala

The Resident Artist Stage Director/Assistant Director will receive:

• AGMA contracts and benefits for all mainstage production assignments
• A weekly stipend of $800.00 while not under AGMA contract
• Assistance toward relocation expenses, local parking, and professional development

The ideal candidate will bring a solid background and experience in opera production. The candidate will also have experience as an assistant director in an opera or theatre company as well as training and experience as a stage director. Knowledge and background in movement, dance, fight choreography, language, diction, and other fields pertaining to opera performance and production will be considered.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three (3) references to Matthew Hrdlicka.

Application Deadline: December 15, 2023

Pittsburgh Opera is committed to building opportunities for and with individuals who have been historically underrepresented in the field of opera. We encourage individuals to apply that self-identify as BIPOC, BIMPOC, AAPI, ALAANA, MENA, BAME, Latino/a/e, Afro-Latino/a/e, Native American (Tribal and Urban), Alaska Native, Indigenous, People of the Global Majority, and People of the Global African Diaspora. We recognize that terms change and evolve, and we encourage you to apply if any of these inclusions resonate with you in any capacity.

Pittsburgh Opera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information about Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artist Program, please visit our website at www.pittsburghopera.org/resident-artists/.

The Pittsburgh Opera Internship Program seeks mutually beneficial relationships with individual interns who are interested in opera, whether from an artistic or an organizational perspective. Each intern will be provided with opportunities to be creative, to accomplish real-life work that furthers the mission of Pittsburgh Opera, and to develop personally and professionally. In return, Pittsburgh Opera will receive valuable assistance that contributes significantly to the organization’s goals.

Internships run at various times throughout the year and are available in several areas, including development, artistic, production, and education.

To apply for an internship, please send a letter of intent, resume, and a letter of reference from an academic advisor to:

Internship Programs
Kristin Gatch, Executive Assistant
Pittsburgh Opera
2425 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

No phone calls, please.

Become a Student Ambassador!

Now is a perfect time to become a Student Ambassador, spreading the word about Pittsburgh Opera and enjoying exclusive benefits!  Established by five intrepid women in 1939, Pittsburgh Opera is viewed as one of the most vibrant opera organizations in the U.S., with a rich artistic tradition, outstanding educational programs, and a progressive outlook toward the future that we want you to be a part of. 

Even if you don’t know much about opera (yet!), if you’re outgoing and enthusiastic then we’d love to work with you. For those interested in a career in arts marketing or education, becoming a Student Ambassador is great opportunity to gain firsthand experience while enhancing your resume.  Student Ambassadors will be asked to hang posters on campus and to be a presence at campus fairs/events.  Most importantly, we want to hear YOUR ideas about how best to share Pittsburgh Opera with your fellow students.

As a Pittsburgh Opera Student Ambassador, you’ll receive:

• Complimentary tickets to Opening Night of each of our Benedum Center productions
• Free admission to our Opera Up Close programs, which offer an in-depth look at the upcoming production with the artists that make them happen
• Networking opportunities with your fellow Student Ambassadors and arts professionals.

Please contact us via email letting us know why you would make a great Ambassador and an example of how you’d like to promote the opera on campus. We look forward to hearing from you!

Pittsburgh Opera knows that the opera stars we love to see on stage would never be able to share the beauty and thrill of the operatic voice without the teachers that helped them along the way. We want to share our love for all voice teachers out there and connect with those who love opera singers as much as we do.

Pittsburgh Opera’s Voice Teacher Ambassador program is a new initiative designed for teachers both locally and beyond to enjoy exclusive benefits, share their perspective, and help continue to spread the operatic joy that Pittsburgh Opera is dedicated to bringing to the public. Established by five intrepid women in 1939, Pittsburgh Opera is viewed as one of the most vibrant opera organizations in the U.S., with a rich artistic tradition, outstanding educational programs, and a progressive outlook toward the future that we want you to be a part of.

Whether you are a seasoned professor working in a university or run a dedicated private vocal studio, if you are enthusiastic about developing the voices of the world’s opera divas then we’d love to work with you. Voice Teacher Ambassadors will be asked to share Pittsburgh Opera’s digital season of free operatic performances with their students and, as we return to in-person live theater, encourage their students to visit our stages and experience our productions first hand (special student priced tickets are always available). Most importantly, we want to hear YOUR ideas about how best to share Pittsburgh Opera with your students. Please contact us via email to discuss. We look forward to hearing from you!

As a Pittsburgh Opera Voice Teacher Ambassador, you’ll receive:

• Complimentary tickets to Opening Night of each of our Benedum Center productions
• Free admission to our Opera Up Close programs, which offer an in-depth look at the upcoming production with the artists that make them happen
• Complimentary access to select Master Classes throughout the season
• Access to complimentary “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in the Arts” workshops
• Virtual and In-Person Networking
• Participation in surveys and “think tanks” with other industry professionals
• Access to select educational resources