Employment & Internships

Manager of Corporate Development & Event Fundraising

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Job Summary:

Pittsburgh Opera is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Manager of Corporate Development & Event Fundraising. The Manager of Corporate Development and Event Fundraising reports directly to the Director of Development and is an integral part of Pittsburgh Opera’s development staff. This position is responsible for soliciting and raising philanthropic support for Pittsburgh Opera from the business community through both the corporate annual fund and event sponsorships. The Manager of Corporate Development and Event Fundraising also cultivates philanthropic relationships with Pittsburgh Opera patrons, ticket buyers, and friends through various events, ranging from large-scale, formal galas to intimate gatherings in homes to cultivation and donor benefit events.

Job responsibilities:

Event Fundraising

• Plan, produce and execute the Opera’s major fundraising events and donor cultivation events of the highest caliber throughout the year, creating and monitoring detailed revenue and expense budgets for all events, generating approximately $500,000 in net income for the company.
• The Manager of Corporate Development and Event Fundraising acknowledges all gifts, purchases and contributions and tracks all income and expenses from events and fulfills delivery of all auction items.  In all responsibilities, the Manager of Corporate Development and Event Fundraising will coordinate with the marketing department, finance department, production department and other Pittsburgh Opera departments as necessary.
• Work with volunteer chairs, committee members and with staff to achieve revenue goals by selling sponsorships, tables, tickets, and contributions.

Corporate Development

• Achieve the established goals for sponsorships and annual fund gifts from the corporate and business community.
• Identify, research, and cultivate prospects to increase the number of participating organizations in the corporate annual fund.
• Create and execute a solicitation and cultivation program for corporate sponsorship and underwriting opportunities through written proposals and personal solicitations.
• Establish goals and strategies based on existing donor histories and proposed programming.
• Serve as staff liaison for the recruitment and management of Board members and other community leaders to actively participate on the Corporate Sub-Committee of the Board’s Development Committee.
• Lead the Opera’s efforts to strengthen corporate participation in the annual fund and special events by identifying potential corporate relationships among individual donors.
• Along with other opera employees, staff Opera events and productions and welcome guests to Opera performances at the Benedum Center, CAPA Theatre and staff other events and programing of Pittsburgh Opera.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree plus three or more years of professional experience in development (corporate development preferred) and special events management, preferably in a nonprofit organization;
• Experience managing and executing large-scale events, fulfilling sponsorships, maintaining project budgets and organizing successful auctions with appropriate follow-up.
• A highly motivated, positive, donor-centric approach to interfacing with board members, donors and event volunteers;
• Familiarity with and appreciation of opera/classical music; high energy and passion for Pittsburgh Opera’s mission;
• Superior written and verbal communication, as well as organizational and time management skills, with exceptional attention to detail and how those details effect, and are a part of, donor cultivation strategies.
• Proficiency in donor/customer relationship management software, such as Tessitura (preferred) or Raiser’s Edge, and Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint);
• A professional, sophisticated and resourceful style; the ability to take initiative, and to manage multiple tasks independently and to thrive in an open, fast-paced office environment;
• Proven success in increasing support through corporate giving programs and successful event fundraising ;
• Candidates must have a valid drivers’ license, a personal vehicle, and be available to work nights and weekends.

Salary and Benefits:

This is a salaried, exempt position. Salary is commensurate with experience and demonstrated skills in the $60,000 to $65,000 range. Benefits include medical and vision; paid vacation days and holidays.  Pittsburgh Opera is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To apply:

Please respond by email only to Kristin Gatch at kgatch@pittsburghopera.org. Your email should include a cover letter, resume, and writing sample.

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