Job Opportunity: General Manager with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland
The National Youth Orchestra of Ireland (NYOI) are now looking for a highly self-motivated, dynamic and ambitious General Manager who will take on the full-time role of running this special organisation which has been pivotal in the musical, professional and personal development of nearly 5,000 young people.
Learn more about the role here.
Salary is negotiable depending on skills and experience.
Please submit your CV, with covering letter, for the attention of the Chairperson to chair@nyoi.ie no later than 6pm on Friday, 20 October 2023.
As Ireland’s leading youth orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland (NYOI) has been nurturing young people’s musical talent and orchestral experience for over 50 years, guided by some of Ireland’s most talented music professionals, with a series of workshops and performances in Ireland and abroad.
The General Manager will report directly to the NYOI Board and support the Board in delivering on its new Strategic Plan 2024-2028, a copy of which is available on request. The General Manager is supported by a half-time marketing, events and administrative assistant, and an external financial controller. The Strategic Plan also provides for the new role of part-time Artistic Director.
Person specification:
The NYOI is looking for someone with at least 5 years’ experience at a senior level in arts management. To fill the General Manager role, you will have strong leadership qualities and a proven track record in project and event management including financial control, experience in grant-writing, strategic development and implementation, and familiarity with non-profit organisational governance, regulation and compliance.
The successful candidate will be flexible, creative, highly motivated and a team player, with strong communication and interpersonal skills and a demonstrable history of managing external stakeholder relationships – including young members (more than 100 on each course) and their parents/guardians, funders, peer organisations and artistic personnel. You will be comfortable working with children and young people and engaging closely with their parents/guardians and teachers, and ideally you will have some direct experience in this highly regulated area (the appointment, like all roles in the NYOI, is subject to child welfare policies).
Ideally, you will have a working knowledge of classical music-making and some familiarity with the orchestral environment.
Key responsibilities:
Reporting to the Board, the General Manager is responsible for
- The general management of the organisation including the supervision of all staff and contract personnel
- Routine financial control in cooperation with the external financial controller, including the provision of regular management accounts and the procuring of an annual audit in line with Charity SORP standards
- Organising live auditions for aspiring orchestra members in up to five venues throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland each year and offering places based on the outcome
- Organising two residential courses (in each case followed by public performances) for about 105 young musicians in December and August each year, engaging up to 24 professional musical and welfare staff in each case
- Liaising with the Board Artistic Committee in securing and contracting guest artists and conductors
- Managing all aspects of the NYOI’s relationships with State and private funders, ensuring all applications for funding are made in a professional and timely way, and meeting the compliance requirements of charity and company regulators
- Maintaining the NYOI’s external peer relationships with professional orchestras, other youth ensembles and relevant lead bodies in Ireland and Europe
- Managing the performance of the marketing, events and administrative assistant
The position is based in the office and storage premises in Duleek, County Meath, with provision for hybrid working arrangements. Some weekend work will be required for the bi-annual residential workshops and tours, with provision for time off in lieu. Given the nature of the work, the successful candidate will be required to have their own vehicle and a full clean driving license.
Learn more about NYOI here.
