PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS, TO AUDITION FOR THE SYMPHONY VISIT THE AUDITONS PAGE AT ALBANYSYMPHONY.COM/AUDITIONS

The Albany Symphony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, class, religion, country of origin, political belief, (dis)ability, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any factor protected by law. Members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Major Gifts Officer

The Albany Symphony seeks an experienced Major Gifts Officer to join its senior leadership team. For 97 years, the Albany Symphony has shared musical experiences that surprise, move, and stay with hundreds of thousands of adventurous listeners. The orchestra performs in the Capital Region’s world-renowned concert halls and is deeply connected to its community. By creating, recording, and disseminating the music of our time, the Albany Symphony is establishing an enduring artistic legacy that is reshaping America’s musical future.

The Albany Symphony is in an exciting moment of growth in education and festival programming, extraordinary artistic performances with its 70-member orchestra, and profound community commitment in the Capital Region and across New York State.

To meet its artistic and community ambitions, the Albany Symphony’s fundraising program has grown, including to well over 1,000 individual donors, foundations, and corporations. On an annual budget of $3.5 million, contributed revenue is $1.7 million. The Albany Symphony’s centennial celebration in 2030 provides an extraordinary opportunity to bolster the organization’s financial sustainability through an endowment campaign, with many supporters poised to invest in the orchestra’s long-term future. The Major Gifts Officer position presents an opportunity to harness incredible momentum and galvanize the orchestra’s ambitious musical, educational, and civic impact.

The Major Gifts Officer will be responsible for the Albany Symphony’s closest supporters, including Conductor’s Circle members (donors at $1,000+), Encore Society (planned giving), Corporate Sponsors, and Foundation partners. Working closely with the Executive Director, Music Director, Board of Directors, and staff colleagues, the Major Gifts Officer leads the strategy on high-impact, relationship-driven fundraising. Approximately 70% of time will be dedicated to external engagement, including donor meetings, cultivation, and solicitation, managing a portfolio of approximately 100 individual donors. The Annual Fund program (donors $1-$999) and development operations are the primary responsibilities of other employees. This is a full-time exempt position, reporting to the Executive Director and supervising two staff with direct fundraising responsibilities. The Albany Symphony is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and provides a fast-paced and collaborative environment.

About the Albany Symphony: Under Music Director David Alan Miller, the Albany Symphony is an orchestra dedicated to celebrating our living musical heritage and the music of our time. Through brilliant live performances, innovative educational programs, and engaging cultural events, the Albany Symphony is committed to serving a broad and diverse community. Based in the New York Capital Region, the Albany Symphony has won numerous national and local awards and recognition for its adventurous programming, recording projects (including two GRAMMY® awards), composer residencies, and in-school programs. The Albany Symphony’s current operating budget is $3.5 million with more than half of revenue from philanthropic donations.

Responsibilities
Leadership

  • Drive the planning and execution of activities to achieve revenue goals and strengthen community support

  • Provide expertise to establish best-practice development policies and procedures

  • Represent the Albany Symphony at selected community events to build relationships and support. Attend Albany Symphony events.

  • Identify opportunities for growth and adjust strategies as needed to meet or exceed goals

  • Collaboration with Executive Director, Music Director, and Board to align fundraising priorities with organizational strategy and planning

Board Engagement and Fundraising Leadership

  • Liaise with the Development Committee and event committees to activate board in all aspects of fundraising

  • Work with Board members to identify prospects, support solicitations, and increase their participation

  • Provide tools, talking points, and strategic guidance to support Board engagement in fundraising

  • Foster a culture of philanthropy across Board leadership

Major Gifts, Planned Giving, Donor Engagement

  • Manage and actively engage a portfolio of approximately 100 individual donors and prospects, with a focus on cultivating and securing major gifts

  • Develop and implement personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, including activating key artistic personnel and volunteer fundraisers in gift conversations

  • Conduct regular donor meetings, outreach, and follow-up to build and strengthen relationships, with an expectation of consistent monthly activity, including a regular cadence of solicitations and gift closures

  • Identify opportunities for special project support, aligned with donor passions and regional and national funder priorities

  • Develop prospect management strategies to fill the pipeline of potential donors

  • Utilize CRM and wealth screening software to track progress in moves management

  • Support the growth of the planned giving program and legacy giving conversations

Corporate and Sponsor Relationships

  • Create and implement sponsorship opportunities tied to programming, engagement, and community impact

  • Coordinate organization’s compliance with sponsorship recognition agreements

Administrative Management

  • Coordinate development communications, including cases for support, with focus on consistency in institutional messaging and donor-centric language

  • Develop and manage department budget, collaborating with Executive Director on goals, projections, donor receivables, and expense accounting

  • Oversee maintenance and deployment of donor database to ensure reliable and effective department operations

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; advanced degree or fundraising certification (CFRE) desirable

  • Minimum 7 years experience in increasingly responsible fundraising and leadership roles

  • Demonstrated success in securing major gifts and achieving revenue goals

  • Experience managing a donor portfolio and executing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies

  • Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including donor-facing and institutional messaging

  • Comfort working with data and CRM systems to inform strategy

  • Willing to engage donors and attend concerts, events, and meetings outside of standard business hours

  • Commitment to ongoing professional development in fundraising and nonprofits

  • Experience and skill in managing staff and volunteers

  • Track record in achieving revenue goals

  • Experience in the arts and culture sector preferred but not required

Compensation & Benefits
Reporting to the Executive Director, this is a full-time, exempt position. Competitive full-time salary, $80,000-$110,000, commensurate with experience. Hybrid schedule is possible depending on location and experience. This position requires occasional evening and weekend work for rehearsals, concerts, and events. Paid time off (PTO) package including complimentary time policy, vacation, sick time, and twelve (12) paid holidays. Health and dental insurance, voluntary participation in 403(b) retirement program (three-year vesting schedule for organization contributions), complimentary concert tickets, CDTA transportation pass, access to professional development resources through various Capital Region chambers of commerce, League of American Orchestras, and Association of Fundraising Professionals.

To Apply
Please send resume and cover letter to:
Emily Fritz-Endres, Executive Director
emilyfe@albanysymphony.com

Annual Fund Manager

The Albany Symphony has grown its Annual Fund program (donors at the $1-$999 level) to more than 1,000 individual donors and seeks strong candidates for the full‐time position of Annual Fund Manager. The Annual Fund Manager serves as an integral part of the organization's fundraising and administrative team. The position entails management of the annual fund, event planning, donor stewardship, and database and grant support. The Albany Symphony is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and provides a fast-paced and collaborative environment. This is a unique opportunity to cultivate and broaden the largest donor base in the orchestra’s history, building unique pathways for adventurous listeners to engage with the Capital Region’s GRAMMY-award winning symphony.

About the Albany Symphony: Under Music Director David Alan Miller, the Albany Symphony is an orchestra dedicated to celebrating our living musical heritage and the music of our time. Through brilliant live performances, innovative educational programs, and engaging cultural events, the Albany Symphony is committed to serving a broad and diverse community. Based in the New York Capital Region, the Albany Symphony has won numerous national and local awards and recognition for its adventurous programming, recording projects (including two GRAMMY® awards), composer residencies, and in-school programs. The Albany Symphony’s current operating budget is $3.5 million with more than half of revenue from philanthropic donations.

Responsibilities
Fundraising

  • Coordinate and implement the strategies for the acquisition, cultivation, retention, and stewardship of current and prospective individual annual fund donors, including the production of all printed collateral, letters, and mailings.

  • Lead the annual fund efforts through direct mail, tele-fundraising, and digital giving

  • Manage website and digital giving mechanisms, including social media, to articulate case for support for annual fund program

  • Activate board, musicians, and Vanguard volunteers in cultivating and stewarding annual fund donors

  • Assist board and senior staff in special fundraising projects such as major giving, planned giving, Conductor’s Circle, corporate sponsorship, grant writing, grant reporting, and galas

  • Plan and manage Annual Fund stewardship events throughout the year including but not limited to the open rehearsals.

  • Other duties as assigned, including assisting with special fundraising and stewardship events.

Government and Foundation Grants

  • Manage the grants program of the Albany Symphony including timeline management, content coordination, and grants reporting and follow-up

  • Research new grant opportunities from both private and government granting entities

  • Prepare content for corporate, government, and foundation proposals that inspire entities to invest in the mission and goals of the Albany Symphony

  • Manage grant writers, including staff, board, volunteers, contractors, to maximize throughput and outcomes

  • Oversee grant proposal work, including schedule, applications, and reporting to grantors

Database Management

  • Serve as the lead operator for the donor database (Spektrix), including its infrastructure, data entry systems, gift processing and reporting

  • Identify and implement processes and improvements to ensure the integrity of the database, including troubleshooting/identifying inconsistencies and making corrections

  • Utilize wealth screening software and research to identify annual fund donors who may be prospective major gift donors

  • Utilize database and research systems to serve as lead on patron segmentation, in coordination with Sales & Marketing Manager

  • Produce reports regarding donor retention, ROI, and other fundraising analyses

Qualities and skills:

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher preferred

  • Minimum 3 years of nonprofit development experience required with experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies, managing membership or donor programs, and track record of increasing contributed revenue and number of donors

  • Be committed to a high level of customer service and donor stewardship

  • Be able to maintain confidentiality in working with sensitive information

  • High level of organization, project management, with an emphasis on meeting deadlines and attention to detail

  • Self-starter with an ability to multi-task and prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment

  • Possess excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills with emphasis on maintaining consistent communication and brand integrity

  • Value diversity, equity, and inclusion

  • Experience using Microsoft Office Suite and a donor database and skills in prospect research, donor cultivation, and written appeals are preferred

  • Possess great integrity and be a team player

  • Experience in, passion for, and knowledge of music or the performing arts

Compensation & Benefits:
This is a full-time, exempt position. Competitive full-time salary, $58,000-$65,000, commensurate with experience. Hybrid schedule is possible depending on location and experience. This position requires occasional evening and weekend work for rehearsals, concerts, and events. Paid time off (PTO) package including complimentary time policy, vacation, sick time, and twelve (12) paid holidays. Health and dental insurance, voluntary participation in 403(b) retirement program (three-year vesting schedule for organization contributions), complimentary concert tickets, CDTA transportation pass, access to professional development resources through various Capital Region chambers of commerce, League of American Orchestras, and Association of Fundraising Professionals.

To Apply
Please send resume and cover letter to:
Emily Fritz-Endres, Executive Director
emilyfe@albanysymphony.com

Personnel Manager

The Albany Symphony seeks an Orchestra Personnel Manager to oversee staffing, Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) compliance, auditions, and musician payroll. Serving as the liaison between musicians and administration, working directly with the Music Director and the artistic, operations, and education teams, this position handles communications and confidential personnel matters with professionalism, discretion, and strong interpersonal skills. A successful candidate must be a problem-solver with the ability to work in a fast-paced team environment and have knowledge of collective bargaining agreements, in addition to orchestra and venue policies and procedures. The Albany Symphony is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and provides a fast-paced and collaborative environment. A passion for music and the performing arts is a must.

About the Albany Symphony: Under Music Director David Alan Miller, the Albany Symphony is an orchestra dedicated to celebrating our living musical heritage and the music of our time. Through brilliant live performances, innovative educational programs, and engaging cultural events, the Albany Symphony is committed to serving a broad and diverse community. Based in the New York Capital Region, the Albany Symphony has won numerous national and local awards and recognition for its adventurous programming, recording projects (including two GRAMMY® awards), composer residencies, and in-school programs. The Albany Symphony’s current operating budget is $3.5 million and the musicians of the Albany Symphony are with American Federation of Musicians, AMF Local-14.

Responsibilities
Orchestra Personnel

  • Serve as primary point of contact for musicians, fostering positive and productive relationships

  • Attend all orchestra services

  • Coordinate hiring, seating, and scheduling of musicians within budgetary and contractual guidelines; maintain and distribute schedules, stage plots, rosters, directories, and logistical updates; collaborate on itineraries and orchestra needs for runouts and tours

  • Manage hiring for special activities including small groups of musicians for Symphony in Our Schools, community engagements, donor events

  • Maintain and update rosters of extra and substitute musicians in consultation with Music Director and principal musicians

  • Ensure compliance with the CBA regarding scheduling, staffing, attendance, seating, breaks, recording sessions, and official communications

  • Collaborate with Music Director, staff, and board to engage musicians outside of orchestra services

  • Administer periodic orchestra climate surveys, in coordination with Executive Director, General Manager, and Albany Symphony Orchestra Committee

  • Ensure accuracy of musician bios, headshots, and titles in all public listings, including commercial recordings

 Musician Human Resources

  • Maintain and update musician personnel and service records

  • Issue contracts in accordance with the CBA

  • Coordinate onboarding, verify work eligibility, and provide documentation support for musician visas

  • Process leave requests, in consultation with the Music Director and General Manager and maintain related records

  • Document accidents and incidents; handle disciplinary matters and conflicts in compliance with the CBA and in consultation with the Executive Director and General Manager

  • Maintain confidentiality of personnel, payroll, contract, and benefits administration

  • Administer and track completion of required insurance and HR policies

  • Manage and communicate emergency protocols in every performance venue

 Budget and Payroll Preparation

  • Prepare musician payroll and send individual service and pay summaries

  • Prepare budgets and report actuals by project for orchestra payroll, travel, and related expenses

  • Track orchestra payroll budget compliance and fulfill all required federal union reports including Integrated Media Agreement (IMA/EMA), American Federation of Musicians pension, and Local 14 union dues

 Audition, Petition, and Tenure Coordination

  • In collaboration with Music Director and General Manager, manage auditions in compliance with the CBA, including scheduling, committee hiring and communications, applicant communications, repertoire approvals, and advertising. Coordinate venue logistics.

  • Attend auditions, supervise support staff, adjudicate committee, and coordinate final rounds with Music Director and in compliance with the CBA.

  • Manage the petition and tenure review process for probationary musicians, including related meetings and documentation.

Other

  • Maintain regular in-person office hours and attend staff and department meetings

  • Perform other duties in support of the Albany Symphony’s mission

 Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s or Conservatory degree in music, arts administration, or a directly related field

  • Minimum two years’ experience in orchestra personnel, operations, or related field

  • Knowledge of orchestra structure, repertoire, instrumentation and ability to read music; performing experience preferred

  • Familiarity with collective bargaining agreements and labor union relationships

  • Strong communication, interpersonal, leadership, and organizational skills

  • Must maintain confidentiality while exhibiting patience and understanding while handling multiple projects under strict deadlines

  • Ability to handle multiple priorities in fast-paced situations in a calm manner, and skilled in conflict resolution is essential for this position

  • Computer skills and proficiency with Word, Excel, payroll software, or other similar programs is mandatory

  • Ability to work evenings, weekend, and tours as needed

  • Ability to accommodate a variable schedule, managing fluctuating workloads, and travel for tours and run-outs as needed

  • Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion

    Compensation & Benefits
    Reporting to the General Manager and working closely with the Music Director and Executive Director, this is a full-time, exempt position from September 1 through June 30, and part-time, non-exempt from July 1 through August 31. Competitive salary of $44,000-$50,000/annually commensurate with experience. Hybrid schedule is possible depending on location and experience. This position requires presence at all orchestra services (current service schedule available upon request).

    Paid time off (PTO) package including complimentary time policy, vacation, sick time, and twelve (12) paid holidays. Health and dental insurance, voluntary participation in 403(b) retirement program (three-year vesting schedule for organization contributions), complimentary concert tickets, CDTA transportation pass, access to professional development resources through various Capital Region chambers of commerce and League of American Orchestras.

  • Application Deadline: July 13, 2026

View pdf

To Apply
Please send resume and cover letter to:
Derek Smith, General Manager
dereks@albanysymphony.com