Executive Director

Opera Atelier is North America's leading opera/ballet company dedicated to creating period productions realized as complete artistic statements, with equal attention given to music, dancing, acting, and design. With productions performed in partnership with Tafelmusik, Canada's premier award-winning baroque orchestra and chamber choir orchestra, Opera Atelier has had a more extensive international touring schedule than any other music organization in Canadian history, taking fully-mounted productions to venues of great distinction, including the Salzburg Festival, La Scala and the Royal Opera House in Versailles.

At the heart of Opera Atelier is the belief that period performance is not a museum piece but a point of departure for creativity, reinvention and contemporary storytelling. The company combines rigorous research and respect for original source material with artistic innovation, creating productions that speak meaningfully to audiences today.

Opera Atelier is equally committed to developing and mentoring the next generation of Canadian artists while also expanding access to opera and ballet through education, community engagement, touring and digital initiatives.

As Opera Atelier enters its next chapter, the organization is seeking an accomplished Executive Director to support the artistic vision of the company's Founding Co-Artistic Directors Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg while working in partnership with the Board of Directors and team to build upon the company's unique artistic vision.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Reporting to the Board of Directors and working in close partnership with its Founding Co-Artistic Directors, the Executive Director provides strategic, financial and operational leadership for Opera Atelier.

The Executive Director will play a central role in ensuring that Opera Atelier's ambitious artistic vision is supported by a strong and sustainable organization. With particular emphasis on fundraising, revenue development, financial stewardship and organizational sustainability, the Executive Director oversees key areas including administration, development, marketing and communications, stakeholder and government relations, partnerships, people leadership and strategic planning.

This is a highly collaborative leadership role requiring an individual who understands the relationship between artistic ambition and organizational sustainability. The Executive Director will build strong relationships with donors, sponsors, government funders, foundations, patrons, community partners and other stakeholders while working closely with the artistic leadership and Board to support Opera Atelier's continued evolution.

As a visible ambassador for Opera Atelier, the Executive Director will represent the organization within Toronto's cultural community and more broadly across Canada and internationally, helping to deepen existing relationships, develop new partnerships and expand awareness and support for the company's work.

The successful candidate will bring strong business and financial acumen together with a genuine passion for the arts and an appreciation for the unique creative vision, history and international reputation of Opera Atelier.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish strong, complementary, and effective working relationships with Board Members and internal team to ensure the creative vision can be operationalized successfully.
• Lead internal planning process, external funding strategy, ensuring alignment with artistic vision and strategic plan.
• Ensure that the appropriate human, financial, and operational resources are in place to achieve the plan, with a particular focus on fundraising.
• Act as ambassador and representative of core values, mission and vision.
• Continually work with internal teams to strengthen the company's ongoing commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. This commitment includes a particular emphasis on the realization of these goals through education and outreach.

• Mentor team members. Monitor staff engagement and organizational culture.

External Funding Oversight

• Build and foster a strong financial support base, establishing, stewarding, and enhancing existing relationships while focusing on building new relationships with key sponsors, donors, government agencies, and foundations. Cultivate new and renewed sources of major sponsorships and grants.
• Lead and participate in all aspects of fundraising activity, including grant writing.
• Responsible for all submissions to and liaison with governmental funding agencies and federal, provincial, and municipal arts councils.
• Develop an overall financial strategy for the organization, in consultation with internal leadership and the Board of Directors, that provides funding to advance the st