Personnel Manager - Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra/Washington National Opera

About The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts

"I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit." - President John F. Kennedy

The Trump Kennedy Center is the nation's cultural center and living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Located on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., the Center presents performances across all genres, and is also home to artistic affiliates Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra.

At the Trump Kennedy Center, we strive to foster belonging and empowerment at work. We are able to advance our mission because of our committed and passionate employees. We are fortunate to be able to leverage their diverse perspectives, life experiences and skills to inform how our workplace can be a safe, transparent, and replenishing community. The Trump Kennedy Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law.

Mission Statement: As America's performing arts center, and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across the United States and around the world, connecting the greatest living artists with audiences of every stripe, no matter their background. We welcome all Americans and creators and visitors from across the globe to discover, experience, learn about, be inspired by, and engage with the arts.

Why Join Us

We offer a total rewards package to all full-time employees to include:

• Staff offers for discount tickets
• Retirement plan with organization matching (after 1 year of employment)
• Qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Commuter programs including pre-tax options for discounted parking and SmartBenefits (WMATA)
• Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Personal Days available immediately upon hire
• 13 paid holidays per year
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits with FSA and HSA options, and paid FMLA

Pay Details

The Trump Kennedy Center strives to design equitable compensation programs. The projected salary range for this position is $75,000 - $84,000, commensurate with experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package. This is the targeted range of possible compensation for this role at the time of posting. This range may be modified in the future. Base pay within the range is ultimately determined by a candidate's skills, expertise, and experience as it relates to the position qualifications and responsibilities.

Job Description

The Personnel Manager for the KCOHO/WNOO works closely with the Director of Personnel and Operations as an administrator of two collective bargaining agreements. The position assists in the oversight of the 62-member Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and the 61-member Washington National Opera Orchestra. The Personnel Manager coordinates the day-to-day activities of the orchestras; acts in a human resource capacity for orchestra personnel; functions as a liaison between administration and the orchestra; and serves as a resource and counsel for musicians.

In a rapid-paced environment, this position must be able to meet deadlines and prioritize work. It is important for the Personnel Manager to develop a productive and supportive relationship with the orchestra and organization. This position works closely with the Orchestra Management team and librarians, and interacts with conductors, management, and operations. This position has a significant amount of evening and weekend hours and is required to be on-call at all hours on service days. (Approximately 48 weeks of the year).

Key Responsibilities

Serve as the team lead for all full orchestra projects for Ballet, Opera, Concerts, and Musical Theater. for Ballet, Opera, Concerts, and Musical Theater:

• Ensure enforcement of the AFM agreement with all local and visiting companies, conductors, stage managers and stagehands to ensure smooth operation of all services
• Hire and complete HR paperwork for all tenured, extra, and substitute musicians
• Create and distribute guest musician packets for each engagement
• Manage seating assignments and string rotations in consultation with each section's principal musician(s)
• Create and distribute all engagement documents such as engagement memo, personnel listings/seating, rehearsal break schedules, and stage door lists
• Maintain season instrumentation documents
• Act as primary administrator of the orchestra online portal
• Design pit and stage plots and communicate with stagehands
• Accurately prepare weekly payroll, verifying all hours, doubles and move-up pay
• Ensure the approval and tracking of all leave for both orchestras, including sick leave, personal leave, leave without pay, and one-year unpaid leaves of absence
• Arrange for the rental/purchase/maintenance of instruments as needed.
• Attend all internal KC meetings regarding Ballet, Opera, and Musical Theater

Work in rotation with orchestra management team to provide show coverage:

• Shares the responsibility of attending all rehearsals and performances to monitor beginning and ending times, breaks, attendance, musicians' use of leave, troubleshooting problems, managing disputes, etc.
• Remain on call from early morning through the conclusion of all rehearsals and/or the top of all performances. Provide service reports to management to keep everyone apprised of events occurring throughout the engagement.

Act as a liaison between orchestra members and management:

• Ensure timely and clear communication with the orchestra.
• Send out updates for both the KCOHO and WNOO calendars as changes arise.
• Create electronic version of the combined WNO/KCOHO calendar and ensure that a digital version is up to date on the online portal.
• Serve as the liaison between Human Resources/Payroll Department and the orchestra during the open enrollment period for health insurance and for any issues that arise with payments, benefits, or contributions.
• Maintain accurate contact information for tenured and substitute musicians.
• Maintain KCOHO/WNOO seniority documentation.
• Distribute post-notices.
• Create and develop plans for improvement projects to boost morale and create efficiencies for management.

Contract substitute musicians:

• Fill vacancies for musicians on planned personal or sick leave at the recommendation of the Principal musicians and Music Director.
• When time is limited, have discretion to find last minute replacements, often requiring quick action with high-pressure deadlines
• Work in conjunction with the Director of Orchestra Personnel and Operations to hire musicians for reduced orchestra projects based on alternative service and the opinions of the Music Director of Musical Theater and Television.

Auditions:

• Work with the orchestra management team to administer all Orchestra auditions as vacancies occur. Assemble candidate packets, communicate with candidates, hire and pay audition committee, staff, and accompanists, coordinate production and instrument logistics, and ensure smooth operations during audition days.

Other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in arts management, music, orchestra management, or a related discipline required OR commensurate experience in a similar capacity at a comparable arts organization.
• At least 2-3 years' in orchestra management or similar experience in artistic production within a performing arts organization.
• Musical background preferred. Including a knowledge of opera, ballet, musical theater, and symphonic repertoire and an understanding of orchestral instrumentation.
• Experience working in a union environment and managing a collective bargaining agreement preferred, with the ability to read and interpret labor contracts.
• Must possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and strong supervisory skills.
• Must exercise good judgment, show initiative, and handle sensitive data in a trustworthy manner; ability to maintain strict confidentiality of personnel records.
• Must be able to juggle many immediate and long-range tasks and priorities and remain calm under pressure.
• Must be organized and attentive to detail. Emphasis on record keeping and documentation consistent with overall needs of Orchestra Personnel, the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and Management.
• Proficient with email and software programs, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Access.
• Ability to deal effectively with professional musicians and music professionals and to work with a wide range of personalities, especially artistic temperaments.
• Ability to maintain a flexible, and at times demanding, work schedule.
• A willingness to work as part of a collaborative team. Interest in positive interpersonal interaction, openness to diverse work situations, and sense of humor strongly encouraged.
• Candidate must be local or willing to relocate to the DMV area. Relocation assistance is not provided.
• Candidate must be willing to work onsite.

Additional Information

• Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as the orchestra schedule demands.
• Requires lifting and occasional carrying of music to and from the pit, and transporting music to and from various locations throughout the building.
• Varies from sedentary office work to frequent walking to and from many locations within a large building.
• Use of stairs and ability to physically maneuver around equipment and instruments necessary.

ABOUT WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA

An affiliate of the Trump Kennedy Center, Washington National Opera is led by General Director Timothy O'Leary and internationally-acclaimed stage director and WNO Artistic Director, Francesca Zambello. WNO celebrates its 70^th anniversary in 2026. Each season, the $24 million company produces five innovative mainstage productions-from the classics to the rare to the contemporary-and an annual holiday opera for families. Since 2012, the company's much-lauded American Opera Initiative has commissioned and produced 36 twenty-minute operas, three each year, from emerging composers and librettists, and 7 hour-long operas, 6 of which have subsequently been seen at companies across the U.S. WNO's Cafritz Young Artists program is considered one of the finest resident training and career advancement programs in the world, offering singers on the verge of international careers intensive coaching, career guidance, and-importantly-supporting roles in WNO mainstage productions and leading roles in the American Opera Initiative world premieres. WNO and the Kennedy Center annually celebrate the Marian Anderson Award given to a young American singer who has achieved initial success in opera, oratorio, or recital repertory with an annual recital, and WNO, in concert with Kennedy Center Education, oversee the WNO Opera Institute, a summer training program for high school singers. WNO further extends its mission into the community with programs throughout the year in churches, community centers, at the Library of Congress and other major institutions, with the tech community, and with teens at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center.