The posting
Job Description
The Director of Operations for Opera (DOO) provides vital administrative, financial, and logistical leadership for the Shepherd School of Music’s Opera Department and its operations within Brockman Hall for Opera. Serving as the operational cornerstone of the department, the DOO oversees comprehensive annual and weekly scheduling, production planning, fiscal administration, and guest artist management, from contract drafting through residency execution. This position serves as the bridge among academic, artistic, and technical production areas, liaising daily with students, faculty, visiting artists, and school-wide staff. Reporting to the Director of Opera Studies, the DOO collaborates closely with two full-time members of the Opera Department staff, the Director of Production and the Company & Stage Manager for Opera, Opera Department faculty and music staff, Facilities, Central Production, and Marketing and Communications to ensure a professional, well-coordinated, and supportive performance and learning environment.
The ideal candidate is a thoughtful, proactive arts administrator and collaborative leader who thrives at the intersection of logistical precision, fiscal stewardship, and high-level opera production. Serving as the operational cornerstone of the department, this individual brings a calm, solutions-oriented presence to a fast-paced conservatory setting, seamlessly connecting academic, artistic, and production priorities.
An agile systems thinker, the ideal candidate balances strategic planning with meticulous daily execution, excelling at complex master scheduling in ASIMUT, departmental budget management, and procurement workflows. In close partnership with the Director of Production and the Company & Stage Manager, this individual ensures smooth operations while delivering polished guest-artist contracting and hospitality services. Above all, the ideal candidate leads with emotional intelligence, discretion, and patience and is dedicated to fostering an organized, respectful, and supportive environment where emerging vocal artists can flourish.
Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.
Workplace Requirements
- Available to work nights and weekends during production periods, performances, auditions, and special events, as required.
- Maintain a clean and safe work environment at all times.
Workplace Location
This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person at Brockman Hall for Opera and Alice Pratt Brown Hall. Available to work nights and weekends as required. Hybrid/remote work opportunities may be possible on a limited basis outside of the academic year following the completion of the probation period. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.”
Hiring Range
This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, with a proposed salary range of $75,000 - $81,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degreeIn lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
- Four or more (4+) years of experience working in a professional theater organization, university or conservatory music or theater program, or performing arts centerIn lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis
Skills:
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with diverse students, faculty, guest artists, and campus partners
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to liaise across artistic, academic, and administrative teams
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines
- Strong leadership and delegation skills, with a calm, patient approach to problem-solving in fast-paced environments
- Solid financial acumen and experience developing, tracking, and reconciling production and departmental budgets
- Working knowledge of guest-artist contracting, engagement agreements, and procurement workflows
- High level of discretion and judgment in handling sensitive student records and academic information (e.g., FERPA)
- Ability to read music and follow musical scores
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and arts-management scheduling software
- Knowledge of rehearsal-space safety protocols, incident management, and emergency preparedness
Preferences
- Five or more (5+) years of experience, demonstrating progressive growth in responsibilities and leadership
- Experience working in an educational environment with student artists
- Experience working with ASIMUT or similar arts-management scheduling systems
- Experience as a stage manager
Essential Functions
- Participates in ongoing strategic planning and engages in short- and long-term production planning for the Opera Department
- Develops the comprehensive academic-year master schedule for the Opera Department, aligning departmental production calendars, staging and music rehearsal periods, classes, guest masterclasses, and events with the Shepherd School master calendar, university registrar deadlines, and venue availability
- Compiles and analyzes weekly availability, release requests, and rehearsal-call requirements to build, publish, and distribute weekly schedules for opera students, faculty, guest artists, and production personnel
- Serves as the primary departmental administrator within the ASIMUT room-booking and scheduling system
- Acts as department budget manager, developing budgets and tracking all departmental expenditures for opera productions, classes, and departmental accounts
- Executes daily financial transactions and procurement activities; manages guest artist and vendor payments to ensure timely disbursement; processes departmental expense reports; and reconciles credit-card accounts
- Oversees the costing and procurement of materials and services for opera productions
- Serves as one of the primary operational liaisons for visiting guest artists; oversees the entire artist lifecycle, including drafting and executing engagement contracts, coordinating travel and lodging logistics, responding to hospitality needs, and facilitating timely onboarding and compensation
- Works with Marketing and Communications to create performance programs, including sourcing synopses, gathering biographies and photos, and collecting conductor and director notes
- Creates and maintains weekly production-meeting agendas
- Oversees the management of Opera Department classes in support of the Director of Opera Studies, including required setups in Morrison Theater, Deans Rehearsal Hall, and other instructional spaces
- Supports opera and voice department auditions, special events (e.g., masterclasses), and related activities
- Fosters a culture of respect within the department, prioritizing the creation of safe and inclusive environments for students. Implements and upholds policies that contribute to a positive and supportive atmosphere
- Acts as the primary coordinator between the academic, artistic, and production elements of the department
- Serves as the primary administrative contact for students and oversees the creation, distribution, and collection of departmental information and notifications, including handbooks, casting notices, attendance records, and related communications
- Manages library archives for all Shepherd School of Music opera productions, including documenting, organizing, and distributing production media, archival photographs, and promotional materials to students, faculty, and Communications
Additional Functions
- Provides stage-management support, as needed, for concerts, recitals, or masterclasses when the Company & Stage Manager is unavailable due to opera rehearsals or performances
- Provides on-site management support for rentals and special Shepherd School events in Morrison Theater, working closely with the Director of Production for Opera and all members of the Production team
School of Shepherd: https://music.rice.edu
Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits
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Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at [email protected] for support.
If you have any additional questions, please email us at [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.
