ORCHESTRA & PRODUCTION MANAGER

Job Title:

Orchestra and Production Manager
Reports to:

Chief Operating and Impact Officer

Mission:

To inspire and engage our community through exceptional musical and educational programs.

Vision:

To be a premier cultural destination and leading performing arts organization that sparks lasting connections and transformative impact for all of Charleston.

Join the Charleston Symphony: A Bold Vision for the Future
The Charleston Symphony is a growing, forward-thinking orchestra in one of the nation’s most dynamic and thriving cities. Concert attendance has increased by over 75% since before the pandemic, reflecting the community’s strong support for live music. Following a successful inaugural endowment campaign that surpassed $15 million, a second campaign is underway to further strengthen the Symphony’s long-term artistic and financial foundation. In 2025, the CSO marked a major milestone with its debut at Carnegie Hall.

Rooted in 90 years of artistic tradition and guided by core values of excellence, collaboration, integrity, and innovation, the CSO is focused on attracting and retaining outstanding talent while building a sustainable future that supports competitive compensation and artistic fulfillment.

The CSO seeks a full-time Orchestra and Production Manager to oversee all musician and production-related operations and ensure the seamless execution of rehearsals, performances, and programs. This role serves as a central liaison between musicians, artistic leadership, and administrative staff, supporting a collaborative environment that enables artistic excellence and operational efficiency.

Position Summary
The Orchestra and Production Manager is a key member of the Artistic Operations team and is responsible for the administration and coordination of all orchestra personnel and production activities. This role oversees musician scheduling, hiring, payroll coordination, auditions, and service execution, ensuring alignment across artistic and operational priorities.

Working closely with the Artistic Director, Principal Librarian, Operations team, and Core Principal Musicians, the Orchestra and Production Manager ensures appropriate instrumentation, roster planning, and personnel coverage for all services. This plays a critical role in overseeing productions and fostering strong collaboration across departments to ensure all programs are executed at the highest level.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and diplomatic, with strong communication skills and the ability to remain flexible in a fast-paced environment. Experience with ArtsVision or similar orchestral management software is preferred.

Core Responsibilities

Oversee all aspects of musician personnel management, including hiring, contracts, scheduling, attendance, and recordkeeping

Manage musician data and communications through ArtsVision, including calendars, rosters, call sheets, and service records

Serve as the primary point of contact for musicians regarding schedules, assignments, and personnel matters

Partner with the Artistic Director, Principal Librarian, and principal musicians to ensure proper instrumentation and roster planning

Develop and maintain a strong and reliable pool of guest musicians

Maintain accurate personnel records, including contracts, payroll documentation, and service histories

Collect and verify payroll-related information (including doubling, cartage, and overtime) and submit documentation for processing

Monitor and manage the musician hiring budget, preparing cost estimates and reports in collaboration with finance

Production Management

Design stage plots in collaboration with Artistic Director and key Musicians

Monitor and manage production budgets and payables

Oversee and communicate musician, equipment, and staging needs to Production Coordinator and part-time Stagehands for all CSO services

Ensure all Production details are communicated with venues in collaboration with Operations and Production staff

Coordinate and oversee all orchestra services, including rehearsals, concerts, tours, chamber music, fundraising, and education programs

Ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements and service parameters, including start/end times, breaks, and overtime

Prepare and distribute service schedules and ensure all personnel are informed of expectations

Partner on-site with production and operations teams to ensure seamless execution of all services

Musician Relations & Communication

Build and maintain strong, professional relationships with core and guest musicians

Serve as a liaison between musicians, artistic leadership, and administrative staff

Communicate clearly and consistently with musicians regarding schedules, expectations, and organizational updates

Provide guidance on personnel matters with professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality

Support musician participation in education and community engagement programs

Auditions, Recruitment & Organizational Support

Coordinate auditions for core and guest musicians, including applications, materials, scheduling, and candidate communications

Partner with audition committees and support candidate experience and follow-up

Maintain and expand recruitment pipelines in collaboration with artistic leadership

Coordinate housing logistics for guest musicians in partnership with housing support

Collaborate across departments—including production, operations, marketing, and advancement—to support organizational initiatives and performances

Provide additional operational and production support as needed to meet organizational priorities

Preferred Qualifications

Strong knowledge of orchestral repertoire and the operational needs of a professional symphony orchestra

Familiarity with ArtsVision or similar orchestral management software

Familiarity with designing stage plots

Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Professionalism, discretion, and diplomacy when working with musicians and staff

Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

Availability to work evenings and weekends, and to assist with last-minute musician coverage when necessary

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation:

Salary up to $60,000 annually

Benefits:

Health insurance, 401(k) matching, three weeks of paid vacation (in addition to holidays), and a comprehensive benefits package

Schedule:

Flexible hours with required evening and weekend availability during performance weeks

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