Chief Operating Officer and General Manager

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and strategic Chief Operating Officer and General Manager to join one of the world’s premier chamber orchestras at an exciting moment in its evolution. Reporting to the President and Managing Director, this highly visible role will help shape the next chapter of the SPCO’s artistic and organizational future by providing the operational leadership needed to support extraordinary music-making, a distinctive musician-led artistic model, and a strong sustainable organization.

The ideal candidate will bring strong musical and artistic knowledge, orchestra personnel experience, operational judgment, diplomacy, and the ability to build trust across musicians, staff, artistic leaders, union partners, venues, board members, community stakeholders, and other partners while advancing the SPCO’s mission, impact, sustainability, and leadership within the orchestral field.

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) is widely regarded as one of the finest chamber orchestras in the world. For more than 65 years, the SPCO has enriched the cultural life of the Twin Cities through extraordinary artistry, innovative programming, and a unique musician-led artistic model. Through concerts across the region, community partnerships, and a commitment to accessibility, the SPCO strives to ensure that great music is available to all.

Our musicians, staff, and board share a deep commitment to artistic excellence, collaboration, service to the community, and a shared artistic vision, working together to create an inclusive and creative environment where artistry and people can thrive.

The Chief Operating Officer and General Manager provides collaborative leadership for orchestra operations, orchestra personnel, electronic media rights compliance, information technology, and facilities and venue operations. Reporting to the President and Managing Director, this position serves as a member of the senior management team and plays a central role in translating the SPCO’s artistic vision into effective operational strategy, planning, and execution.

The position works closely with artistic leadership, musicians, staff, union partners, venues, and external partners to oversee season planning, concert and activity scheduling, touring, recordings, special projects, venue and facility relationships, orchestra personnel matters, collective bargaining agreement administration, labor relations, media rights compliance, operational budgets, and related organizational infrastructure. The Chief Operating Officer and General Manager serves as a primary liaison between the Orchestra and the broader organization, supporting clear communication, productive collaboration, sound decision-making, financial sustainability, compliance with applicable agreements, and the operational excellence necessary to advance the SPCO’s mission and musician-led artistic model.

This position reports to the President/Managing Director and supervises the Director of Operations, the Director of Orchestra Personnel, the Orchestra Librarian and the Technical Director.

• Serve as a member of the SPCO's senior leadership team, helping shape organizational strategy and advance institutional priorities
• Provide leadership and oversight for orchestra operations, orchestra personnel, media rights administration, facilities, and information technology
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and solutions-oriented culture across departments and constituencies
• Lead, mentor, and support a high-performing operations team, promoting accountability, professional growth, and continuous improvement
• Support organizational planning and decision-making through thoughtful analysis, communication, and problem-solving

• Oversee the planning and execution of orchestra activities, including concerts, rehearsals, tours, recordings, and special projects, working closely with the Director of Operations and other staff responsible for day-to-day coordination
• Partner with artistic leadership, musicians,…