President & Chief Executive Officer

Vancouver Symphony Society - Vancouver, BC

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) is one of Canada's leading cultural institutions and the largest performing arts organization in Western Canada. Founded in 1919, the Grammy and Juno Award-winning organization presents more than 150 concerts annually, operates the renowned VSO School of Music, and engages hundreds of thousands of audience members through performances, education, and community initiatives. The VSO is recognized for its artistic excellence, commitment to accessibility, community engagement, and Truth & Reconciliation.

The Board seeks an accomplished and visionary President & CEO to lead the Vancouver Symphony Society, Vancouver Symphony Foundation, and VSO School of Music. Reporting to the Boards and working closely with the Music Director and senior leadership team, the CEO will provide strategic, operational, and financial leadership while serving as the organization's chief ambassador and fundraiser.

Key priorities include driving long-term sustainability and revenue growth, strengthening organizational culture, leading stakeholder and donor engagement, supporting educational and community impact initiatives, and advancing the VSO's profile locally, nationally, and internationally. This is a unique opportunity to build upon a strong legacy and help shape the future of one of Canada's most respected arts organizations.

The ideal candidate is a highly visible and inspirational executive with experience leading complex, mission-driven organizations. They will bring strong strategic and financial acumen, a proven ability to secure major gifts and build partnerships, and exceptional stakeholder management skills. Experience navigating organizational change, building high-performing teams, and fostering constructive labour relations will be important.

It is most likely that the successful candidate will bring extensive experience of the performing arts sector, including experience gained working in an orchestral environment. However, we are open-minded about analogous experience gained in other performing arts environments and welcome candidates who can demonstrate their ability to meet the requirements of the role.

A passion for the performing arts, coupled with the credibility, presence, and emotional intelligence to engage musicians, staff, boards, donors, governments, and the broader community, will be essential to success. The successful candidate will be visionary yet pragmatic, collaborative, resilient, and committed to advancing artistic excellence and community impact.

Esther Mc Gregor – Managing Partner, DHR Global |

Samantha Peloso – Director, Client Delivery, DHR Global |