Executive Director

Operation Song

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Job Summary

Operation Song’s mission is to empower veterans, active-duty military, and their families to tell their stories through the process of songwriting.  Operation Song was founded in 2012.  Nashville songwriter Bob Regan had the inspiration for the program in the 2000s while performing on Armed Forces Entertainment Tours at military bases worldwide.   On those tours, Bob met many servicemen and women with very compelling stories and thought that pairing them with songwriters, natural storytellers might create some very compelling music. The idea was that transforming their story into a song might help them process seemingly random and chaotic events and emotions of their service and give them some order, perspective, and validation.

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, the nonprofit 501(c)(3) is seeking an Executive Director (ED) as it transitions from being founder-led to professionalized leadership.  Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for Operation Song’s staff, programs, and operations.

Combining inspirational leadership, strategic thinking, and sophisticated operational abilities will advance the organization’s strategy, capability, processes, and impact. While working closely with the organization’s board and staff, the ED will inspire innovation and ensure that it is continually well equipped to advance its mission.

Job Responsibilities

Responsibilities:

• Executive Leadership and Organizational Management
• Development, Fundraising, and Earned Revenue
• Board Governance
• Financial Management and Administration
• External Relations and Communications

Job Duties include, but are not limited to:

Executive Leadership & Organizational Management

• Provide thoughtful and visionary leadership that is inclusive, transparent, and empowering in a manner that supports and guides the organization’s mission
• Present strategic options and plans for organization impact and gain Board approval as needed to carry out the work of the mission of the organization
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization and ensure its overall successful long-term operations
• Apply innovative thinking and performance measurements to analyze and support strategic decision-making
• Contribute to the strategic plan and drive its implementation
• Manage and motivate staff, contractors, and volunteers overseeing processes such as hiring, separation, ongoing staff development, performance management, and compensation and benefits
• Inspire a business-oriented, professional, results-driven environment across the organization
• Perform general management duties overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organization
• Establish goals, objectives, and operational plans in collaboration with the Board of Directors, staff, and other leaders

Development, Fundraising, and Earned Revenue

• Drive development and fundraising, leveraging the Board as needed
• Initiate, cultivate, and steward relationships with the organization’s portfolio of individual, foundation, government, and corporate supporters
• Secure funding from donors, grantors, and sponsors
• Create fundraising events to generate funding and visibility
• Manage merchandise and CD sales
• Ensure the organization’s financial stability and sustainability by maintaining healthy cash flow and adequate reserves

Board Governance

• Maintain regular and ongoing communication to build strong relationships with the entire Board, providing leadership and support to members at all times
• Communicate effectively with the Board by providing members with all information necessary to continually function properly and make informed decisions in a timely and accurate manner
• Attend all Board meetings and provide reports and updates on staff as well as all current work, project timelines, and project and organizational progress
• Gracefully manage the board as needed to build consensus, remind of outstanding deliverables, and offer support
• Work closely and openly with the Board and its committees, ensuring ongoing communication of risks, issues, as well as successes

Financial Management and Administration

• Provide strategic leadership and hands-on management for all of the administrative and operational functions of the organization in accordance with the mission, objectives, and policies
• Prudently direct resources and manage all financials within budget guidelines and according to current laws and regulations
• Assume responsibility for the fiscal integrity of the organization
• Monitor board-approved budget and manage daily financial operations to ensure maximum utilization of resources and optimum financial positioning for the organization
• Build and administer the annual budget, with Board approval

External Relations and Communications

• Represent the organization and serve as chief spokesperson publicly at events, conferences, and partnership meetings
• Present and promote the organization and its mission, programs, partners, and members in a consistently positive manner
• Manage all aspects of the organization’s marketing and public relations

Qualifications

Candidates may come from nonprofit, military, music, or entertainment industry backgrounds.  The ideal candidate would have a blend of these backgrounds.  The candidate should possess the following:

• Strong business acumen and a history of providing leadership
• Proven experience executing organization growth and leading a similar or larger size successful organization
• Experience working with diverse groups of people of executive-level people.  Ideal background would include working with or serving on a nonprofit board.
• Familiarity with diverse business functions such as Marketing, Public Relations, Human Resources, etc.
• Excellent written, oral, and public speaking skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with strong interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills
• A bachelor’s or advanced degree

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

For immediate consideration, please send your resume, cover letter addressed to the search committee, and salary requirements in a PDF format to careers@operationsong.org.

A review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and be confidential.

Operation Song is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity and equity in all facets of the organization’s work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other protected class.

Details

• Date Posted: November 1, 2021
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Executive Leadership
• Service Area: Arts / Culture
• Start Date: 11/15/2021
• Salary Range: $55,000-$60,000
• Working Hours: M-F, some weekends/evenings