Education & Community Engagement Manager

The Education & Community Engagement Manager oversees, designs, and executes the Florentine Opera’s diverse portfolio of learning and community-centered programs. This role bridges the gap between professional opera production and the Greater Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin community, ensuring high-quality, accessible, and curriculum aligned programming for audiences ranging from school-aged youth to seasoned opera-goers and lifelong learners.

Education Programs & Curriculum Integration

• Opera in Schools Tour: Lead all operational and administrative execution of the children’s opera tour, including school/venue bookings, rehearsal tracking, artist scheduling, evaluation metrics, and cross-departmental logistics for set, costume, and prop transportation.
• Play & Perform Residency Program: Design and deliver interactive, in-class residency content that directly compliments the learning and curriculum needs of Milwaukee Area Schools, giving students the tools to explore opera elements, rehearse scenes, and perform.
• Touring Recital Series: Partner directly with the Artistic Administrator to curate and tailor engaging recital programs appropriate for specialized settings, ranging from high-performance academic environments (high Schools and universities) to community and senior centers.
• Opera Without Limits (OWL): Develop accessible, inclusive virtual music education content leveraging music therapy principles. Deliver this programming asynchronously to support the unique learning paces and environments of differently abled and medically fragile youth.
• Schools on Stage: Coordinate the Florentine’s flagship annual youth engagement initiative, managing partnerships with local under-resourced schools to embed student choruses or silent actors directly into professional mainstage productions onstage. Oversee students while backstage and on stage; lead rehearsals with the Head of Music.

Community Engagement & Public Programs

• Versed Series: Conceptualize and produce the asynchronous digital "edutainment" video series aligned to each mainstage production, highlighting directors, conductors, designers, and singers to engage both newcomers and seasoned opera-goers alike.
• Pre-Opera Talks and Program Notes: In close collaboration with the Head of Music, develop and present 30-minute informative, synchronous sessions prior to mainstage performances to provide audiences with a deeper musical foundation, including historical background, compositional hallmarks, and production specifics. Leveraging the research performed in gathering information for Pre-Opera Talks and Education Study Guides, partner with the Head of Music to develop program notes for mainstage performances.
• Community Circle: Manage and grow the discount ticket program to expand arts access, actively auditing and engaging with non-profit arts, community, and educational partners to distribute accessible seating.
• Community Masterclass Series: Plan and execute public masterclasses hosted at the Riverwest Opera Center, driving attendance and participation for area vocalists, members of the Florentine Chorus, board members, students, and opera enthusiasts to learn from Baumgartner Studio Artists and visiting professionals.
• Community-Mainstage relationship opportunities: Based on our annual programming and in partnership with the General Director and Artistic Administrator, develop opportunities using our mainstage themes to dive deeper into community partnership, bringing opera off the stage and into Milwaukee. Our Bronzeville Boheme partnerships with the neighborhood BID, local businesses and artists, and multiyear connection to sharing Milwaukee’s history on our stage and in our programs fit our mission to foster the current and next generation of opera audiences and practitioners.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration & Administration

• Artistic & Production: Coordinate the community engagement calendar with the Artistic Administrator to maximize the utilization of Baumgartner Studio Artists and production resources. 
• Development: Assist the Development team by supplying data, metrics, and programmatic narratives to support grant writing and sponsorship opportunities. Support and present at donor conversations related to this role. Support development events as needed and appropriate.
• Marketing & Communications: Partner with Marketing to create promotional materials, review study guides, capture media/photo opportunities, and optimize digital outreach platforms. 
• Board & Committee Relations: Prepare comprehensive reports on program reach, demographics, and evaluation summaries for presentation at regular Education Committee and Board of Directors meetings. Lead Education and Community Engagement committee meetings.
• Intern Supervision: Oversee and mentor an Education/Community Engagement intern (approximately 10 hours per week), providing guidance on projects, professional development, and daily tasks.
• Other administrative and staff responsibilities as needed . As the business evolves, so may this role. These duties may change as company leadership identifies the need at any time.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Music Education or related field preferred
• Demonstrated experience in arts education, community engagement, and/or nonprofit arts administration
• Strong knowledge of vocal music, opera production, and curriculum design frameworks
• Ability to teach basic music to students of all ages
• Multi-lingual capability preferred: conversational Spanish and basic proficiency in French, German, and Italian pronunciation.
• Experience with digital media production, video editing, or asynchronous program tracking is a plus
• Proven ability to build and sustain trust-based partnerships with schools, community leaders, and diverse populations
• Excellent project management, scheduling, and administrative skills. Ability to coordinate many tasks, setting appropriate priorities and completing work on schedule with attention to detail
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact with all staff, management, artists, and the public in a professional and tactful manner. Maintain confidentiality and provide excellent customer service
• Must be comfortable public speaking
• Ability to work independently, exercise judgment and initiative. Be a motivated self-starter who also works well in a larger team. Demonstrate leadership in accordance with the Florentine's mission, vision and values. Must be a team player and be willing to help out teammates

Work Conditions

• Authorization to work in the US or American citizen
• The job sometimes requires six-day workweeks as well as evenings during specific periods. 
• Assistance at company events
• Sitting and standing for extended periods of time
• Ability to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and to handle other office equipment
• Ability to carry up to 40 pounds; transport and set up keyboards and other musical equipment
• Residence in the Greater Milwaukee area required
• Driver’s license required
• Applicants should be prepared to participate in and pass a background check

Salary and Benefits

• The Education & Community Engagement Manager is a full-time, exempt position, reporting to the Artistic Administrator. 
• Salary Range: $52-56,000, commensurate with experience and scope of responsibilities (benchmarked annually)
• Flexible hours: administrative tasks may be completed remotely in alignment with company hybrid practices when schedule permits.
• Benefits: The Florentine Opera offers generous benefits and an excellent working environment, including:
• Health Insurance: monthly healthcare stipend
• Dental Insurance: Delta Dental (employee-paid)
• Life Insurance: $50,000 policy, employer paid
• Short- & Long-Term Disability: 100% employer paid
• Retirement: 403(b) plan (Fidelity)
• Paid Time Off: 15 PTO days per year (accrued), 5 company shutdown days (during summer and winter shutdowns), flex and comp time, and half-day Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day
• Transportation: employer-paid downtown parking
• Complimentary/Discounted Tickets

To Apply

Please email Hannah Steele, Company Manager at View email address on click.appcast.io with your résumé, three references, and a cover letter.