Equity Arc
Equity Arc is a fast-growing national organization committed to transforming the future of classical music by supporting and advancing musicians of color. Founded in 2022, we are building a vibrant network through bold programs, strategic partnerships, and an unwavering focus on equity and artistic excellence. As demands for our work accelerates, we are expanding our team to deepen our impact and meet the needs of the next generation of exceptional musicians.
Equity Arc seeks a dynamic and collaborative Strategic Initiatives Director to support the design and execution of high-impact projects and partnerships that advance our mission. This role works closely with senior leadership to cultivate relationships across the field, monitor trends, and gather insights that inform the development of forward-thinking initiatives. Reporting to the Associate Director, the Strategic Initiatives Director serves as a connector and thought partner, stewarding strategic relationships, managing special projects, and supporting the growth of Equity Arc’s virtual network. They will also help maximize the potential of our customer relationship management system (CRM) and custom online portal to deepen engagement across our ecosystem.
This is an ideal role for someone who is energized by building systems, cultivating relationships, and shaping creatives ideas into sustainable, mission-aligned work. The successful candidate will bring a collaborative spirit, strong project leadership skills, and a deep understanding of how to build momentum behind initiatives that advance Equity Arc’s mission.
This position operates under an administrative shared services agreement. The employer of record is the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO).
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Initiative Development
- Collaborate with senior leadership to translate Equity Arc’s strategic goals into clear, actionable program models.
- Lead the design and pilot development of new initiatives ensuring clear goals, structures, and success metrics.
- Create internal frameworks, project timelines, logic models, and evaluation tools to guide early-stage program development.
- Support strategic learning by documenting pilot results, synthesizing insights, and making recommendations for long-term implementation.
- Develop resource plans in collaboration with senior leadership to ensure pilots are appropriately scoped and financially sustainable.
- Partner with the Program Director to ensure a smooth transition of new initiatives from design and pilot phases into full program implementation, maintaining alignment with existing programs and organizational goals.
Partnerships and Cultivation
- Cultivate and manage partnerships with orchestras, conservatories, youth-serving organizations, funders, and artistic collaborators, serving as a lead liaison to key institutional partners during program co-design and launch phases.
- Develop proposals, shared program models, and agreements that reflect Equity Arc’s values and priorities.
- Play a key role in advancing the functionality and adoption of Equity Arc’s CRM and community platform to foster meaningful network engagement ensuring consistent and accurate use across programs and strengthening its value as a network-building tool.
Project Leadership and Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Support planning and execution of convenings, retreats, and stakeholder gatherings, including shaping the content and structure of Equity Arc’s National Convening.
- Lead cross-functional projects that synthesize insights from program design, partnerships, and network engagement to support organizational learning and innovation.
- Coordinate with the Operations Manager to align evaluation, reporting, and communications systems with strategic initiatives.
- Facilitate collaboration among internal teams and external partners, ensuring clarity around goals, timelines, and deliverables.
- Inform the development of budgets for new initiatives by collaborating with senior leadership and the Operations Manager during planning and proposal phases.
- Manage initiative-specific budgets once programs are launched, ensuring alignment with goals, appropriate use of resources, and compliance with funder expectations.
- Partner with the Development Coordinator to align pilot design with funder priorities and proposal development.
- Represent Equity Arc in public forums to advance national dialogue and elevate the organization’s profile.
- Contribute to communications and storytelling efforts that share the impact of new initiatives with key audiences and the broader field.
- Other duties as assigned.
Benefits Include:
- Retirement Contribution
- 100% Remote position
- Flexible scheduling
- Generous PTO Plan
- $3,650 Employer Health Savings Account Contribution
- 100% Employer paid single health coverage and affordable family options
- Free dental insurance
- At least 5 years of experience in program development, partnerships, or strategic project leadership within the classical music sector.
- Proven ability to translate big-picture goals into structured, sustainable initiatives.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with experience engaging external partners and internal collaborators.
- Familiarity with Salesforce CRM and community platforms and interest in using technology to strengthen networks.
- Familiarity with Microsoft products.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience with proposals, project plans, and stakeholder communications.
- Deep understanding of the classical music field and equity-focused initiatives in the arts is highly desirable.
- Highly organized, proactive, and able to manage multiple timelines across projects.
Employment Restrictions: We are currently unable to employ candidates who will work from New York or California.
