Chief Philanthropy Officer
DESCRIPTION
Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with Opéra de Montréal in the search for a Chief Philanthropy Officer.
Reporting to the General Director Designate, the Chief Philanthropy Officer will lead all philanthropic initiatives of Opéra de Montréal, driving sustainable contributed revenue in support of the company’s artistic mission and long-term growth. Working in close partnership with the General Director and Board of Directors, the Chief Philanthropy Officer will design and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy encompassing annual giving, major gifts, foundation support, corporate partnerships, planned giving, special events, and capital campaigns. As the senior fundraising leader in the organization, the Chief Philanthropy Officer will steward a culture of philanthropy across the organization, overseeing all donor cultivation and stewardship efforts, while managing and mentoring a high-performing philanthropy team. As a strategic advisor to the Board of Directors, the Chief Philanthropy Officer will leverage the time, talent, and resources of the board to maximize their impact and engage new high-level donors. Through strategic planning, operational oversight, superior relationship management, and rigorous data analysis, the Chief Philanthropy Officer will play a central part in securing the resources that fuel the future of opera in Montréal.
Opéra de Montréal stands as the largest Francophone opera company in North America, offering a dynamic blend of grand productions, innovative programming, and deep community engagement. Founded in 1980 by Jean Paul Jeannotte under the auspices of the Québec Ministry of Culture, the company has since presented over 1,000 performances of more than 100 operas — ranging from beloved staples like Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and La Bohème, to inventive contemporary works such as Another Brick in the Wall – The Opera, commissioned in 2017 with music by Julien Bilodeau and libretto by Roger Waters. Hosting its mainstage seasons in Salle Wilfrid Pelletier at Place des Arts — Canada’s largest multipurpose stage with roughly 3,000 seats — Opéra de Montréal blends operatic spectacle with theatrical flair to captivate audiences of all backgrounds.
From its inception, the company has adopted a bilingual and inclusive ethos. In 1988, under artistic director Bernard Uzan, it introduced French and English supertitles to make performances accessible to a diverse audience. That same year, Jacqueline Desmarais launched the Montréal Opera Guild, inspired by the Met Opera Guild, to bolster fundraising through galas and signature events. As trust in the institution grew, programming expanded to include both celebrated classics and daring contemporary pieces. Highlights have included world premieres like André Gagnon’s Nelligan, for which the company won a Félix Award, and Janáček’s Jenůfa and Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle, both earning prestigious Prix Opus. Recent programming includes five world premieres over the past five seasons including L’hiver attend beaucoup de moi, La Beauté du Monde, Enigma, La Reine-garçon, and Le Phare — a pace which is expected to continue for the next five years. Over the past 15 years, Opéra de Montréal has presented an impressive program of 21st century works including Ainadamar, Champion, Svadba, JFK, 27, Dead Man Walking, Silent Night, and Another Brick in the Wall – The Opera. Last season’s La Reine-garçon was nominated for an International Opera Award in the “best new work” category and just won three Dora awards for opera in Toronto.
A degree in arts management, management, finance, philanthropy, music, or a related field and at least five years of experience in a similar philanthropic arts leadership role is preferred for this position. Bilingual in English and French is highly preferred. Opéra de Montréal will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to Opéra de Montréal, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and resume. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Opéra de Montréal as well as the responsibilities and qualifications stated in the position prospectus.
The target salary for this position is $200,000 CAD.
This position is in Montréal, Quebec, Canada. Opéra de Montréal will consider applications from candidates currently residing outside of Canada who wish to relocate to Montréal, but preference will be given to candidates with Canadian citizenship.
Opéra de Montréal is committed to the inclusion of all qualified candidates. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or participating in the selection process, please contact Michael Carver at michaelcarver@aspenleadershipgroup.com.
BENEFITS
Pay Range: $200,000 - $200,000 Annual
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for this position, visit: https://apptrkr.com/6380357.
Application Email/Link: apptrkr.com/6380357