Director of Development
DESCRIPTION
POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Long Beach Opera (LBO) seeks a Director of Development who will lead a wide range of fundraising activities and advancement activities for a highly entrepreneurial company. This position will manage a development coordinator and collaborate actively with LBO’s Marketing, Box Office and Artistic teams. The Director of Development reports to the Executive Director, and will work closely with the Board President and other members of LBO’s Board of Directors.
The Organization
Founded in 1979, Long Beach Opera (LBO) is Southern California’s first professional opera company, with a focus on site-specific productions of unusual and rarely performed works, both classical and contemporary. LBO seeks to reach, and shape, a new audience by premiering new works, commissioning work that expands the boundaries of the operatic form. We are constantly rethinking operatic classics in ways that reflect contemporary realities, making these works accessible and relevant. Our anchor arts programs include three fully-staged productions each year, along with an annual film festival and Opera@School, which produces children’s operas during the school year in Long Beach public schools.
LBO’s approach to performance helps to build and launch careers that matter. Our programming reflects the diversity of the Southern California audience, and the artists whose work we present come from the many communities that make up LA County. As an artist-centered organization, we engage the artistic community by seeking out and working with emerging local artists and offering mentoring on all aspects of composition, design and production.
James Darrah, who is also the Director of UCLA’s Opera Program, is LBO’s Artistic Director and Chief Creative Officer. Christopher Rountree, who is also the Artistic Director of Wild Up, is the Music Director.
A member of Opera America, LBO’s annual budget has ranged from $1.5 to $1.9 million in recent years.
Position Summary
The Director of Development will serve as LBO’s lead development strategist and fundraiser, while building a network of new support for LBO’s mission through regular interactions with the community and stewarding its longtime donors. This leader will oversee donor relations, development operations, grant writing and special events as well as major and planned gifts and annual fund solicitation. The Director of Development will also work closely with the Executive Director, the Artistic Director and the Board President to develop and sustain positive relationships with other community organizations, both in Long Beach and in LA County, and collaborate with the company’s leadership on planning a stability reserve campaign to be launched in mid-2026 following the completion of LBO’s new strategic plan.
Role and Responsibilities
Fundraising Leadership
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Develop and oversee a comprehensive fund development plan, building the major gifts program to ensure LBO’s ongoing success and sustainability
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Cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of current and prospective donors
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Collaborate with board members and other volunteers to identify and solicit prospects and devise tailored engagement strategies
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Oversee grant writing and grants management, ensuring accurate record keeping and alignment with institutional priorities
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Manage staff members with experience in database management, grant writing and event planning and execution
Staff Management and Team Development
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Lead and mentor the Development team, setting clear goals, providing regular feedback and fostering professional growth
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Coordinate departmental responsibilities through an annual work plan and master calendar
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Conduct annual staff evaluations and encourage a collaborative, mission-driven culture
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Work with team leaders in education, marketing, artistic production and box office to identify and grow contributed and earned revenue
Organizing and Planning
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Manage the development budget, ensuring efficient use of resources to meet revenue targets
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Ensure the accuracy of donor database records and grants management processes to track relationships and donor engagement
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Prepare reports and presentations for the board, including fundraising updates and donor insights
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Participate in strategic planning activities with the goal of creating a capital campaign plan in conjunction with the Executive Director and board members.
Donor & Community Relations
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Strengthen donor engagement by crafting compelling cases for support and personalized stewardship plans
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Collaborate with the marketing team to ensure consistent communication with donors, members and the broader community
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Use events strategically to build engagement and increase a sense of community
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Maintain relationships with local and regional arts organizations as a basis for ongoing collaboration
Traits and Characteristics
The Director of Development must be an organized leader who combines strategic thinking with hands-on implementation. A collaborative team player with exceptional interpersonal skills, they will be capable of inspiring staff, board members and donors. The successful candidate will be comfortable managing people and processes, prioritizing the building of strong, meaningful relationships both internally and externally while appreciating the unique contributions of others.
Other key competencies include:
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Diplomacy and Teamwork - skillfully navigates diverse perspectives and promotes cooperation to achieve shared goals
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Superior Communication Skills - effectively communicates with internal and external constituents orally and in writing
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Time and Priority Management - balances competing demands effectively and ensures efficient use of time and resources
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Creativity and Innovation - possess the acumen to develop new approaches and processes to fundraising, donor stewardship and cultivation
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Goal Orientation and Project Management - sets clear objectives, devises actionable plans and achieves results through thoughtful execution.
Qualifications
Four to five years of progressive, successful experience in major gift fundraising. Passion for music and the performing arts, broad understanding of the contemporary performing arts and knowledge of the Los Angeles philanthropic community. Experience with institutional giving, grant writing and/or community relations skills. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, cutting edge entrepreneurial organization. Willingness and availability to work occasional evenings and weekends.
Compensation and Start Date
The annual salary range for the Director of Development role at Long Beach Opera is $80,000 - $95,000, depending on qualifications and experience.
Long Beach Opera is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate based upon race, religion color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age status as a protected better, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political news or activity or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Candidates from historically underrepresented populations are encourage to apply for this role.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested and qualified candidates should submit the following items for consideration:
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A current resumé
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Cover letter (no more than 1 page)
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Names and contact information for three professional references
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Salary expectations
All documents should be in .pdf format and include the candidate’s name as part of the file name. Submissions should be made to Amaridis Quintana via email at aquintana@longbeachopera.org by September 15, 2025. Position may be filled at any time prior to this date.
SALARY RANGE: 80000.00 - 95000.00
Desired Start Date: October 15, 2025
BENEFITS
Pay Range: $80,000 - $95,000 Annual
Health Insurance, Paid Vacation and Holidays, and Additional benefits may be negotiable based on experience and needs.
HOW TO APPLY
HOW TO APPLY
Interested and qualified candidates should submit the following items for consideration:
A current resumé
Cover letter (no more than 1 page)
Names and contact information for three professional references
Salary expectations
All documents should be in .pdf format and include the candidate’s name as part of the file name. Submissions should be made to Amaridis Quintana via email at aquintana@longbeachopera.org by August 23, 2025. Position may be filled at any time prior to this date.
Application Deadline: August 31, 2025