Position Announcement - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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About the Olympia Symphony

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The Olympia Symphony is a dynamic, forward-looking professional orchestra serving Olympia, Washington, and the surrounding communities of South Puget Sound.

Founded in 1947, we are proud to be one of the premier arts organizations in the area, drawing musicians from Olympia and the wider Seattle metro area. We’ve moved beyond our roots as a “community orchestra”, yet remain deeply committed to serving the community, building connections, and fostering a sense of belonging. In 2023, we formalized this stance by adding connection and belonging to our core values, along with financial stability, adaptability, creativity, courage, and fun.
 

Under the leadership of Music Director Alexandra Arrieche, we continue to evolve: delighting audiences with more varied and diverse programming, investing in youth programs and educational initiatives, and building creative partnerships with other local arts and community organizations. Programs like Sweeney Todd and Flamenco exemplify our commitment to collaboration and artistic growth, and performances at the Capital City Pride festival and in Heritage Park are examples of how we reach new audiences outside the traditional concert hall... all while we continue to celebrate classical orchestral repertoire.
 

We are excited about the Olympia Symphony’s future and the many ways we can continue to have a positive impact on people’s lives. Learn more about us.

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About Olympia
 

The city of Olympia, capital of Washington state, sits at the south end of Puget Sound where fresh water meets the Salish Sea. Olympia beer had a famous slogan, “It’s the water”, but the real magic is our people. We are longtime residents and new transplants, people who work in state government and veterans of local industry, entrepreneurs and non-profit leaders, outdoorsy adventurers and local farmers. Here, the indigenous peoples of our area offer not just a rich heritage, but ongoing leadership and cultural impact. 

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Olympia is also the hub of a thriving and influential arts scene: a downtown Creative District, local theater and dance companies, music festivals, visual arts celebrations, and the famous Procession of the Species. We are lucky to have great local performance spaces like the Washington Center for the Performing Arts (our main concert venue), as well as local college and high school performing arts halls.

In addition to three colleges/universities, the area has excellent local schools, good support for musical education, a strong youth orchestra organization (Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia), and myriad ways for young people to participate in sports, nature, the arts, and community. 
 

The amenities in the Olympia area offer variety, quality, and value unusual for a city of our size, in a stunning natural setting. Learn more about Olympia at Experience Olympia and the City of Olympia.
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About the Executive Director role
 

We are seeking a talented leader who can work closely and effectively with the Music Director and board, partnering to ensure the OSO remains artistically vibrant, fiscally responsible, and responsive to staff, musicians, donors, and the community.

 

This role requires someone who values thoughtful planning over rigid structure, communicates clearly and reliably, leads with positivity and respect in all their interactions, and solves challenges with systems rather than short cuts.

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You will oversee an office driven by a team of four dedicated part-time employees. Key responsibilities include Relationships & Communication, Organizational Development, Financial Oversight & Responsibility, Revenue Enhancement, and Operations & Production.

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For more information, see a detailed job description HERE.

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COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Salary for the Executive Director position is $72-78k/year, DOQ. Health insurance negotiable. The Olympia Symphony provides vacation and sick leave, as well as 10 holidays annually.

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TO APPLY:

Please submit a cover letter and resume to applications@olympiasymphony.org. PDF or Microsoft Word documents are preferred. If you would like to add a personal statement about your interest in the position, please include that in the body of the email when submitting the required documents as attachments. 

 

This position is open until filled; priority consideration will be given to applications received by January 31, 2026.

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The Olympia Symphony is committed to building a diverse and equitable workplace. Even if your experience does not align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply.

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