OPERA America, the national nonprofit service organization for opera, headquartered at the National Opera Center in midtown Manhattan, seeks an accomplished editor with a deep interest in opera to lead the creative development of its quarterly magazine.

Opera America Magazine

Opera America Magazine is the nation’s leading publication for industry stakeholders: the people who create, produce, and perform opera, as well as audience members seeking to learn more about the dynamics of the field.

The magazine is one of OPERA America’s most important channels of communication to its membership and a key vehicle in the organization’s cross-channel content strategy. Its journalistic coverage of the industry amplifies discourse and key topics from OPERA America conferences and forums, and highlights innovative and progressive trends that are transforming the field. Its content reinforces the communication of OPERA America’s core values and commitment to racial and social justice. Each issue covers a range of topics from marketing strategies and governance practices to new work development and artist entrepreneurism; it does not publish reviews of performances.

The magazine has a print circulation of 4,000, comprising OPERA America’s individual members and staff of organizational members. Articles are available online to all members, with select highlights and older issues available to all website visitors. This online content receives 12.5K reads annually.

Editor’s Role

The Editor of Opera America Magazine is a part-time, contract position, requiring between 15 and 25 hours of work per week.  The Editor leads the editorial and design process for four seasonal issues and is responsible for the long-term planning of articles that provide value to the full spectrum of OPERA America’s audiences, including artists, administrators, and trustees. The Editor is expected to participate in OPERA America conferences, forums, and webinars to remain current with important issues and maintain relationships with leaders in the field.

The Editor works in close collaboration with the Associate Editor, a full-time staff member of OPERA America, who dedicates a third of his time to the magazine as a writer, copy editor, and issue manager. The Editor reports to the Director of Marketing and Communications, who oversees the production of the magazine, and coordinates with other staff responsible for advertising, member/donor listings, and other content elements. Each issue is reviewed by the Chief Advancement Officer and the President/CEO, who provides final approval before press.

For each issue, the Editor identifies writers, drawing on internal staff and outside contributors, and writes 3-4 pieces themselves. They provide direction to writers for focus and sources, and edit all submissions. The Editor coordinates magazine design with the Art Director, collates and responds to edits from OPERA America leadership, and delivers the final approved book to the print house on schedule.

The successful candidate will:

• Be an excellent writer and editor, as demonstrated by a track record of published articles. Experience with reportorial writing preferred.
•  Have experience overseeing and/or curating content for an entire magazine, newspaper, blog, or significant section or special edition thereof.

• Be a team player who places high value on a collaborative creative process.
• Have knowledge of opera and the opera industry, and a desire to remain current with noteworthy artistic and managerial strategies.
• Bring contacts for potential writers, foster collegial relationships with the current roster of contributors, and exhibit a commitment to identifying new writers in opera.
• Demonstrate efficiency and organization in planning, with adherence to schedules and deadlines.

The contract fee is commensurate with experience, expected in the range of $35,000 to $40,000 annually. The Editor may be invited to oversee additional research and writing projects, which will be defined in separate project agreements. The position is primarily remote with occasional onsite expectations and travel for conferences. Desired start date by September 1.

To Apply

Please send the following materials to Dan Cooperman, chief advancement officer, at Jobs@operaamerica.org:

• Cover Letter (articulating your interest in this particular position)
• Resume (outlining your career accomplishments and published work as an editor and/or writer)
• 2 Writing Samples (representing your journalistic work), preferably at least one of which is reportorial

OPERA America’s Commitment to Change

OPERA America is committed to being an agent of change for opera. We invite everyone in the industry to join in a determined and sustained effort to eradicate racism and ensure equity and justice throughout the field and across the country. This work must take place simultaneously onstage, backstage, in offices, and around board tables. At OPERA America, we are working to create an equitable culture among our staff and board. We encourage BIPOC administrators to apply and work with us.

OPERA America provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer related or HIV/AIDS related), genetic information, or sexual orientation in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

About OPERA America

OPERA America leads and serves the entire opera community, supporting the creation, presentation, and enjoyment of opera. Founded in 1970, OPERA America has a membership that includes over 600 opera companies, educational institutions, affiliated businesses, and other entities. More than 40,000 staff members, artists, and trustees at these organizations join nearly 3,000 individual members in empowering us as the national champion for opera.

Through national convenings, research, advocacy, granting, thought leadership, and a variety of programs for artists, administrators, educators, trustees, and appreciators, we move opera forward as an industry and an art form.  The quarterly Opera America Magazine highlights the progress of the sector and the impact of more than $15 million in strategic grants we have awarded to increase new work, audience engagement, civic practice, business innovation, and inclusivity.

The National Opera Center, our custom-built rehearsal and performance facility in New York City, serves as the centralized home for the industry, welcoming 80,000 visitors each year.