Associate Director, Alternative Programming

FLSA Status: Exempt | Location: Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, CA | Reports To: Senior Director, Artistic Planning

About the Organization

The San Francisco Symphony is among the most adventurous and innovative arts institutions in the United States, celebrated for its artistic excellence, creative performance concepts, award-winning recordings, and standard-setting education and community engagement programs. Established in 1911, the Symphony has grown in acclaim under distinguished music directors and presents over 200 concerts annually for nearly 350,000 audience members. The Symphony provides extensive education and community programs, engaging over 25,000 students annually in the San Francisco Unified School District. It was the first American orchestra to launch its own in-house record label, SFS Media, and has received numerous awards, including 17 Grammy® Awards, for its adventurous programming and recordings.

About the Role

The Associate Director, Alternative Programming is a key member of the Artistic Planning team, developing the San Francisco Symphony’s alternative programming portfolio. This role focuses on creating engaging concert experiences, expanding content offerings, and generating revenue through presentations, co-presentations, and collaborations. The position plays a vital role in audience development by understanding patron preferences and ensuring compelling content for Bay Area audiences.

Responsibilities

• Program and engage artists for Holiday concerts, non-classical Summer concerts, Film Series, Film Singles, special events, and added pops, presentations, and alternative programming.
• Explore and research expanded content for the Symphony, such as comedy, speakers, and other alternative programming.
• Develop co-promotional relationships with other organizations and pursue collaborations both inside and outside Davies Symphony Hall to connect with new audiences.
• Develop systems and processes for effective collaboration with the Marketing team, including maintaining repositories of program ideas, compiling data-driven artist and program pitches, and establishing a cyclical calendar of touchpoints.
• Work collaboratively with Operations and Finance teams to plan concerts within operational and financial constraints.
• Provide detailed engagement summaries for each program to artist management and Artistic Planning colleagues to support contracting and logistical coordination.
• Review contracts as requested by the Artistic Planning Department Manager.
• Maintain awareness of logistical details for guest artists and provide support as needed.
• Issue program updates for Holiday, Summer, Film, special events, and other non-classical programs.
• Manage ArtsVision data entry and submit Early Programming Tool and strawman requests for necessary programs.
• Collaborate on strawmen, budgets, and projections with the Artistic Planning Department Manager.
• Proof content for contracts and programming as necessary.
• Serve as part of the concert duty rotation.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years’ experience working in a performing arts organization, preferably with a musical or orchestral background.
• General knowledge of popular performing artists, bands, and films.
• Excellent working relationships with artists and managers.
• Proven negotiation skills across various types of programs, artists, and industries.
• Ability to think innovatively about artistic planning and collaborate across varied priorities and strategies.
• Commitment to diversifying repertoire and artists from underrepresented minorities.
• Formal education in music preferred.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to professionally interact with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong situational awareness and discretion in handling sensitive situations.
• Valid driver’s license preferred; satisfactory background investigation required.
• Must be available to work flexible hours, including weekends and evenings, in accordance with production, rehearsal, and concert schedules.

Pay

$105,139.00 - $118,282.00 annually (Pay Grade F).

Schedule

Hybrid | Regular hours: 9 am–5 pm, with regular evenings and weekends.