Organizer Information
Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) is New England's oldest and largest opera company, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Historically without a permanent home, BLO staged productions across a range of Boston venues, including the Emerson Colonial Theatre, the Cyclorama, and the Cruiseport terminal in South Boston. In 2024, the company signed a multi-year lease for a 14,000-square-foot space at Midway Artist Studios, an artist-owned nonprofit building in Boston's Fort Point neighborhood that provides work-live space for 89 artists across all mediums. That space, now known as Opera + Community Studios, has since been expanded to roughly 16,000 square feet inside a restored historic mill building, and opened to the public in 2026 as part of BLO's 50th Anniversary Season — described by the company as marking the culmination of a $10.5 million fundraising initiative. Beyond hosting BLO's own rehearsals and productions, the venue has already hosted third-party bookings, including an event for the projection-based digital art festival Illuminus and rehearsals for the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's free summer production.
Title & Description
Studio Manager, Opera + Community Studios
Boston Lyric Opera is hiring a Studio Manager to lead the strategic and day-to-day management of Opera + Community Studios (O+CS), its rehearsal, performance, and community venue in Fort Point. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Studio Manager will oversee venue operations from initial inquiry through event completion — covering rental administration, client relations, contract coordination, financial tracking, event execution, policy implementation, compliance coordination, and customer service. The role works closely with BLO leadership, the Finance department, and external partners to establish effective operating practices, cultivate rental opportunities, and ensure a strong experience for all venue users. The position may supervise assigned employees, contractors, event staff, and volunteers as needed to support venue operations.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Full-time, exempt
- Salary: $60,000–$75,000
- Reports To: Chief Financial Officer
- Working Hours: Regular business hours, with some evenings, weekends, and seasonal high-volume periods; hybrid schedule possible for administrative work, but regular onsite presence required to oversee venue operations
Position & Tasks
- Serve as the operational lead for Opera + Community Studios, overseeing venue operations, rentals, and facility use
- Manage the venue calendar and balance rental activity with BLO artistic, educational, community, and revenue-generating priorities
- Build and refine operational systems, processes, policies, procedures, and service standards necessary for successful venue management
- Develop and maintain venue guidelines, pricing recommendations, and operating practices that support organizational goals and market competitiveness
- Monitor venue utilization and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, enhance client experience, and support revenue goals
- Manage the rental pipeline, including community, nonprofit, corporate, and private event opportunities, in alignment with O+CS revenue and utilization objectives
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with renters, resident organizations, community partners, vendors, and strategic stakeholders
- Conduct venue tours, oversee rental inquiries, prepare proposals, and manage client communications throughout the rental lifecycle
- Negotiate, execute, and administer rental agreements, vendor contracts, and related documentation within established authority levels
- Support the development and management of venue operating budgets, revenue forecasts, and financial performance metrics in partnership with the Chief Financial Officer
- Oversee invoicing, accounts receivable, payment collection, revenue tracking, and financial reporting related to venue operations
- Coordinate and oversee compliance with applicable insurance, licensing, safety, legal, and facility-use requirements, in partnership with internal and external stakeholders
- Serve as the primary escalation point for venue users, rental requests, client concerns, and operational issues
- Oversee the planning, execution, and evaluation of venue rentals and events, ensuring high-quality experiences for clients and guests
- Coordinate staffing, contractors, vendors, facilities support, and operational coverage necessary for successful event execution
- Supervise and support assigned staff, contractors, volunteers, and event personnel, while fostering strong collaboration across BLO departments and external partners
Categories
- Arts Administration
- Venue Management
- Event Operations
- Performing Arts
- Opera
Eligibility
- Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in venue management, event operations, hospitality, arts administration, or a related field, including supervisory or management responsibilities
- Demonstrated experience managing venue operations, event logistics, client relationships, and revenue-generating activities
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, as required by event and venue operations
- Experience developing and implementing operational policies, procedures, service standards, and systems
- Knowledge of rehearsal, performance, and event venue needs within an arts or cultural organization — preferred, not stated as mandatory
- Demonstrated experience supporting budgeting, financial reporting, revenue tracking, forecasting, and operational planning
- Experience negotiating and administering contracts, vendor agreements, and client service agreements
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with staff, artists, patrons, community partners, vendors, public officials, and clients
- Proven ability to exercise sound judgment, solve problems, and make decisions in a fast-paced, evolving environment
- Strong leadership skills, with the ability to supervise, motivate, and collaborate with staff, contractors, volunteers, and cross-functional teams
- Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to high-quality customer service and event experiences
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and venue/scheduling/event management software; experience with ArtsVision — preferred
- Ability to move throughout event and venue spaces, including occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of materials up to 50 pounds
- Ideal candidates reside in the greater Boston area, or otherwise have the ability to reliably support onsite venue operations
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 12 August 2026
Location
Boston, MA, United States
Additional Details
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role
- The role involves regular onsite presence at O+CS, aligned with the operational needs of the venue, including seasonal high-volume periods