Grow the audiences, profile, partnerships and sustainable revenue that will shape the future of Aotearoa New Zealand’s national orchestra.
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) is seeking an accomplished and commercially astute Director: Marketing & Development to join our Executive Leadership Team. This is a rare opportunity to lead an ambitious, integrated agenda: creating distinctive marketing that grows audiences and strengthens the NZSO brand, while deepening relationships with donors, sponsors, trusts, foundations and partners to diversify income and secure sustainable revenue.
Leading the NZSO’s integrated Development, Marketing and Ticketing functions, you will unite creative brand and audience strategy with philanthropy, sponsorship and strategic partnerships. You will shape compelling campaigns and experiences, build a strong pipeline of support, steward high-value relationships and inspire organisation-wide commitment to audience and revenue growth. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Board, NZSO Foundation and colleagues, you will turn insight and creativity into stronger engagement, reputation and financial sustainability.
What you will lead
· An ambitious, multi-year development and fundraising strategy spanning individual giving, major gifts, campaigns, corporate sponsorship, trusts and grants, Foundation grants and bequests.
· A bold, insight-led marketing strategy that builds the NZSO brand, grows audiences and turns creative ideas into compelling campaigns and experiences.
· Strong supporter and audience pipelines, with persuasive cases for support and audience propositions that increase engagement, loyalty and revenue.
· Exceptional cultivation and stewardship of donors, sponsors and partners, alongside high-impact communications that connect with diverse communities.
· Integrated ticketing, membership, digital, CRM, research and customer-experience strategies that strengthen relationships and inform creative and commercial decisions.
· High-performing Development, Marketing and Ticketing teams, supported by clear audience and revenue targets, planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting.
About you
You are a proven senior development and fundraising leader and a strong creative marketer. You have a record of growing philanthropic and commercial income, developing distinctive brands, and delivering audience-focused campaigns that create measurable engagement and revenue. You understand how to build support from prospect identification through cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, and how to translate insight into ideas that inspire people to attend, engage and give.
You bring credibility with donors, sponsors, trustees, Board members and senior stakeholders, together with the creative vision to lead integrated brand, communications and audience strategies. Strategic and commercially minded, you develop persuasive propositions, champion innovative thinking and translate long-term ambition into focused plans and measurable results. You also have the judgement and influence to embed collaborative, audience-centred and fundraising-led ways of working across a complex, high-profile organisation. Experience in arts, culture, entertainment, education, tourism, media, major events or another audience-focused sector would be an advantage.
Why join the NZSO?
The NZSO serves communities across Aotearoa New Zealand through the power of orchestral music, creating experiences that inspire, connect and enrich lives. As kaitiaki of orchestral music, we are committed to reaching audiences and artists of all generations through collaboration and innovation.
This role offers the opportunity to make a significant national impact: shaping how people discover and experience the NZSO while building the relationships and revenue that strengthen its long-term sustainability. You will help orchestral music resonate across Aotearoa and beyond in a values-led environment grounded in Manaakitanga, Excellence, Pono, Curiosity & Versatility, and Mahitahi.
How to apply
If you are ready to bring proven fundraising leadership, creative marketing vision and commercial focus to the NZSO, we would welcome your application. Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant development, fundraising and marketing achievements, your interest in the role and the experience you would bring.