Join Our Team
Earshot Jazz plays a vital role in sustaining our thriving musical community, including organizing events, publishing a monthly magazine, and supporting artists. Join our team to contribute your expertise while helping preserve and promote the rich jazz tradition throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Current Opportunities:
PDF Version of Executive Director Job Description
Executive Director
, , | Full-time | Partially remote
ABOUT EARSHOT JAZZ
For over 30 years, Earshot Jazz’s year-round programming, magazine, and annual festival celebrate Seattle’s place in the global jazz community while featuring local and emerging artists alongside internationally renowned jazz musicians. From its creation around the famous dining room table in 1984, Earshot Jazz found its own life, gathered momentum, and attracted a committed core group that included Gary Bannister, Paul de Barros, Allen Youngblood, Judy de Barros, Sandra Burlingame, Bob Mariano, Jeff Ferguson, Bruce Kochis, and many others. After successfully organizing as a 501(c)3 in 1986, Earshot Jazz began its first concert series and kicked off New Jazz, New City, an innovative residency program to take jazz out of the night club so young musicians and audiences could participate.
Since that humble beginning, Earshot Jazz has been led by a vision that honors jazz as a vital Black American art form that is a gift to global culture. Just like jazz, the organization honors the past while envisioning the future. Today, Earshot Jazz seeks a passionate leader to help write future chapters of this storied community organization as their next Executive Director.
THE ROLE
The Executive Director of Earshot Jazz serves as the organization’s chief executive officer and is responsible for overall strategic leadership, administrative management, financial sustainability, fundraising, and public representation. Working in partnership with the Board of Directors and a dedicated staff, including 3 direct reports, the Executive Director will uphold and expand Earshot’s legacy of presenting innovative jazz programming rooted in Black American cultural expression. This role requires a dynamic leader who blends visionary artistic leadership with operational discipline and a passion for advancing racial equity through the arts.
WHAT YOU BRING
We encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply, as your unique experiences can bring valuable perspectives to our team. Candidates will be evaluated on the full range of their lived and learned experience and core competencies, including:
Minimum 5 years of nonprofit and/or executive leadership experience, preferably in the arts or cultural sector.
- Demonstrated success in fundraising and revenue development across diverse funding sources.
- Experience supervising staff and managing cross-functional teams in a mission-driven organization.
- Proficiency in nonprofit financial management, budgeting, and compliance.
- Strong public speaking, written communication, and relationship-building skills.
- Deep knowledge of and commitment to jazz as a vital Black American art form and to racial equity in the arts.
- Strategic and visionary thinker with a passion for community and culture.
- Confident and collaborative leader able to inspire trust and mobilize others.
- Adept at balancing creative and operational responsibilities.
- Values transparency, integrity, and mutual respect in all aspects of leadership.
- Committed to continuous learning, listening, and accountability.
Preferred skills
- Experience curating, producing, or supporting jazz programming or other performing arts.
- Familiarity with Seattle’s arts and culture landscape.
- Knowledge of nonprofit governance and board relations.
- Lived experience and cultural competency working in diverse communities.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The annual salary range for this position is $97,000 – $120,000 DOE
Earshot Jazz is committed to supporting all employees through competitive salary and benefits, a commitment to equity and inclusion, and training and professional development. Benefits include:
Medical, dental and vision coverage
- PTO
- 11 paid holidays
TO BE CONSIDERED
The position is open until filled, with a priority deadline of September 12, 2025. Candidate materials are reviewed on an on-going basis and initial interviews will begin immediately. Cover letters (two pages or less) addressed to Board President, Maurice James, and a resume can be submitted to Valtas.
You may direct questions to Ed Rogan at ed@valtasgroup.com or Chris Cannon at chris@valtasgroup.com.
Earshot Jazz is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates of color, LGBTQ+ candidates, women, candidates with disabilities, and candidates of all religions and national origins are strongly encouraged to apply.
PDF Version of Board Member Job Description
Board Member
ABOUT EARSHOT JAZZ
Earshot Jazz is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that honors jazz as a vital Black American art form through live performance presentations, artist advocacy, and community engagement. Since its founding in 1984, Earshot Jazz has produced more than 3,000 concerts and presented world-renowned and emerging artists, often highlighting adventurous, genre-defying programming. The organization launched the annual Earshot Jazz Festival in 1989, which has become its flagship event and a central platform for Seattle artists and international performers alike.
Beyond performance, Earshot publishes a monthly magazine—circulating over 60,000 copies annually and digitally archived through the Seattle Public Library—that documents the region’s jazz scene and history. The organization also leads initiatives such as the New Works Commission, Artist in Residence Program, Golden Ear Awards, and Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame, all of which contribute to Seattle’s creative ecosystem.
Today, Earshot Jazz continues to champion local talent, amplify underrepresented voices, and uphold jazz’s legacy through thoughtful, community-rooted programming. It remains deeply committed to artistic excellence, cultural stewardship, and racial equity, ensuring that jazz thrives as a dynamic, inclusive force in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS POSITION OVERVIEW
As Earshot Jazz continues to grow and evolve, we seek Board members who bring not only a passion for jazz and the arts, but also professional expertise in the following key areas:
- Finance – to support fiscal oversight and sustainability
- Governance – to ensure accountability and effective board operations
- Strategy and Planning – to guide long-term organizational direction
- Fundraising – to expand contributed revenue and build donor relationships
- Marketing and Communications – to amplify Earshot’s visibility and audience engagement
- Legal – to advise on compliance, risk, and organizational structure
Core Responsibilities
- Governance and Leadership
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- Participate in setting strategic direction and approving organizational policies.
- Provide input and oversight on organizational priorities.
- Evaluate the Executive Director and ensure strong executive leadership.
- Ensure the organization operates in alignment with its mission, vision, and values.
- Financial Oversight
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- Take responsibility for the financial health of the organization.
- Approve the annual budget and monitor financial performance.
- Serve on the Finance Committee or review financial statements as required.
- Personally contribute and/or and actively participate in identifying additional funding (re)sources for the organization in the amount of $1200 annually.
- Fundraising and Resource Development
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- Identify and connect Earshot Jazz with individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation funders.
- Actively participate in fundraising efforts, including events, campaigns, and donor cultivation.
- Serve on or support the Fundraising Committee.
- Community and Public Engagement
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- Serve as an ambassador of Earshot Jazz, representing the organization to the public and stakeholders.
- Promote Earshot’s events and encourage attendance and participation within your networks.
- Support artist advocacy and racial equity initiatives.
- Engage with Earshot’s community partners and seek new opportunities for collaboration.
- Board Engagement and Participation
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- Attend scheduled, monthly Board meetings and the annual Board retreat.
- Serve on at least one Board committee (e.g., Executive, Finance, Fundraising, Community Engagement, Governance, and Marketing & Communications).
- Participate in Board self-assessment, recruitment, and onboarding of new Board members.
- Be available for consultation and support to staff and fellow Board members as needed.
Board Structure and Terms
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- Meetings: 12 regular meetings per year, regular meetings are 90 minutes in length and currently take place the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
- Term Length: Two-year renewable terms.
- Committee Service: Minimum of one committee appointment is required.
- Retreat: One full-day Board retreat held annually in the summer.
Expectations of Individual Board Members
Each Board Member is expected to:
- Commit time, financial resources, and expertise.
- Actively contribute to strategic planning, board decision-making, and Executive Director evaluation.
- Maintain knowledge of Earshot’s history, purpose, and programming.
- Uphold ethical standards and confidentiality.
Volunteer
We could not do all that we do without our volunteers! Please sign up for our Volunteer Newsletter to receive notifications.
Event Ushers and Production Support
You can request to volunteer for 2024 Earshot Jazz gigs by subscribing to our mailing list. That is how we let you know when volunteer assignments — from ushering and ticketing to production and hospitality — become available.
Professional Services
For any professionals, such as web design, accounting, public relations, or legal, who would like to provide services in a “pro bono” capacity, please contact the Earshot Jazz office at (206) 547-6763 or email info@earshot.org.
