Director of Music & Education

Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) Location: Nashville, TN   Reports to: Chief Executive Officer  FLSA Status: Full Time (Exempt)

Position Summary

The Director of Music & Education is a strategic, visionary leader within the Barbershop Harmony Society responsible for guiding the organization’s music, education, and publishing initiatives. This role oversees the development and delivery of world-class educational programs, manages BHS’s catalog of music and book publications, and builds meaningful relationships with key partners across the music education, choral, publishing, and barbershop communities.

Serving as both an artistic and educational steward, the Director ensures that all programs, content, and resources advance the BHS mission of enriching lives through singing and supporting a thriving, diverse, and innovative barbershop ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Management

• Provide strategic direction for all BHS music and education initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and member needs.
• Lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of in-person and digital educational programs, including workshops, seminars, certifications, and director/leader development.
• Guide the evolution of BHS’s music and education strategy to expand access, quality, impact, innovation, and revenue generation.
• Oversee program budgets, resource allocation, and timeline planning.
• Manage the Vocal Specialist, Senior Manager of Copyright, and related volunteer roles.

Publications & Content Development

• Oversee the creation, curation, and publication of BHS’s music and book products—including arrangements, compositions, pedagogical resources, and historical/educational content.
• Collaborate with staff, arrangers, composers, authors, and external partners to maintain high artistic and educational standards.
• Ensure publications reflect best practices in music education, barbershop harmony, and accessibility/DEI principles.
• Drive innovation in digital publishing, licensing, and distribution workflows.

Stakeholder & Industry Relationships

• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with music educators, choral organizations, academic institutions, publishers, and key leaders across the music ecosystem.
• Represent BHS at conferences, professional associations, and stakeholder meetings to promote barbershop harmony and vocal music education.
• Cultivate strong relationships with BHS chapter leaders, directors, coaches, and volunteers to support broad program adoption and success.
• Collaborate with internal teams—including Marketing, Events, and Community Engagement—to ensure cohesive communication, alignment, and program execution.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead, mentor, and support staff and contracted talent within the music, education, and publishing areas.
• Foster a collaborative, mission-driven culture grounded in excellence, creativity, service, and community.
• Partner with senior leadership on strategic planning, organizational initiatives, and long-term visioning.

Qualifications

Required

• Advanced degree in Music, Music Education, Arts Administration, or related field—or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated success in designing, managing, and evaluating educational programs or curricula, ideally within music, arts, or nonprofit environments.
• Strong background in choral music, vocal pedagogy, barbershop harmony, or related musical disciplines.
• Experience in music publishing, editorial work, or content development.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with educators, artists, industry leaders, and organizational partners.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with teams, budgets, and strategic initiatives.
• Commitment to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across programs and resources.

Preferred

• Experience within membership-based arts organizations.
• Knowledge of music licensing, copyright, and digital publishing workflows.
• Familiarity with trends in music education, community singing, and adult learning.
• Passion for the BHS mission and the advancement of singing communities.

Bonus Qualifications

• Familiarity or expertise in barbershop harmony.
• Experience with arranging music in the barbershop style.

Strategic Leadership: Ability to envision and guide programmatic and artistic direction.  Educational Innovation: Skilled in developing high-quality, relevant, scalable learning experiences.  Collaboration: Works effectively across teams, disciplines, and partner networks.  Communication Excellence: Communicates with clarity, artistry, and professionalism.  Cultural & Artistic Stewardship: Supports BHS’s commitment to inclusion, belonging, and musical excellence.

What's in it for you:

• Competitive compensation package
• 10 days of paid vacation (eligible after 90-day probation period, prorated during first year of employment)
• 8 paid holidays and December 24 - January 1 off
• 8 paid sick days per year
• 100% company funded individual health, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Optional short-term and long-term disability insurance
• 401K plan with 3% safe harbor contribution and company matches that could aggregate up to an additional 3% (6% total)
• High-engagement staff environment with regular team building and social activities throughout the year
• A chance to make a difference in the lives of others

As a key component of our vision of Everyone in Harmony, the Barbershop Harmony Society is committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and skills. We believe that employees who feel valued and encouraged to share their ideas are empowered to foster innovation that leads to both personal and professional growth.

The Barbershop Harmony Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company does not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices on the basis of race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.  The Barbershop Harmony Society values and actively seeks a diversified workforce.

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer

Location:Nashville, TN, with limited BHS event-based travel   

FLSA Status: Full Time (Exempt)

Position Summary

The Controller plays a critical leadership role within the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS), overseeing the organization’s accounting operations, financial reporting, internal controls, and audit readiness. This position directly supervises the Finance Administrator and ensures the accuracy, integrity, and transparency of BHS’s financial information while supporting strategic decision-making across the organization.

This role is ideal for a finance professional who is early-to-mid career, technically strong, and eager to grow within a mission-driven nonprofit arts organization. The Controller will work closely with the CFO/COO and senior leadership and is expected to develop toward broader financial leadership over time, with potential for future advancement.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Operations & Accounting

• Oversee day-to-day accounting operations including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll processing oversight, and month-end close
• Maintain accurate financial records in accordance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and supporting schedules
• Maintain and reconcile all bank, investment, and restricted fund accounts
• Oversee inventory accounting, valuation, and reconciliation processes
• Manage accounting for designated funds and affiliated program balances held by BHS

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare board-ready financial reports, dashboards, and variance analyses
• Support annual budgeting, reforecasting, and multi-year financial projections
• Partner with department leaders to support budget management and financial understanding
• Develop cash flow forecasts and working capital analyses
• Support financial modeling for strategic initiatives and operational planning

Audit, Compliance & Controls

• Lead preparation for the annual financial audit and coordinate with external auditors
• Support preparation of IRS Form 990 and related regulatory filings in collaboration with external advisors
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls, policies, and procedures
• Monitor compliance with donor restrictions, grant requirements, and internal financial policies
• Partner with leadership to continuously improve financial governance and risk management practices

Systems & Process Improvement

• Partner with Operations, IT, and program teams to ensure accurate financial data flows between systems
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, automation, and documentation
• Support financial system upgrades, integrations, and reporting enhancements
• Contribute to the development of scalable financial infrastructure as the organization evolves

Leadership & Collaboration

• Directly supervise the Finance Administrator, providing guidance, prioritization, and professional development
• Ensure consistent, accurate execution of day-to-day accounting and transactional processes
• Serve as a trusted financial partner to internal teams and volunteer leaders
• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives and organizational planning
• Model professionalism, curiosity, and continuous improvement in a collaborative environment

Qualifications & Experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 4–8 years of progressive accounting or finance experience
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and nonprofit accounting principles
• Experience supporting audits and preparing financial statements
• High attention to detail with strong analytical and organizational skills
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-financial audiences

Preferred:

• CPA or CPA-eligible (or intent to pursue)
• Experience in nonprofit, arts, or membership-based organizations
• Familiarity with accounting systems, financial reporting tools, and data integrations
• Experience supervising or mentoring accounting or finance staff, or demonstrated readiness to step into a people-leadership role
• Interest in long-term professional growth and financial leadership development

Why This Role Matters

This is more than a traditional Controller position. The role offers meaningful exposure to organizational strategy, board engagement, and executive-level financial leadership within a nationally respected nonprofit arts organization.

BHS is committed to mentoring and developing talent, and this role is envisioned as part of a longer-term leadership pathway within the Society.

 What's in it for you: 

• Competitive compensation package
• 10 days of paid vacation (eligible after 90-day probation period, prorated during first year of employment)
• 8 paid holidays and December 24 - January 1 off
• 8 paid sick days per year
• 100% company funded individual health, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Optional short-term and long-term disability insurance
• 401K plan with 3% safe harbor contribution and company matches that could aggregate up to an additional 3% (6% total)
• High-engagement staff environment with regular team building and social activities throughout the year
• A chance to make a difference in the lives of others

 As a key component of our vision of Everyone in Harmony, the Barbershop Harmony Society is committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and skills. We believe that employees who feel valued and encouraged to share their ideas are empowered to foster innovation that leads to both personal and professional growth.

The Barbershop Harmony Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company does not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices on the basis of race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.  The Barbershop Harmony Society values and actively seeks a diversified workforce.