Job Description / Duties

The Association is seeking a remote-based executive, as the organization operates virtually. Staff operate from various locations within the U.S. Typically, the Executive Director's travel expectations are ten percent (10%).

Key Accountabilities

Business Operations and Financial Management
• Manages ongoing business and daily operations, ensuring effective, efficient, and financially sustainable Board and organizational policies and practices aligned with NATS' mission and strategic plan.
• Recommends to the Board and implements annual goals and course corrections to meet changing conditions, ensuring ongoing relevance to the members served.
• Plans, leads, and manages NATS' programs and services, including Auditions, in a manner that achieves optimum results, including return on investment, and aligns with the Association's resources.
• Administers all financial and asset management responsibilities, including developing, overseeing, and monitoring the annual budget for the Board's review and approval.
• Manages proprietary technology and software resources.
• Carries chief staff responsibility to ensure legal compliance with federal, state, and local requirements of a 501(c)3 organization, including tax forms, filings, business licenses, and annual reports.
• Authorizes and executes contracts and commitments following NATS bylaws and policies established by the Board.
• Manages effective and efficient dues collection processes.
Staff Leadership
• Hires, trains, promotes, evaluates, disciplines, and terminates employees.
• Establishes a staff organizational structure that ensures effective and efficient operations, aligning performance with annual goals tied to the NATS strategic plan.
• Maintains and updates personnel policies and payroll systems in accordance with employment laws and IRS regulations.
• Fosters a collaborative, inclusive work environment that supports staff development, operational excellence, and organizational growth.

Governance and Volunteer Leadership
• Partners with the Board to articulate and lead a strategic vision for the Association.
• Works with and supports the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, region, chapter, and committee leaders.
• Develops and maintains positive, effective relationships with the Board of Directors, volunteers, and members.
• Communicates information and provides counsel to the Board, at the direction of the President, about NATS' programs, conferences, and activities, and other important information.
• Works with the President to develop Board meeting content and agendas, Board member onboarding and training, and other governance development activities.
• Serves as the primary staff contact for the Officers and Region Governors, anticipating and meeting their needs for materials, information, and support to fully manage their roles and responsibilities.
• Executes the Board's decisions and committee actions promptly and according to the bylaws.
• Works with leadership and staff to identify, recruit, and support volunteers.

Member, Region and Chapter Relations and Services
• Strives to support a welcoming and supportive community among members and commits to implementing the Diversity and Inclusion statement values.
• Builds effective relationships and networking opportunities between the national organization, regions, and chapters that create value for all levels.
• Collaborates with the President, Executive Committee, and other Committees to develop, plan, and oversee conferences and workshops, virtual and in-person education programs, academic and professional resources, internal communications, publications, and other direct member services.

Development, Philanthropy and Giving
• Leads and manages the development director dedicated to raising funds to support current and new programs, awards, and grants following the merger of the NATS Foundation with NATS, Inc., which includes the NATS Endowment and Heritage Fund.
• Collaborates with volunteers for individual giving initiatives and seeks external funding sources.

Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
• Oversees all communication and outreach efforts, including publications, journals, educational materials, website content, social media, and emails.
• Creates two-way communication channels between the national, region, and chapter organizational structures.
• Monitors listservs for social media policy compliance.
• Manages media and public programming efforts under the direction of the President and guidance of the Board. Supports Officer content preparation when they speak on behalf of the Association.
• Builds and nurtures relationships with peer organizations in the professional field to keep abreast of emerging issues.

Qualifications / Required Skills

Skills, Experience and Qualifications
• A bachelor’s degree is required.
• A minimum of five to seven years of progressive career leadership and management experience in a professional membership association. The Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation is helpful.
• Strategic, operational, and hands-on leadership and management style with demonstrated high level of integrity and ethical standards.
• Passion for the NATS mission is required. Background, education, or experience in the arts field is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking and verbalization skills.
• Dual focuses on generating new revenue and aligning expenses with current resources.
• Proven success in reporting directly to and partnering with a nonprofit board.
• Experience recruiting, retaining, and engaging member volunteers.
• Solid business and finance acumen in nonprofit organizations.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking.
• Proven record of developing effective communication with the Board, staff, and membership.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion, and the ability to work collaboratively with affinity groups and global members.
• Proven success record implementing effective change management principles and dynamics.
• Leadership and management style that facilitates team-building within a remote staff culture.
• Proven record of developing effective and efficient organizational structures, policies, and procedures for a small-staff environment.
• Experience building member recruitment, retention, and engagement, especially for differing member teaching models, music genres, career stages, and regional needs.
• Background in raising the visibility of an association with related organizations across the vocal music field.
• Personal style: Highly effective and diplomatic relationship-building skills, including conflict management, high emotional intelligence, and a servant leadership style.

Additional Information

Digital Presence
• Web: https://nats.org/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nat%27l-assoc.-of-teachers-of-singing-nats-/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialNATS
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialNATS
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialnats

Salary: Compensation for this role will reflect a range of factors including relevant experience, demonstrated expertise and other considerations. NATS’s good faith starting salary estimate for this position is $100,000 to $120,000. Additionally, NATS offers a benefits package for its employees and a virtual workplace

Contact Information

A complete position profile can be found at:https://www.vettedsolutions.com/s/NATS-ED-Posotion-Profile-2025.pdf

Vetted Solutions is a Washington, D.C. based executive search
firm specializing in association and nonprofit recruiting and
consulting. We focus on CEO and senior staff positions.

For confidential consideration, please email your resume and cover
letter to: NATSEDSearch@vettedsolutions.com or call +1 202 544
4749.

Partners in Panorama – Asia, Australia, EMEA, Latin America,
North America Members of the Association of Executive Search
and Leadership Consultants – AESC

Employer Profile

The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world, with nearly 7,000 members in the United States, Canada, and more than 35 other countries. Established in 1944, NATS members work in independent studios, community schools, elementary and secondary schools, or higher education institutions. Members represent the diversity of today's music landscape, teaching in all vocal
styles – including classical, musical theatre, and commercial music.

The Board of Directors is excited to announce the search process to replace the retiring Executive Director, who has served for more than 17 years.

The Association's history, culture, and values play an essential role in who they are and what they do.

The National Association of Teachers of Singing:

Vision: Transforming lives through the power of singing.

Mission: To advance excellence in singing through teaching, performance, scholarship, and research.

Values:
• Support voice professionals within the studio, classroom, clinic, and performance venue.
• Provide committed leadership to achieve our mission and vision.
• Advance ethical principles and practice in our profession.
• Celebrate and recognize the value and efforts of all.
• Encourage individual skills and creativity.

Diversity and Inclusion Statement: NATS strives to be a welcoming and supportive community of members and students who celebrate the unique identities, varied backgrounds, and experiences of all individuals. We are dedicated to ensuring that all voices are valued and heard in an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all.

The Executive Director operates under the general direction of and reports to a 23-member Board of Directors, including National Officers and Region Governors, who establish the topmost policies, leaving implementation of Board policy to the Executive Director. The
Board developed and approved the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan: Framing Our Future, with two primary goals:

1. Advance the standing of NATS as the preferred professional organization for voice professionals.
• Grow membership
• Building stronger relationships with members and other stakeholders
• Develop our outstanding portfolio of programs and services

2. Build organizational capacity to realize Goal 1.
• Improve management practices and processes
• Increase earned and contributed resources

The primary NATS programs and services currently delivered to its members and their students include workshops and conferences, student and professional auditions, educational and professional development resources, and numerous mentorship opportunities, including the NATS Intern program. The Association's publications include the scholarly Journal of Singing and newsletters, Inter Nos and Intermezzo. In addition, networking and leadership
development occur through regional, chapter, and committee volunteer activities.

NATS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with a budget of about $1.5 million and over $1.4 million in investments. Eight staff support the national organization.