Executive Director
Internships

Job Title: Executive Director
Reports to: Board of Directors
Supervises: 4 full-time staff, 2 part-time program directors
Location: Washington, DC
Salary: commensurate with experience

Mission
Future of Music Coalition (FMC) is a national nonprofit organization that works to ensure a diverse musical culture where artists flourish, are compensated fairly for their work and where fans can find the music they want.

Background
Founded in June 2000 by musicians, artist advocates, technologists and legal experts, FMC works to ensure that musicians have a voice in the issues that affect their livelihood. FMC’s work is rooted in the real-world experiences and ambitions of working musicians, whose perspectives are often overlooked in policy debates. Over the years, FMC has provided an important forum for discussion about issues at the intersection of music, technology, policy and law. Guided by a firm conviction that public policy has real impact on the lives of both musicians and fans, FMC advocates for a balanced approach to music in the digital age - one that reflects the interests of all stakeholders, and not just the powerful few. By documenting historic and emerging trends in the music industry, FMC has become a trusted voice in the ongoing dialog about the challenges and opportunities facing today’s musicians. In fighting for a legitimate digital music marketplace and a broadcast media that values local and independent culture, FMC helps establish a healthier music ecosystem.

Executive Director’s Role
The Executive Director’s mandate is to lead the organization with FMC’s mission, vision, history and values as guides. The Executive Director is the chief executive officer of the organization and is responsible for conducting its administration in an efficient and effective manner, in accordance with policies set by the Board of Directors.

Responsibilities
The Executive Director:

• manages of all aspects of the organization, providing direction, oversight, and support to staff.
• conceives, plans and, with the Board and other staff, executes revenue-generating strategies: contributed support from all giving sectors, and earned income from a variety of sources
• serves as the primary liaison with high-end donors and funders, and assures the maintenance of an active program of donor and prospect cultivation.
• provides oversight, analysis, planning and leadership of FMC’s fiscal, budgeting and financial reporting functions in an environment of accountability and transparency.
• Is the primary staff liaison to the Board of Directors, and provides direct support to the Board in the execution of its duties.
• engages in program work, in coordination with the Senior Management Team.
• spearheads long-range and strategic planning efforts, and makes certain that periodic assessments of programs, management practices, and organizational capacity are conducted.

Other key responsibilities include engaging at a high level the diverse communities FMC brings together, and maintaining an institutional culture that not only recognizes the diversity and complexity of the music policy space, but also fosters dialogue among divergent voices.

Requisite Skills and Attributes
The successful Executive Director candidate will be a charismatic, results oriented leader who has a keen ability to organize and motivate people and build consensus to accomplish institutional goals. The candidate will possess the ability to work in a uniquely configured nonprofit organization, and interact with internal and external stakeholders in a positive manner. Such capacity presupposes superior interpersonal skills (including active listening) and verbal and written presentation abilities, in addition to futuristic thinking, team building know how, and overall management talent. The successful candidate will be a team player for whom the ownership of ideas is less important than the result of the collaborative effort.

Core Qualifications
The successful Executive Director candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• A demonstrated capacity to generate revenue from both earned and contributed sources;
• Interest in and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in music and media policy;
• Senior management experience with increasing levels of responsibility, preferably in the nonprofit sector;
• Superior analytical skills and the capacity to write and speak effectively;
• Substantive connection with the music community;
• Flexibility.

The Executive Director must be a skilled problem solver, able to help distill ideas and clarify issues, and then move from dialogue to decision-making to strategy development. Leading candidates will have imagination, vision, and a deep commitment to FMC’s mission. The Executive Director must be able to make connections in our disparate work, and frame those connections and interrelations simply for funders and other external publics. Comfort with technology is essential, as is the ability to manage individual work with limited support.

To apply for the position, send a substantive cover letter, resume, and detailed descriptions of three successful revenue generating endeavors for which you were primarily responsible, to edsearch [at] futureofmusic [dot] org. This position is open until filled.

Job Title: Intern
Location: Washington, DC
Dates: Summer 2010 (April to August) exact dates are flexible

What is the Future of Music Coalition?
Future of Music Coalition is a national non-profit education, research and advocacy organization that identifies, examines, interprets and translates the challenging issues at the intersection of music, law, technology and policy. FMC achieves this through continuous interaction with its primary constituency - musicians - and in collaboration with other creator/citizen groups.

FMC works toward its mission through three program areas: Research, Education and Policy. We organize public discussion of issues that impact musicians and the public at large, making sure to include a variety of voices in the conversation. We submit testimony, publish articles and speak on panels to make sure the creators’ experience is heard. We generate original research to more completely illuminate the mechanics of the music industry.

The best way to learn about FMC is to explore our website www.futureofmusic.org

What do interns do at FMC?
There are currently three types of internships at FMC.

The Intern to the Communications Director will assist in the marketing, promotion and logistics of FMC’s campaigns and events; which often includes copyediting, assisting with the maintenance of social media, researching new press avenues and drafting the occasional blog post.

The Intern to the Events Organizer will assist with the logistics of FMC’s campaigns and events; which often includes editing video and audio for archives/YouTube/special projects, marketing and promotion, assisting with event-related data management, and researching panelists/sponsors/services.

The Intern to the Executive Director will spend much of their time conducting open source research regarding current events in the areas of our work, including tracking dockets at the FCC, reading industry publications and aiding in research of funding opportunities.

Everyone is expected to help out with the basic office work like filing/copying/faxing as needed in addition to his or her specific focus.

FMC is a fast-paced but friendly work environment. Since some of our employees work from different cities, we rely heavily on email, conference calls and meetings to get our work done. Answering your email promptly, following through on assigned tasks to completion and sticking to deadlines will be essential.

What are the specifics?
These positions will work with a member of FMC’s core staff in the FMC office in downtown Washington, DC (Near the Farragut North/Farragut West Metro stations).

The hours are flexible, but we would like you to be in the office at least 15 hours per week sometime during 10 am - 6 pm on weekdays.

What are you looking for in an intern?
From music industry majors to working musicians - our most successful interns have been people with some relationship to, and passion for, the music industry. In addition, we look for the usual stuff: excellent reading/writing skills, attention to detail and working knowledge of MS Word, Excel and Internet skills are required. Experience with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, podcasting or webcasting experience, and audio or video editing skills are preferred but not required. Knowledge of current events and/or policy issues that relate to the music industry are helpful.

Is there any compensation?
This is an unpaid internship, but opportunities to attend concerts, meetings, and hearings can occur. Also, we typically have an intern bookclub in which the staff and interns read a book of topical relevance to the work we do at FMC and meet to discuss it. College credit is optional.

How do I apply?
Please send a cover letter, resume, list of software proficiencies, and writing sample to nicole [at] futureofmusic [dot] org. Please make a note of which internship(s) you are applying for in your cover letter. Writing samples should be similar to the type of writing found on our website such as the FutureBlog posts or the academic papers we have published. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

We are now accepting applications for summer semesters 2010 (dates are flexible). Internships are staffed a semester at a time. Please make a note of your availability in your cover letter.