Personnel Director Jobs

About This Music Career

An orchestra's Personnel Director is responsible for hiring and firing of personnel. When there are openings, the Personnel Director sends out notices to schools, conservatories, associations, and organizations – this goes for the business side and the talent side. Once applicants begin to respond, the Personnel Director screens all applications. If the position in question is a talent position, the Personnel Director will work in conjunction with the Conductor, Concertmaster, and Section Leaders for auditioning. If the position in question is on the business side, the Personnel Director would not only screen the applications, but he or she would also conduct the preliminary interviews.

The Personnel Director must maintain a list of backup musicians for each instrument in the orchestra because most times, when a substitute is needed, they are needed immediately. It is the Personnel Director's responsibility to explain orchestra policies, rules, regulations, and salaries to interested parties. In addition, he or she must ensure that all forms are filled out and all information needed by the orchestra is obtained.

As mentioned, if one needs to be fired, the Personnel Director is responsible for carrying out the action. It is also up to the Personnel Director to keep track of employee attendance and musician punctuality. He or she must have the ability to put people into jobs for which they are best suited, while maintaining skin thick enough to carry out a firing.

Salaries
Depending on the size of the orchestra, the Personnel Director usually earns a salary between $26,000 and $65,000 plus annually. Of course, other factors that determine the salary include budget, the Director's skills, and their past experiences.

Employment
Employment prospects for this position are not good because job openings are hard to come by. This is because there is an increasing number of people with personnel training that want to get into this type of work with music and/or orchestras. Additionally, there is not a lot of turnover of people in these positions.

Advancement
Just getting a starting position is difficult enough, making the advancement to a larger, more prestigious orchestra is very hard. Competition is stiff and people don't leave these jobs often. Other ways of advancement include moving into different departments in the orchestra if qualified. A move into Labor Relations and Negotiating is also possible if the individual has the right training.

Education and Training

Because of the steep competition, some orchestras do not require a college or music school degree, but others do. Major orchestras often require degrees in Personnel Administration.

Experience, Skills, and Personality
As mentioned, the Personnel Director needs to be able to match the right people to the right jobs. In the symphony orchestra, Personnel Directors must have at least a basic knowledge of music. Because they will be interviewing, interested applicants must have this skill of being able to interview, while having a good knowledge of which candidates are qualified, and which are not. He or she must be articulate, and should be ok with the potential responsibility of firing someone.

Unions and Associations
American Symphony Orchestra League (ASOL), the Associated Counsel of the Arts, or other arts councils in the area are options for the Personnel Director.

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