Director of Music

Reports to: Senior Minister

Effective: January 18, 2022

Status: Part Time (20 hours/week; 43 weeks/year)

Begins: August 1, 2022

FLSA: Exempt

Annual Salary: $26,750

Job Summary

The Director of Music at the Unitarian Society of New Haven (USNH) will develop an inspirational and diverse music program from a broad repertoire of styles and cultures, provide professional leadership for the adult choir and children’s choir, and encourage the musical talents within the congregation. USNH’s Director of Music will create musical opportunities for all interested children, youth, and adults, and will collaborate with the minister, staff, and lay leaders to create cohesive worship services and carry out programming that is aligned with Unitarian Universalist principles and values. 

Essential Functions:

• Plan, organize, and conduct music for Sunday services
• Prepare the adult choir for performances at most Sunday services
• Participate in weekly worship team meetings
• Prepare two major seasonal choral presentations per year
• Prepare children’s choir for monthly performances at Sunday services
• Works closely with the Associate Director of Music, who is the primary pianist

Other Responsibilities:

• Act as liaison to community musical groups with whom we have a working relationship (currently Another Octave CT Women’s Chorus and Haven String Quartet)
• Arrange for piano maintenance
• Work with music committee and worship committee as needed
• Maintain membership in the Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries (strongly recommend attendance at annual AUUMM Conference)

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in music or equivalent experience
• Experience in some congregational setting preferred
• Keyboard skills sufficient for accompanying choir at rehearsals and playing hymns
• A broad repertoire of styles of music, familiarity with the music of many cultures, and willingness to use both in services
• Proficiency in multiplatform spaces
• Respect for Unitarian Universalist values, principles, and culture

Physical Requirements:
Work involves limited physical tasks, including lifting up to twenty pounds.

Core Competencies:

• Attention to Detail: Consistently attends to the many small pieces which must be assembled into an organized whole; follows up on missing or out of balance items; resolves unanswered questions needed to address a problem; keeps the larger picture in mind while tending to the smallest of details. 
• Creativity and Innovation: Generates new ideas; makes new connections among existing ideas to create fresh approaches; takes acceptable risks in pursuit of innovation; learns from mistakes; has good judgment about which creative ideas and suggestions will work. 
• Influencing Others: Encourages others to cooperate, participate, provide resources, or make decisions, in service to the work at hand; uses verbal and nonverbal skills to communicate respect for others, and to generate energy, passion, and commitment to an idea; creates an environment that others want to participate in. 
• Interpersonal Skills: Establishes good working relationships with all others who are relevant to the completion of work; works well with people at all levels of the congregation; builds appropriate rapport; considers the impact of their actions on others; uses diplomacy and tact; is approachable; avoids communication triangles. 
• Technical Expertise: Acquires and demonstrates the technical skills required to proficiently execute the essential functions of the job; understands which skills are lacking and seeks to develop those skills; continually works toward the mastery of technical proficiency. 
• Time Management: Is able and willing to focus time on tasks that contribute to organizational goals; uses time effectively and efficiently; values time and respects the time of others; concentrates their efforts on the most important priorities; can appropriately balance priorities. 
• Team Orientation: demonstrates interest, skill, and success in team environments; promotes group goals ahead of personal agendas; steps up to offer self as a resource to other members of the team; understands and supports the importance of teamwork; shares credit for success with others, takes responsibility for their part in team failures. 
• Motivating Others: Creates a climate in which people want to do their best; can motivate employees, volunteers, and members; empowers others; invites shared input and decision making; makes each individual feel that their work is important. 
• People/Volunteer Management: Provides direction, gains commitment, facilitates change, and achieves results through the efficient, creative, and responsible deployment of volunteers; engages people in their areas of giftedness and passion. 
• Worship Leadership: Designs and facilitates relevant and inspiring worship; combines elements of theology, music, and art to promote experiences of the sacred; crafts worship flow that reinforces a theme or purpose; fosters worship moments that invite participants into an encounter with the divine; creates liturgical moments that embrace the work of the people in worship. 

How to Apply:

Please submit the following materials to musicapplication@usnh.org​:

• One-page letter describing why this position appeals to you
• Your resume
• Any videos or recordings of your work
• Contact information for three references