House Manager

Job Title: House Manager

Location: Chicago, IL

Terms: Full-Time

Requirements: Ability to work evening and weekend hours

About Us:

The Athenaeum was built in 1911 on the St. Alphonsus campus and is home to Chicago’s oldest continuously-operating off-Loop theater. Our mission is to invite people into encounters with beauty and to revitalize the great Catholic tradition of the arts from our location in one of Chicago’s most unique religious, artistic, and civic buildings. At the Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture, we believe that beauty has the capacity to build up culture, transform society, and change lives. We hope to help you contemplate, encounter, and delight in beauty.

Job Overview:

The House Manager is responsible for managing all facility and front of house operations. This role has a high touch customer experience and oversees the team that addresses all patron and customer transactions, concerns, comments, and emergencies. This role ensures patrons have an efficient and wonderful experience of all spaces in the venue.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Front of House Operations

Participate in client venue tours and provide recommendations for best operations practices per event
Advance, coordinate and manage front of house operations and staff for house public and private events, including any pre or post VIP related activities
Manage and coordinate scheduling functions in multiple spaces
Coordinate event parking and scheduling with campus-wide events
Maintain budgets and communicate all changes to client and internal production team
Hold a FOH Staff Meeting for every event to review safety and logistics information, triggers warnings, and any usual circumstances
Organize and develop as needed preview response forms and customer feedback surveys
Prepare and set up spaces for all events including tables, chairs, furniture, and signage, playlists
Handle and manage all ADA requests and accommodations

Front of House Staff Management

Scout and maintain freelance rosters for all front of house positions
Schedule, train, and manage front of house staff, including, but not limited to: floor captains, ushers, security, EMTs, bartenders, and volunteers
Build schedules and provide pertinent event information to staff for events and functions using VenueOps software and other communication lines
Manage and approve FOH time sheets and collaborate with Accounting Department to facilitate payroll processing for staff
Provide coverage for employee absences, as needed
Collaborate with management to create and maintain Front of House policies and standard operating procedures
Keep up to date with industry best practices
Conduct drills for staff under the emergency response plan
Oversee building maintenance and upkeep in collaboration with all event functions

Volunteer Management

Recruit, train and supervise volunteers
Coordinate Ushers for all events
Staffing Ushers for any under-staffed events and extensions ensuring adequate number of ushers and concession workers for all events
Serve as a resource to answer volunteer questions and address their concerns

Requirements:

The House Manager should have the following skills, educations, and experience:

Minimum of 3 years of experience at a performing arts center, theater production, or events environment
Minimum of 3 years of direct customer service experience
Minimum of an Associate or Bachelor degree
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evening and weekend hours
Strong organizational skills
Strong attention to detail
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Excellent leadership and team management skills
Independent problem solving and multitasking skills in a fast-paced, high energy environment
Strong Proficiency in computer skills, including use of MS Office
Experience with Venue Ops, CRM, or other event management software a plus
Ability to lift 50lbs

Reports To:

This position reports to the Director of Operations
This position’s direct reports are:Front of House Representative
Bartenders
Ushers
Security
EMT
The position often interacts and collaborates with the Events Manager, Box Office Manager, Facilities Manager, and Production Manager

Compensation:

Pay Rate/Range: $40,000-55,000 per experience
Holiday and paid time off
Full benefits package including medical, dental vision, life insurance, disability, accident, flexible spending and transit
401(k) plan with company match