House Manager

Fine Arts Building, a historic landmarked building located at 410 S. Michigan Ave, home of the Studebaker Theater (a 600 seat proscenium), is seeking dynamic individuals to join our Audience Experience Team. We are building a talent pool to support our company’s growth and ensure our company is representative of the communities we serve. We view our employees and co-workers as equals who deserve our respect. It is important that we create and foster an affirming space for our employees to be seen as their full selves.

The right candidate will possess a general knowledge of arts and culture, safety and evacuation protocols, accessibility services, while also executing excellent guest service. House Managers will interact regularly with team members and guests while embodying and upholding Fine Arts Building policies.

Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Guest Experience Manager while under the supervision of the General Manager, House Managers offer leadership and stability to our Audience Experience Team. House Managers are the primary anchors responsible for ensuring the smooth operations of the front of house and supervising Front of House Associates.  Primary areas of responsibility include the following:

• Supervising venue preparation for events to ensure guests have a joyful, safe and memorable time at the theater
• Primary point of contact at events for the Saints (volunteer ushers)
• Active and creative problem solving with a focus on excellent guest experience
• Unlocking concessions areas and generally being the safeguard to Studebaker assets while on shift.
• Monitoring and initiating restocking of concessions
• Maintaining communication with stage management to facilitate lobby and house openings
• Facilitate a smooth ingress and egress by monitoring box office and concessions lines and assessing any accessibility accommodations needed.
• Actively seek out guest engagement opportunities
• Address any guest issues with a sense of empathy and authority
• Be an ambassador for the Fine Arts Building by knowledgably communicating facts about the history of the space to guests while actively listening to personal stories related by the guests.
• Dismiss associates at the conclusion of their shift/work
• Monitoring & reporting inventory levels
• Assist with training new associates
• Other duties as assigned

Schedule

We present live theater and performance. As a rental company, we are guided by the overall schedule that is provided by clients of the theater. Since FAB/Studebaker Theater does not have a dedicated member- base and only infrequently produces its own events, our theater schedule depends heavily on the schedule of our renters. This means that House Managers will be expected to be available:

• Evenings and weekends
• Some holidays
• Fine Arts Building Second Friday community events (once a month)
• Open House Chicago (annually, generally in October)

Shift and Office Hours

• This role is offered with an average of 24 -30 hours per week, part time
• Event shifts are usually 5 hours, with a call time beginning 2 hours prior to curtain
• In-Office hours are scheduled around event schedules with an average of 4-6 hours/week
• Required to attend all Manager Meetings (weekly Fridays 4:30-5:30pm). Attendance can be virtual or in person depending on other scheduled shifts.
• Availability for all Studebaker events is required, however scheduling is not guaranteed

Candidates with previous experience in House Management, Theater Operations, Customer Service, or Arts Administration are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Qualifications & Skills

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Must be 21 or over. (working around alcohol)
• At least 3-5 years of experience in House Management of a live-performance venue required.
• BASSET certification preferred. (Certification is required for employment and will be made available at onboarding if you are not currently certified)
• CPR certification required. (Certification available and required with employment through Red Cross.)
• Able to stand and walk for extended periods
• Able to climb stairs.
• Ability to lift and carry at least 40lbs.
• Weekend and Evening availability required

Ideal Candidates

• Possess good knowledge of arts and culture, and have a passion for performing arts
• Skilled in building teams and coaching entry level team members
• Anticipate potential front of house challenges and create solutions in advance to ensure seamless service and event execution
• Provide training, clear protocols, and decision-making autonomy so staff can confidently address customer needs while ensuring consistency in service
• Confidently examples leadership to resolve challenges and enhance the audience experience
• Contributes to a smooth event run by communicating effectively with other departments
• Regularly collect, report, and create event data to drive and support operational excellence
• Prioritize equitable customer service by ensuring all guests, regardless of background or ability, are welcomed and accommodated
• Remain composed under pressure and pivot to strategies that maintain high service standards
• Set the standard for exceptional service by modeling professionalism, patience, and attentiveness in all customer, renter, and public interactions.

Wage and Status
This is a part-time position with a starting hourly rate of $21.00.

Benefits

Eligible employees may participate in Fine Arts Building’s insurance/benefits programs. Benefits include but are not limited to medical, dental, vision, 401K. Part-time employees must meet minimum hours requirements to be eligible to participate. If eligibility requirements are met, further details will be provided.

Part-time employees are eligible for paid leave and paid sick leave as required by the City of Chicago.  Employees begin to accrue leave upon hire and are eligible to use accrued leave after either 30 days (sick leave) or 90 days (paid leave)

Apply
Interested applicants should send a resume, cover letter and 3 professional references to jobs@fineartsbuilding.com.

This is a part-time position with an hourly rate of $21/hour. Interested applicants should send a resume, cover letter and 3 professional references to jobs@fineartsbuilding.com. All applicants should format the subject line of their email as follows:

• Your Name: House Manager in the subject of your email.
  • Example – House Manager : Jane Doe

The Fine Arts Building was built in 1885, originally designed as the carriage assembly and showroom for the Studebaker Company. Situated on Michigan Avenue overlooking Grant Park, the building was immediately hailed as one of “Chicago’s architectural jewels.” In 1898, the building was repurposed to become the Fine Arts Building, Chicago’s first fine arts colony. From the beginning, the building attracted influential artists from all creative disciplines, becoming a cultural hub for some of the most acclaimed visionaries of their time – A home for art in all forms.

The Fine Arts Building acknowledges its place on the traditional unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. Many other tribes such as the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac, and Fox also historically called this area home.

The Fine Arts Building strives to be an organization which embraces a commitment to Indigenous rights, racial justice, and cultural equity. As a home to some of Chicago’s most prominent artists, the Fine Arts Building strongly believes that art is for everyone and aims to be a driving force in showcasing art that is accessible to all. The Studebaker Theater and Carriage Hall, while not producing organizations, are committed to building, fostering, and maintaining an inclusive, accessible, affirming, diverse workplace that is an equitable and anti-racist environment for artists to thrive. By honoring our past as a home for art in all forms, we carry that legacy into the future through articulating these core values. This vision of being an intersectional home to today’s artists shapes the organization’s decision-making and institutional policies.

Fine Arts Building is an equal opportunity employer where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.