Employment

Full-time and part-time positions available:

Box Office Manager
BOX OFFICE ASSOCIATE
FRONT OF HOUSE ASSOCIATE
Costume Technician

BOX OFFICE MANAGER

SUMMARY

Writers Theatre seeks a full time Box Office Manager to join its Box Office management team. The preferred applicant will be polished, poised under pressure, comfortable interacting with patrons by telephone or in person, individually or in small or large groups and capable of leading a team in providing boutique-level customer service.

Reporting to the Director of Marketing & Communications, the Box Office Manager (BXM) helps to ensure all Box Office team members are maintaining a high level of professionalism and industry-leading customer service. The BXM will advocate for the needs of the WT audience by building deep relationships with subscribers and patrons, acting as the face of customer service for WT.

The ideal candidate will have the ability to remain poised in high-stress situations while exercising good judgment; show the ability to remove barriers between patrons and performance and display both patience and enthusiasm. The BXM will serve as team leader for WT’s full time and part time Box Office team members and must demonstrate good leadership skills, set a positive example and proactively coach staff as necessary. The BXM will be responsible for working independently on projects from conception to completion and should be able to prioritize and execute these projects and daily tasks efficiently. The BXM will often collaborate with other departmental managers on these projects and must maintain a good working relationship with all peers.

Typical work hours are 40 hours a week, with evenings and weekends required throughout the year as the production calendar necessitates. This is a full time, salaried position, with a schedule expected to coincide with performance schedules, including evenings and weekends.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Help create and execute organizational policy to anticipate patron needs.
• Work closely with Audience Services Manager and Associate Box Office Manager to create a streamlined and welcoming audience experience.
• Serve as team leader for the Box Office staff; coach the team on prioritization of Box Office projects and best customer service practices.
• Supervise interactions with patrons over the phone, in person and via email, as necessary.
• Resolve patron issues/complaints in a timely manner that is in keeping with organizational policy.
• Help to create and execute Box Office and ticketing policies.
• Maintain Box Office spaces, ensuring appropriate materials are stocked and organized at all times.
• Perform daily reporting.
• Perform price flushes weekly and intermittently, as needed.
• Serve as primary liaison between Box Office and Front of House, Advancement, Marketing and Education departments.
• Assist with marketing and advancement events as necessary.
• Develop plans/training to ensure an efficient and effective Box Office; supervise the implementation of plans/training.
• Lead and supervise outreach to and accommodation of access patrons.
• Lead and supervise Tessitura and customer service training of Box Office associates. Serve as primary Tessitura superuser within the Box Office.
• Lead and supervise outreach to and cultivation of group sales, assisting and offering coaching as necessary.
• Edit marketing and advancement materials as necessary.
• Schedule Box Office staff monthly for the following: box office shifts, will call shifts, audience engagement events, building rentals and training.
• Be a presence during daytime hours in the box office to greet patrons, customers, donors, artists and vendors.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Attend weekly Marketing, Advancement and Artistic meetings.
• Attend weekly meeting with Audience Services management team.
• Attend biweekly Access and Rental meetings.
• Attend monthly CCAC meeting.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Two or more years of team management experience.
• Extensive customer service experience.
• The ability to empathize with patrons and staff.
• Enthusiasm and appreciation for live theatre.
• Flexibility, creativity and poise under pressure.
• Superior organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to correctly assess priorities and meet deadlines.
• Working knowledge of Tessitura ticketing software is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

COMPENSATION

Salary is commensurate with experience. The range of benefits includes medical, dental insurance and disability insurance, vacation and other paid leave, a 403(b) retirement plan (with employee match), commuter transit plan and medical and dependent care cafeteria plans.

TO APPLY

SUMMARY

Reporting to the Box Office Manager, the Box Office Associate will assist in the daily operations of the Box Office including processing transactions, building relationships with audience members, offering additional engagement opportunities and providing exemplary customer service with the ultimate goal of leading the industry in maximizing the customer experience.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Answering phones and emails.
• Processing ticket sales, exchanges and season subscriptions.
• Working as a part of our subscription sales team.
• Working as a will call agent for performances, ensuring a smooth and efficient pre-show experience.
• Assist patrons with questions, accessibility needs and/or ticketing issues.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A combination of afternoon, evening and weekend availability is required and will be taken into serious consideration when selecting candidates.
• Outgoing, accessible personality and the ability to work as part of a team.
• Superior organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to multi-task.
• Professional demeanor while working under pressure with the ability to remain calm and collected in high-pressure situations.
• An ideal candidate will possess previous box office experience or customer service experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook required.
• Cash handling experience preferred.

COMPENSATION

This is a part-time position. Competitive hourly rate.

TO APPLY

Qualified and interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to Box Office Manager, Bryan Anderson, at banderson@writerstheatre.org. Please put “Box Office Associate” in the subject line. No phone calls please.

FRONT OF HOUSE ASSOCIATE

SUMMARY

Reporting to the Audience Services Manager, the Front of House Associate will coordinate front of house operations during performances and specials events and will collaborate with the box office and stage management staff to maintain smooth front-facing operations and provide industry-leading customer service, with the ultimate goal of maximizing the customer experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES

House Management

• Serve as House Manager for public performances and special events
• Coordinate with box office staff on seating holds and patron information.
• Assist patrons with questions, accessibility needs and/or seating issues.
• Train and manage volunteers on a nightly basis.
• Communicate with stage management staff on nightly operations schedule (house opening, start of performance, late seating).
• If the production allows, late seat patrons after the performance begins.
• Monitor activity during performances.
• Communicate and assist with security and emergency incidents.
• Prepare House Manager and Concessions performance reports
• Operate WT Digital Signage during performances and special events, as needed.
• Maintain cleanliness of Front of House areas including lobby, restrooms, concession center, and other public spaces.
• Assist Audience Services Manager with other duties, as assigned.

Concessions

• Provide Bar/Concessions service for public performances and special events.
• Set up and tear down bar, including displays, concessions, and drink preparation.
• Assist patrons with concessions and drink selections, providing descriptions and suggestions
• Process payments through Square POS system.
• Prepare and deliver pre-order intermission drinks and concessions.
• Track concessions inventory and communicate restocking needs.
• Prepare and reconcile concessions sales reports.
• Ensure displays and lobby areas are clean and accessible.
• Other duties, as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Top level customer service experience required.
• Experience in theatrical operations preferred.
• Outgoing, accessible personality with the ability to speak in front of people.
• Superior organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to multi-task.
• Professional demeanor while working under pressure.
• Experience with POS systems a plus.
• Strong interest in and passion for live theatre.
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• BASSET certification preferred; training will be provided to selected candidate.
• Afternoon, evening and weekend availability is required and will be taken into serious consideration when selecting candidates.

COMPENSATION

This is a part-time position; approximately 10-20 hours/week. Competitive hourly rate.

TO APPLY

Qualified and interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to jobs@writerstheatre.org. Please put “Front of House Associate” in the subject line. No phone calls please.

Costume Technician

SUMMARY

Writers Theatre invites the submission of resumes from costume professionals, including: stitchers, first hands, drapers, costume crafts artisans, shoppers, design assistants, makeup artists, hair and wig designers, etc. Costume staff are hired on a show by show basis, based on the needs of each production.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities as assigned by the costume supervisor, appropriate to the technician’s area of expertise. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Proven experience in the candidate’s area of expertise. Familiarity with and experience working in professional costume shops is preferred.

COMPENSATION

Competitive hourly rate appropriate to job title and experience. $16/hr minimum. 

TO APPLY

Qualified and interested candidates should submit a resume via email to Emily Waecker, Costume Supervisor, at ewaecker@writerstheatre.org. No phone calls please.