Employment
Full-time and part-time positions available:
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE ASSOCIATE
BOX OFFICE ASSOCIATE
associate director of ticket services
MARKETING and social media manager
general manager
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Writers Theatre is seeking candidates for its Artistic Director. Management Consultants for the Arts is facilitating this important search, and information on the position priorities and application process can be found HERE.
AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE ASSOCIATE
SUMMARY
Writers Theatre seeks an Audience Experience Associate to coordinate front of house operations during performances and special 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.
DUTIES AND 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 volunteer ushers 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 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.
- Bartending or foodservice experience a plus.
- 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 and Food Handlers’ certifications 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.
- Must be able to comply with organizational COVID safety policies and procedures
- A commitment to ethical conduct in all aspects of the work environment
- A commitment to creating a just, equitable and inclusive work environment
- A commitment to the protection of confidential information to which this position has access
COVID SAFETY
Writers Theatre requires proof of vaccination and face coverings for all employees.
COMPENSATION
This is a part-time, hourly position with paid sick days and the option to opt into the company’s 403(b) retirement plan (with employer match). Starting rate is $15/hour.
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
WT is deeply committed to creating and sustaining an organizational culture that values equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as promoting a safe, supportive and collaborative work environment conducive to professional and personal growth. A successful candidate will share these values.
WT is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, age, or veteran status.
Additional information about WT’s commitment to providing a safe and supportive workplace can be found at writerstheatre.org/working-at-wt
TO APPLY
Please send a resume plus an expression of interest (video, audio, written) that speak to interests, skills, accomplishments, and characteristics that distinguish yourself to Jason Vences at jvences@writerstheatre.org.
Please include in the subject line of the email “Audience Experience Associate Application”. No phone calls please.
SUMMARY:
Writers Theatre seeks a Box Office Associate to assist in the daily operations of the Box Office including processing transactions and providing exemplary customer service.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Answering phones and emails.
- Processing ticket sales, exchanges and season subscriptions
- Providing tech support to patrons as they view digital programming
- Serving as a will call agent for performances, ensuring a smooth and efficient pre-show experience.
- Assisting patrons with questions, accessibility needs and/or ticketing issues.
- Performing other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Friendly personality and the ability to work as part of a team.
- 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.
- Flexibility and willingness to adapt to changing policies and procedures.
- A combination of afternoon, evening and weekend availability is required.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook required.
- Previous customer service experience preferred.
- Cash handling experience preferred.
- Must be able to comply with organizational COVID safety policies and procedures
- A commitment to ethical conduct in all aspects of the work environment
- A commitment to creating a just, equitable and inclusive work environment
- A commitment to the protection of confidential information to which this position has access
COVID SAFETY:
Writers Theatre requires proof of vaccination and face coverings for all employees.
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
WT is deeply committed to creating and sustaining an organizational culture that values equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as promoting a safe, supportive and collaborative work environment conducive to professional and personal growth. A successful candidate will share these values.
WT is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, age, or veteran status.
Additional information about WT’s commitment to providing a safe and supportive workplace can be found at writerstheatre.org/working-at-wt
PAY:
This is a part time position starting at $15/hour.
Instructions to Apply:
Please send a resume plus an expression of interest (video, audio, written) that speak to interests, skills, accomplishments, and characteristics that distinguish yourself to Box Office Manager, Kara Watanachaiyot, at kwatanachaiyot@writerstheatre.org. Please include in the subject line of the email “Box Office Associate Application”. No phone calls please.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF TICKET SERVICES
ADTS leads the Box Office team in maintaining a high level of professionalism and industry-leading customer service. The ADTS 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. Working with the Director of Marketing (DOM), the ADTS helps set and manage earned ticket revenue strategies including but not limited to single tickets, subscription sales and benefits, and other special programs.
Primary Responsibilities
Box Office & Customer Service Leadership:
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Serve as the primary ticket inventory manager for the company.
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Hire, train, supervise, motivate and support a strong and strategic team.
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Schedule Box Office staff for box office shifts, will call shifts, audience engagement events.
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Working closely with the DOM and ADAS, create and ensure a streamlined and welcoming audience experience.
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Lead and supervise Tessitura and customer service training of Box Office associates. Serve as primary Tessitura superuser within the Box Office.
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Create Box Office, ticketing and customer service policies with the goal of providing industry-leading patron services.
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Work with ADAS to oversee Access programs and budgets to consistently be an industry leader in Access services. (ie. Large print programs, listening devices).
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Supervise interactions with patrons over the phone, in person and via email, as necessary.
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Resolve patron issues/complaints in a timely manner that is in keeping with organizational policy.
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Be a presence to greet patrons, customers, donors, artists and vendors.
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Maintain Box Office spaces, ensuring appropriate materials are stocked and organized at all times.
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Lead and supervise outreach to and cultivation of group sales, assisting and offering coaching as necessary.
Season Maintenance & Planning:
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Develop, maintain, and track departmental income and expense budgets; ensure accurate and timely box office records (daily, weekly, quarterly); generate specialized reports, records, and statistical data.
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Provide input on ticket and subscription pricing and packages.
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Collaborate with Marketing and Database staff to structure demand-based pricing models, sales projections and corresponding pricing to maximize revenue.
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Track and monitor ticket sale trends (single/subscription) to help the Marketing department in planning effective strategies for future subscription and sales campaigns.
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Partner with Database Administrator & Technology Manager on Tessitura operations including season setup, maintaining a clean database, and streamlined purchase paths.
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Edit marketing and advancement materials as necessary.
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Help finalize the season calendar.
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ADTS leads the Box Office team in maintaining a high level of professionalism and industry-leading customer service.
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The ADTS 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.
-
Working with the Director of Marketing (DOM), the ADTS helps set and manage earned ticket revenue strategies including but not limited to single tickets, subscription sales and benefits, and other special programs.
Qualifications & Key Competencies
The successful candidate will have:
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Two or more years of team management experience.
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Extensive customer service experience.
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Working knowledge of Tessitura ticketing software.
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The ability to empathize with patrons and staff.
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Enthusiasm and appreciation for live theatre.
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Flexibility, creativity and poise under pressure.
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Superior organizational and time management skills.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
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Ability to correctly assess priorities and meet deadlines.
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Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
COVID Safety
WT requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a term of employment.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
WT is deeply committed to creating and sustaining an organizational culture that values equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as promoting a safe, supportive, and collaborative work environment conducive to professional and personal growth. A successful candidate will share these values.
WT is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, or veteran status.
Please find more information on our culture and specific policies at the following links:
Benefits include: medical, dental and disability insurance, vacation and other paid leave, a 403(b)-retirement plan (with employer match) and medical and dependent care cafeteria plans.
SALARY
This is a full time job with a salary range of $44,000 – $50,000 commensurate with experience.
To Apply
Qualified and interested candidates should email a cover letter, resume and any salary requirements to jobs@writerstheatre.org. No phone calls please.
Want to help us improve our hiring process? Please include where you found this job posting when you email us your materials.
MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Reporting to the Director of Marketing & Communications, the Marketing & Social Media Manager will support the Marketing & Communications Department to expand the patron base of the Theatre, implement the identity of the Theatre in print and online, help coordinate communication and engagement with current patrons and support the Director of Marketing & Communications in the promotion of the WT brand.
Objectives of this role
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Project Management: Act as main Marketing Department project manager, ensuring organized and timely communication and delivery across all Marketing campaigns and deliverables.
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Social Media Growth & Engagement: Own Writers Theatre social media channels, including all strategies, tactics, goals,budgets, and timelines.
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Messaging & Creative: Provide copywriting, proofreading, and creative direction support for all marketing campaigns and projects.
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Sales & Data Support: Support Marketing Department sales goals and strategies by providing reports, data,and analysis from available tools and platforms.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities
- Project Management
- Manage departmental editorial calendar to support all marketing campaigns, objectives, goals, and strategies.
- Communicate regularly with print and mail vendors to convey quantities and specifications for materials and ensure on-time delivery of all materials.
- Serve as the primary point of contact with our media buying agency, coordinating deadlines and requesting designs from the Design & Communications Manager.
- Coordinate content collection for print publications, promotional materials and the website.
- Along with the Design & Communications Manager, oversee the day-to-day tactics of the Marketing Department to ensure the team is meeting deadlines and achieving single ticket goals throughout the season.
- Social Media
- Perform research on current benchmark trends and audience preferences.
- Design and implement social media strategies to align with departmental goals.
- Set specific objectives, tactics, and budgets, and report on ROI.
- Generate, edit, publish and share engaging content daily (e.g., original text, photos, videos and news).
- Engage, reply, and interact with followers in a timely manner.
- Stay up to date with current technologies and trends in social media, design tools and applications.
- Messaging & Creative
- Creatively seek new, innovative ways to engage with potential patrons and promote the WT mission and brand.
- Initiate, manage and track digital marketing campaigns to increase organizational visibility and heighten patron engagement.
- Write language for show collateral and institutional subscription campaign materials.
- Proofread all publications, promotional materials, ads, emails and the website.
- Sales & Data Support
- Participate in creation of end-of-show and end-of-season reports and track ROI for advertising and promotional activities.
- Act as the primary data analyst on the Marketing & Communications Team, utilizing tools such as Google Analytics, Tessitura Analytics, Survey Monkey, and more to assess and optimize our marketing practices.
- Events & Meetings
- Participate in weekly in-person Marketing Department meetings, bi-weekly staff meetings and other organizational meetings.
- Participate in departmental season and production marketing brainstorming sessions.
- Help organize and serve as point of contact for marketing events, including invitations and RSVP tracking, set-up, on site check-in, crowd management and clean-up.
- Periodically attend rehearsals, performances and other engagements with artists.
- Be available to staff off-site promotional activities as necessary.
Qualifications & Key Competencies
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Three years’ experience in arts or nonprofit marketing preferred.
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Strong interest in and passion for live theatre.
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Creative, energetic thinker with the initiative and ability to work from the conceptual level through implementation.
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Excellent verbal and writing skills, with previous copywriting and editing experience.
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Superior organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to multi-task. Comfortable with meeting deadlines and working under pressure.
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Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign as well as Google tools (Analytics, AdWords and Remarketing).
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Tessitura or equivalent CRM database experience a plus.
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We are looking for a team player who is goal-oriented and possesses a high degree of initiative and energy.
COVID Safety
WT requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a term of employment.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
WT is deeply committed to creating and sustaining an organizational culture that values equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as promoting a safe, supportive, and collaborative work environment conducive to professional and personal growth. A successful candidate will share these values.
WT is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, or veteran status.
Please find more information on our culture and specific policies at the following links:
Benefits include: medical, dental and disability insurance, vacation and other paid leave, a 403(b)-retirement plan (with employer match) and medical and dependent care cafeteria plans.
SALARY
This is a full time job with a salary of $45,000.
To Apply
Qualified and interested candidates should email a cover letter, resume and any salary requirements to jobs@writerstheatre.org. No phone calls please.
Want to help us improve our hiring process? Please include where you found this job posting when you email us your materials.
GENERAL MANAGER
The General Manager (GM) provides leadership support to the Executive Director (ED), Artistic Director (AD), in key areas of the theater’s operations. This position is an opportunity for a dynamic thinker and strategic leader to assist in fulfilling and guiding WT’s mission, vision, and priorities and to help lead a sophisticated staff of full-time and part-time staff.
The GM reports to the ED and works closely with the Managing Director, Strategy and Advancement, Interim Artistic Director and Director of Production and Facilities. The GM supervises the Company Manager.
This position’s schedule is typically M-F, 9:30-5:30, occasionally adjusting hours to work until curtain time to connect with artists. Ability to work evenings and weekends as necessary.
Responsibilities
- Help create, develop, maintain and track a variety of complex budgets, including full season and supplemental programming, that contribute to the fiscal health of the theater.
- Manage and negotiate contracts with actors, directors, designers, choreographers, composers and other artistic staff within union regulations and established budgets. Maintain a thorough knowledge of the work rules for the represented unions: AEA, SDC, CFM, USA.
- Participate as a representative of WT with PACT (Producers Association of Chicago Theaters) and serve as a point of contact for CAT (Chicago Area Theatres contract) labor/management and contractual questions as needed.
- Manage, negotiate and execute intellectual property contracts, royalties and production licenses between WT and authors, composers, orchestrators, and lyricists.
- Maintain all general management financial reports, settlements, and weekly royalty reports. Ensure that all contract terms are reflected in production budgets.
- Manage the Company Manager (CM) in their responsibilities.
- In partnership with the CM, oversee WT’s offices and theatre building with general day to day administrative needs.
- Lead and manage special/strategic projects and other duties on an as needed basis as directed by the ED.
- Participates in and attends Executive and Finance Committee meetings, and full Board Meetings, and other meetings as appropriate.
Qualifications & Key Competencies
- 5+ years work experience. Positions at arts and culture and/or non-profit institutions preferred.
- Ability to think strategically and execute with attention to detail. Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively in oral and written communication on both an interpersonal and group level.
- Excellent leadership skills and the ability to be an effective manager for staff across multiple departments. Ability to engender trust and loyalty through their authenticity and transparency.
- Strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in all its forms—with prior training across the spectrum strongly preferred.
- Ability to foster and maintain positive relationships with colleagues, professionals, artists, community partners, volunteers and the general public.
- Demonstrated ability to manage organizational budgets.
- Ability to exercise professional discretion and confidentiality.
COVID Safety
WT requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a term of employment.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
WT is deeply committed to creating and sustaining an organizational culture that values equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as promoting a safe, supportive, and collaborative work environment conducive to professional and personal growth. A successful candidate will share these values.
WT is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, or veteran status.
Please find more information on our culture and specific policies at the following links:
Benefits include: medical, dental and disability insurance, vacation and other paid leave, a 403(b)-retirement plan (with employer match) and medical and dependent care cafeteria plans.
SALARY
This is a full time position with a salary of $65,000.
To Apply
Qualified and interested candidates should email a cover letter, resume and any salary requirements to jobs@writerstheatre.org. No phone calls please.
Want to help us improve our hiring process? Please include where you found this job posting when you email us your materials.
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