Event Technology Manager - Chicago Humanities

ORGANIZATION

For over 30 years Chicago Humanities has hosted compelling conversations, engaging events, and powerful performances with some of the leading authors, artists, scholars, policymakers, and thought leaders of our time. Chicago Humanities has established itself as a vital member of Chicago’s cultural community with a core belief that the arts and humanities play a fundamental role in understanding and addressing the pressing civic, social, and cultural issues of our time. Our events deeply reflect on the past, explore the present, and consider the future through the multiple lenses of the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Insightful, entertaining, and interactive, Chicago Humanities brings audiences together around the ideas of notable figures and thinkers—Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize-winners, MacArthur Fellows, and Oscar, Tony, and Grammy Award-winning artists. In other words, individuals at the forefront of their fields sharing new insights into our human condition. We present thoughtfully curated festivals (Fall and Spring) in the Loop and neighborhoods across Chicago (from the South Shore to Pilsen, Bronzeville to Hyde Park, Old Town to Evanston), partnering with dozens of longstanding and evolving partnerships with cultural, educational, and civic organizations (local and national).

THE OPPORTUNITY
Collaborate with the Production team responsible for the look, feel, and sound of all events, cultivating strong relationships with over 50 venues throughout the city of Chicago, and making an indelible impression on the wide array of people we host on our stages and welcome through our doors.

Reporting to the Festival Producer, the Event Technology Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day event technology logistics for events in Chicago Humanities’ rental venues throughout the city. This role is the creative expert on technologically complex events, including music performances and events with video and virtual components. Coordinating and supporting a seasonal group of AV Technicians and Stage Managers during our spring and fall seasons, this role keeps track of pertinent details related to the events schedule, including load-in and load-out details, technical requirements, equipment needs for each event, staffing needs for each event, venue logistics, and presenter needs. Using Asana as our shared project management software, the Event Technology Manager communicates interdepartmentally and externally with vendors to create shared expectations and ensure deadlines are met. To prepare for smooth, seamlessly run events, this role leads the training of AV technicians, creates Run of Show and technical documents for events, works closely with venues on technological capabilities, and manages an in-house inventory of equipment.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Team Management

• Oversee the seasonal Production team that produces all Festival events, ensuring clear communication, excellent attention to detail, and supportive team dynamics to achieve high quality, professionally run events together.
• Recruit, hire, supervise, and schedule seasonal AV Technicians
• Onboard and train new and returning seasonal teams
• Support the Production Assistant by providing regular check-ins, professional development opportunities, and performance evaluations.
• Collaborate closely with team leads of Operations, Programming, and Audience Services.

Financial Management

• Oversee and approve all production vendors and equipment rentals.
• Advise on capital spending to support initiatives in programming, accessibility, marketing, and production including upgrades to equipment, stage design, and technology.

Event Logistics and Implementation

• Create thorough event preparation documentation including tech and run sheets with Production Assistant support.
• Consult with the Accessibility Manager to ensure festival events are as accessible as possible, maintaining equipment, and advocating for accessibility.
• Manage in-house equipment inventory and maintain production storage with Production Assistant support.
  

Venue and Vendor Relationships

• Work with venue staff to ensure shared expectations among all parties, ensuring technological capabilities of each venue meet the needs of programming.
• Create a plan for audio/visual equipment rentals or sourcing from in-house inventory, as needed.

Event Technology

• Support the Director of Operations with technological needs of the event production environment, including tech support of Mac and PC laptops, iOS ticket scanners, and project management tools.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years experience in technical production for large-scale events. Previous festival work is a plus.
• 1-3 years of experience in supervising and working with contractors/vendors.
• Great organization and time management skills to manage people and projects in a fast-paced environment.
• A mastery of QLab audio and video infrastructure is required.
• Tech-savviness to execute a variety of event formats, such as conversations on stage, lectures, music performances, dance performances, comedy, outdoor events, etc.
• Experience with database and project management tools (Asana, Airtable, Google Suite).
• Experience with both Mac and PC computer environments.
• Experience or training in accessibility, disability awareness, or diversity/equity/inclusion initiatives considered a plus. Familiarity with accessible services such as ASL interpretation, open/closed captions, audio description would be valued.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends per our events schedule.

WORK LOCATION

Chicago Humanities maintains a collaborative and congenial environment. We work in a hybrid model, requiring in-person Tuesdays - Thursdays at our River North office. Mondays and Fridays allow remote work; exceptions might occur based on organizational and/or departmental needs. While working remotely, you can access a laptop computer and a $50 per month stipend to offset home internet and personal phone expenses. All full-time positions at Chicago Humanities may require additional night and weekend hours to support aspects of our in-person events across the city.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

This is a full-time position with a salary of $55,000-$60,000. Benefits include fully-covered health insurance (with an option to upgrade), dental, vision, 403(b) with 7% employer match, equitable parental leave, tax-free commuter spending plan, life insurance, short and long-term disability, and 17 days of accrued paid time off. In addition, we offset busy seasons with additional paid office closures during the summer and a communal winter break (December 25 through New Year’s Day). Chicago Humanities observes ten holidays and provides one floating holiday and one volunteer day.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESS, AND INCLUSION

Chicago Humanities is committed to providing a diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive workplace where all employees and volunteers, whatever their gender, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education, or disability, feel valued and respected. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal employment and advancement opportunities in our departments, programs, and policies. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard.

TO APPLY

Please submit your application here, including resume and cover letter (please submit as PDFs). Applications are due by Friday, January 17, 2024.

If you need any accommodations completing this application, please email our Associate Director of People and Culture, John Rooney at jrooney@chicagohumanities.org.

Candidates who are selected for an interview will be notified via email. No phone calls, please. We look forward to reviewing your materials.