House Manager - Chicago Humanities

About Chicago Humanities

Chicago Humanities connects people to the ideas that shape and define us and promotes the lifelong exploration of what it means to be human. Chicago Humanities fosters curiosity, celebrates creativity, explores the boundaries of contemporary knowledge and culture, and challenges us to see ourselves and the world anew. Collaborating with nearly 40 of Chicago’s major cultural and educational institutions, Chicago Humanities produces over 100 events annually and partners with nearly 40 venues around Chicago, as well as stewards a vibrant online home for the humanities. Chicago Humanities has an international reputation for innovation and creativity, featuring an exceptional roster of writers, scholars, performers, and visual artists in its programs and online.

Position Description

House Managers oversee front of house operations and supervise a team of volunteers at Chicago Humanities events. They provide friendly, welcoming customer service to a diverse, multigenerational audience. They work as a leader and an integral part of the front of house team to ensure Chicago Humanities audiences have a positive experience from start to finish.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Leading people and team collaboration

• Train, supervise, and assist volunteers with front of house responsibilities, including wayfinding, ticket scanning, line management, and seating.
• Collaborate with stage managers and box office managers, ensuring proper house open time and event start time.
• With the stage manager, run microphones for each event’s audience Q&A portion.

Customer service and accessibility

• Oversee and assist with reserved seating and ensure accessible seating accommodations for audience members with disabilities.
• Ensure a safe, welcoming, inclusive environment for audience members, fellow staff, and volunteers by being a steward of Chicago Humanities community agreements.

Crowd management

• Support setup of the lobby and maintain ease of audience entry in various venues across Chicago, under the support of event staff.
• Support presenter book signings and photo opportunities by managing line flow and helping communicate processes to the audience.
• Uphold Chicago Humanities’ practices for gracefully handling disruptions, protest, or heckling.
• In the case of emergency, enact Chicago Humanities’ protocols for emergency management.

Orientation and post-program

• Attend training and occasionally attend site visits to the assigned venue(s) prior to the Festival with the Chicago Humanities teams.
• Complete post-program reporting and evaluation.

Qualifications:

• Previous experience in theater house management, guest services, or hospitality.
• Ability to lead and be part of a team.
• A demonstrated commitment to excellent customer service and enjoy working with the public.
• A professional demeanor with good communication skills.
• Tech-savvy with general understanding of Apple IOS devices.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
• A demonstrated resourcefulness and independence in problem solving/troubleshooting.
• A demonstrated flexibility and grace under pressure.
• Due to the nature of our events, availability to work weekday evenings or weekends.
• Prior experience with arts or cultural organizations is a plus, though not required.
• Prior training in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility is a plus. Be sure to describe your experience in these areas if applicable.

Compensation and Hours:

• This role is a seasonal contract, with our Fall season running approximately from mid-September through early December.
• House managers are paid $20/hour.
• Hours are dependent on the needs of the assigned program(s) and your availability.
  • Our festival days known as “Hub days” will take place on September 21, October 4, and October 18, 2025, with more standalone event days September - December to be announced.
  • Availability for most of these dates is strongly preferred. Please let us know any dates you will not be available.
  • In addition to hub days, we will have a few ‘standalone’ events that occur on weeknight or weekend evenings.
• This position primarily requires weekday evening or weekend availability throughout the festival, as well as pre-festival orientation taking place in early September.
• Standalone event shifts average 4 hours; Hub Day shifts average 11 hours.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI)

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 opportunity for employment and advancement in all of 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, including resume, cover letter, and three references. We’ll continue to accept applications until the positions are filled, however, we prefer that applications are submitted by Friday, August 1st, 2025 as interviews will begin in early August 2025. This position will start in mid-September.

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. We look forward to reviewing your materials.