Full-Time Festival Producer
Job Description
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
In our new era, Chicago Humanities needs a strategic thought partner to execute our ambitious Strategic Plan goals, including audience development, branded experiences, event partnerships and sponsors, and a distinctiveness in the production of bigger, bolder, and buzzier events. A leader of people and programs, this role is comfortable working collaboratively with a variety of internal teams and external partners, managing priorities, and communicating creative and technical information at the right level of detail for the appropriate recipients. This role keeps a tight grasp of timelines, producing exceptional deliverables, and is trusted by colleagues and partners alike to manage important projects.
Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Festival Producer is responsible for the execution of our expansive events seasons; developing new partnerships for venues, food & beverage, transportation, etc; and project managing new verticals of experiential and social programming. Overseeing the Production team of two full-time staff and one part-time staff member, who in turn manage a seasonal group of 30+ contractors during our spring and fall seasons, this role keeps a bird’s eye view of all priorities for event execution, setting schedules and planning, tracking, and communicating program delivery expectations.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Team Management
- Oversee the 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.
- Support the Manager of Event Technology, Operations Coordinator, and Production Assistant by providing regular check-ins, professional development opportunities, and performance evaluations.
- Collaborate closely with the Co-Creative Directors and the Programming team on the development of experiential and social programming, such as branded activations, immersive programming experiences, and venue partnerships, ensuring the Production, Audience Services, and Operations teams have the appropriate time and resources to implement these projects.
Financial Management
- Oversee the budget for Production; oversee, approve, and execute all payments from this line, ensuring projects come in at or below budget.
- Oversee and approve all production vendors and equipment rentals, in consultation with the Event Technology Manager.
- Support the resiliency of the Chicago Humanities financial model by securing new partners and sponsors related to venues, event production, food, beverage, and an enhanced audience experience.
- Support business operations in defining event ROI, scope, staffing, and budget needs.
Event Logistics and Implementation
- Through Programming meetings, participate as a key member of strategic vision and decision-making.
- In collaboration with interdepartmental teams, create each festival schedule grid, setting event times, and planning flow of each day.
- Ensure accuracy in event preparation documentation, including tech and run sheets, created by the Production team.
- Facilitate collaborative interdepartmental communications surrounding events, including leading various meetings, and executing Asana projects.
- Ensure venues and programming are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (and subsequent regulations of 2010, 2011) and strategize on supplemental resources to ensure audience and presenter accessibility.
Venue and Vendor Relationships
- Seek out and secure appropriate venue holds and rentals for events. Review and sign venue contracts and secure certificates of liability insurance.
- Schedule and lead venue site visits for staff and volunteers in collaboration with the Associate Director of Operations and the Audience Services Manager.
- Work with venue staff to ensure strong communications among all parties.
- In collaboration with the Operations team, create and distribute backstage security lists, secure venue floor plans and emergency evacuation plans to support staff training and safety protocols, creating a safe and smooth audience experience.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 6-8+ years experience in event planning and production for large-scale events. Previous festival work is a plus.
- 4+ years of experience in managing a team; demonstrated ability to align priorities, build consistent practices while fostering individual strengths, and promoting collaborative and positive working relationships among team members.
- Demonstrated experience obtaining successful partnerships/sponsorships that support event production, food & beverage, transportation, audience activations, etc.
- Experience managing large-scale budgeting processes and ability to bring productions in at or under budget.
- A strategic thinker; implementing new and refining existing programming concepts within budget and logistical constraints.
- Great organization and time management skills to manage people and projects in a fast-paced environment.
- A proactive and cool-headed problem-solver; enjoys managing large projects with many moving parts.
- Nimbleness 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).
- Familiarity with both Mac and PC computer environments.
- Experience or training in accessibility, disability awareness, or diversity, equity, and 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.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This is a full-time position with a salary range of $70,000-75,000. Benefits include fully-covered health insurance (including contributions for deductibles), 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 office closures throughout the summer and a communal winter break (December 25 through New Year’s Day). Chicago Humanities observes ten holidays and provides one floating religious holiday.
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, including resume and cover letter. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled but interviews will begin at the end of July.
Candidates who are selected for an interview will be notified via email. No phone calls, please. We look forward to reviewing your materials. Thank you!
If you need any accommodations completing this application, please email our Manager of People and Culture, John Rooney at
jr*****@ch***************.org
.
Chicago Humanities is an Equal Opportunity Employer
How to Apply
TO APPLY Please submit your application, including resume and cover letter. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled but interviews will begin at the end of July. Candidates who are selected for an interview will be notified via email. No phone calls, please. We look forward to reviewing your materials. Thank you! If you need any accommodations completing this application, please email our Manager of People and Culture, John Rooney at jrooney@chicagohumanities.org. Chicago Humanities is an Equal Opportunity Employer313 total views, 0 today