Theater & Dance Office Manager & Harper Joy Theater Box Office Manager

WHITMAN COLLEGE

Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman’s vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.  

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college’s working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO).

POSITION PURPOSE

The Office Manager and Harper Joy Theater (HJT) Box Office Company Manager supports the Department of Theater and Dance (THDN) and manages the HJT Box Office ensuring smooth operations, supporting faculty and managing diverse student workers, vendors, and visitors. This position serves a critical role, particularly in the area of student worker development and mentoring, and provides outstanding customer service to ensure the HJT is welcome and accessible to all members of the Whitman and Walla Walla communities. This position is 1560 hours per year (0.75 FTE), and can accommodate either 40 hours/week for 10 months (the academic year), or 30 hours/week for 12 months.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Box Office General Manager 

• Manage Harper Joy Theater operations once season selection has been made.
• Assess box office marketing, communications, and THDN Box Office student staffing needs for the upcoming academic year and production season. 
• Oversee the hiring, onboarding and training process for student employees (12-21 student workers per academic year). 
• Ensure that posters, billboards and other communication and advertising materials are created, updated and shared for the necessary production to take place within the appropriate schedule.
• Responsible for box office financials, ticketing communication, inputs and outputs for ticketing software such as price setting, ticket sales, ticketing packages, promotions, group discounts, and promotional emails. 

Manage Guest Artist Program Department Financial Transactions

• Prepare Guest Designer contracts and union documents.
• Ensure adherence to Whitman’s safety plans, diversity, and inclusion, and Title IX policies.
• Serve as main contact for Guest Designers.
• Coordinate travel, lodging, and payment schedules for guest artists, ensuring a welcoming and inclusive experience for individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ensure airport transportation and handling of reimbursements 

Employee Faculty Liaison

• Act as a bridge between students and faculty.
• Communicate any grievances with the Director of Theater.
• Deescalate student issues, and help students problem solve, and/or guide them to the appropriate resource or avenue for resolution.
• Serve as the main point of contact and resource for all student workers and faculty who hire students.

Facilities Management 

• Maintain and communicate emergency evacuation plans for fire and active shooter incident response.
• Schedule safety, first aid and AED training for faculty and student workers.
• Coordinate and oversee the upkeep of Harper Joy Theater building, Dance Studio and Guest Designer apartment.
• Coordinate facility maintenance and updates to ensure spaces are accessible and welcoming for all users.
• Update office directory and signage.

General Office Management

• Submit work orders, purchase requests and help requests related to department equipment needs and facilities.
• Maintain bookkeeping and reconciliation of expense accounts and box office ticket sales.
• Manage student payroll, deposits, and bank activities.
• Create, implement, and maintain document retention plan.
• Ensure office and copier supplies are stocked and meet the demands for classroom supplies, faculty, box office, and production needs.
• Create and update policies and procedures as needed.

Other

• Additional duties and projects as needed when bandwidth is available.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Must be able to explain and/or demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. Specifically,

• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail including the composition of correspondence, and proofreading skills.
• Strong computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with Google Workspace applications (Google Drive, Google Calendar, Gmail, etc.).
• Demonstrated general office skills and use of general office equipment including telephones, computers, copy machines.
• Strong operational and administrative skills.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of the department team.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and be flexible in a fast-paced environment with numerous deadlines, pressures, and interruptions.
• Ability to guide and train student employees.
• Ability to integrate the College’s core values of diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism into interactions, processes, and decision making to resolve conflicts and address challenges, ensuring all individuals feel heard and valued.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Familiarity with box office ticket sales software.
• Previous experience with facilities management and project management.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Four years of administrative support experience.
• Previous experience with budgeting and/or accounting.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Previous professional experience in a higher education environment.
• Previous experience managing a theater or performance space.

Please note that while the description details both required and preferred qualifications, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the preferred qualifications to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply.

BENEFITS

Whitman College offers a competitive benefits program that is designed to attract qualified candidates and retain talented employees. Full-time employees enjoy the following benefits:

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances.

Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and long term disability insurances with the capability to elect additional voluntary coverage.

403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with a 10% matching contribution after eligibility requirements are met.

Paid Time Off: vacation and sick accrual based on hours worked.

Tuition Remission – Dependent Children.

Employee tuition waiver for two Whitman courses per semester for eligible employees.

Employee Assistance Program.

Learn more about benefits eligibility here. 

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR JOB CANDIDATES

Contact Human Resources regarding requests for disability accommodation in the employment application process.

APPLICATION REVIEW

Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. 

START DATE

ASAP

Salary : $22 - $24