Patron Services Assistant

The Grant Park Music Festival (the Festival) in Chicago, Illinois seeks a full-time Patron Services Assistant for the 2025 Festival season (April – August 2025). The Patron Services Assistant is an integral part of the Festival’s team, dedicated to delivering excellent customer service to our community of loyal and enthusiastic music lovers.

We seek an energetic, detail-oriented, problem solver who is eager to connect with people from all walks of life. If you are interested in gaining valuable experience in arts administration and making a big impact by helping the Festival grow relationships with our audiences, we’d love to hear from you.

Previous seasonal Patron Services Assistants have gone on to work for some of Chicago’s premiere arts and cultural institutions, including Goodman Theater, the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Steppenwolf Theater, the Museum of Science and Industry, and more. Previous box office experience is required for this role. Tessitura (our ticketing/CRM system) experience is a major plus.

KEY DUTIES AND EXPECTATIONS

• Expertly staff the Patron Service Center (box office) for each Festival concert and help to create a welcoming atmosphere in a fast-paced environment.
• Process patron orders, exchanges, and other requests quickly and accurately – in person, over the phone, and via email.
• Help draft weekly email communications to patrons about upcoming concerts and events.
• Maintain database hygiene standards when updating patron records.
• Perform routine clerical duties in an organized fashion: prepare mailings, answer the telephone, and draft correspondence.
• Assist with developing initiatives that build meaningful relationships between the Festival and its audiences.
• Assist with marketing projects/tasks as needed, including emails, brochure distribution, and social media monitoring.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of one year of box office experience in an arts/cultural organization is required; non-profit performing arts organization experience is a plus.
• Experience using Tessitura to process ticket orders and/or contributions is a major plus.
• Demonstrated ability to provide excellent customer service.
• Culturally competent with the ability to communicate in a welcoming and effective manner with people of all backgrounds.
• The demonstrated ability to handle unexpected situations with grace and diplomacy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (especially Word, Excel and Outlook) and basic computer tasks.
• Ability to work outdoors during evening performances at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and possibly in the heat or inclement weather.
• Don’t fit all of the qualifications listed above, but feel passionate about the position? Please apply anyway! We are eager to work with enthusiastic and proactive people. You never know, you may just be the right fit for the role.

COMPENSATION/SCHEDULE

• $18.00 - $21.00/hour, commensurate with experience. 
• This position is full-time (40 hours/week) and non-exempt; some overtime hours may be required during the summer season. 
• Normal office hours are 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday.
• During the ten-week Festival season (June 11, 2025 – August 16, 2025), nights (generally Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays) and weekend afternoons (Saturdays) are required; two days off are scheduled each week.
• Position Start Date: ASAP April 2025, specific date to be determined by mutual agreement.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

For more than 90 years, the Grant Park Music Festival has been Chicago's summer musical sensation, demonstrating that classical music performed by a world-class orchestra and chorus can have a transformative impact on the city. Showcased in the city's most spectacular setting, the Festival continues to be the summer gathering place for all of Chicago. The Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park is the official home of the Grant Park Music Festival, with free seats available for every concert.

The Festival strives to create a workplace that reflects the diversity of our city and the audiences we serve. People of all backgrounds and experiences, and especially those that have been historically underrepresented in the field, are encouraged to apply for open positions at the Festival. Read more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging HERE.

The Association provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to actual or perceived race (including traits associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, pregnancy (including childbirth, or medical or common conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), genetic information, marital status, familial/parental status, disability (physical and mental), military status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, citizenship or immigration status, unfavorable discharge from military service, order of protection status, credit history, arrest record, conviction record, family responsibilities, and any other classification/characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

The Festival is led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Giancarlo Guerrero, Grant Park Chorus Director Christopher Bell, Grant Park Orchestral Association President and CEO Paul Winberg, and Board Chair Adam Grais.

For more information on the Grant Park Music Festival, please visit our website: gpmf.org

Salary : $18 - $21