Group Sales & Partnership Associate

REPORTS TO: Director of Group Sales & Partnerships

STATUS: Full-time, Non-Exempt
 

Through artistic excellence coupled with innovative, relevant programming; initiatives to connect with and grow new audiences; engagement with communities to ignite creativity across Chicago; and a modernized Opera House that is the setting for truly great experiences, Lyric is leading the advancement of opera. This collaborative vision will deliver ever more exciting, thought-provoking and inclusive audience and community experiences – while increasing the gravitational pull of our art form, company, and city.
 

We are seeking to fill a full-time role in support of Lyric’s group sales and backstage tours program. The Group Sales & Partnership Associate will be an essential member of the Marketing and Audience Services teams focused on maximizing ticket sales to a wide range of groups, managing tours operations, and supporting departmental invoicing while providing unsurpassed customer service for all patrons.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Group Sales:

• Manage Lyric and Joffrey group sales phone and email inquiries during operating hours, following up on quotes and converting to paid ticket orders.
• Manage the needs and tailor ticket offerings to a variety of group buyers including seniors, students, and affinity groups.
• Utilize Tessitura to enter orders, generate invoices, process payments, monitor outstanding balances and release unpaid group tickets.
• Meet & greet group leaders before performances and follow up post performance to  ensure a positive experience plus reserve future group tickets.
• Communicate with front of house staff, audience services and box office regularly as it relates to group orders.
• Coordinate ticket fulfillment for non-traditional group buyers such as Lyric community tickets, student performances, homeschools, development specialty groups, etc. 
• Assist with planning and execution of events such as hospitality night, teacher appreciation, specialty group events, and more.
• Support with group sales marketing including creating sales emails through Prospect2, designing flyers and executing promotions.
• Complete outreach calls/emails periodically to promote performances to group prospects.
• Attend networking and education events, and/or local, regional or national events to meet with prospective and current group buyers.
• Research and create direct mail and e-mail mailing lists.
• Execute sales reports in accordance with marketing metric needs.

Lyric Opera House Tours:

• Key point person on the overall coordination of Lyric Opera House tours for students, groups, public tours, tentatively returning in the 2025/26 Season.
• Assist with scheduling, logistics as liaison with Lyric production and front of house team.
• Collaborate on the creation of a marketing strategy for tours. 

Finance:

• Responsible for coding of all departmental invoices through consultation with department leadership and finance accounts payable team.
• Track and file all department receipts relating to company credit cards.
• Monthly reconciliation of all department credit cards. 
• Coding resource for all department expenses both internal and external.
• As the business evolves, so may this role. These duties may change as Lyric’s leadership identifies emerging needs at any time.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Bachelor's Degree or at least 2 years of equivalent experience in a high volume customer service environment.
• Sales and customer service background preferred
• Highly effective phone and email communication skills.
• Comfortable working with technology such as Google Suite and/or CRM systems (Tessitura a plus).
• Familiarity with music, theatre, and/or opera is helpful but not required.

WORK CONDITIONS:

• This position will involve working on-site.
• Must be available for evening and/or weekend duties outside of regular business hours and for performances that may conflict with company holidays.
• Sitting for extended periods, and must be able to lift to 30 lbs.
• Ability to operate a computer with or without accommodations.

COMPENSATION:

Job Classification: Full-time, Non-Exempt
 

Salary is $52,000-$55,000
 

Lyric Opera offers benefits including health, dental, vision, 403B (no company match), 401(k) with company match, PTO (including sick, vacation, and personal days, and holidays), life/AD&D coverage, opportunities for professional development, and complimentary tickets.
 

Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, parental status, socio-economic status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We strongly encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.