Civic Engagement Manager
Chicago, IL
Full Time
Manager/Supervisor
REPORTS TO: Director of Civic Engagement
STATUS: Full-time, 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. The Learning and Civic Engagement, a division of Lyric Opera of Chicago, offers a multifaceted program of expanded civic engagement and artistic initiatives that include Lyric’s longstanding learning and community programs.
The Civic Engagement Manager is a critical member of the Civic Engagement team, helping to manage and operationalize Civic Engagement audience program activities. The ideal candidate should have extensive familiarity with opera, civic engagement practices and experience managing audience programs and experiences in the opera house as well as in the community across modalities (live, in-person, and virtual). The Civic Engagement Manager should have a keen understanding of season-specific projects and the collaborative development and management of new and existing programs.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Opera Insights
Opera Pathfinders
Pre-Opera Talks
Artist Talkbacks
Opera in the Neighborhoods
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt
Salary is $59,000-$64,000
Application Deadline: Wednesday, December 17, 2025 (5:00pm CT)
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.
STATUS: Full-time, 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. The Learning and Civic Engagement, a division of Lyric Opera of Chicago, offers a multifaceted program of expanded civic engagement and artistic initiatives that include Lyric’s longstanding learning and community programs.
The Civic Engagement Manager is a critical member of the Civic Engagement team, helping to manage and operationalize Civic Engagement audience program activities. The ideal candidate should have extensive familiarity with opera, civic engagement practices and experience managing audience programs and experiences in the opera house as well as in the community across modalities (live, in-person, and virtual). The Civic Engagement Manager should have a keen understanding of season-specific projects and the collaborative development and management of new and existing programs.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Demonstrate leadership in alignment with Lyric’s mission and vision.
- At the direction of the Director of Civic Engagement, maintain existing Civic Engagement audience program initiatives (Pre-Opera Talks, Post-performance talk backs, Opera Insights, Opera Pathfinders, Explore Your Lyric, etc.) to support mainstage productions.
- Work with Director Civic Engagement to plan yearly audience programs and civic programming based on opera seasons to include all ancillary youth and civic programming.
- Support Director Civic Engagement in communications with Artistic, Facilities, Technical & Production, Front of House, Company Management, and Marketing Departments for all audience programs taking place in and outside of the opera house, and provide updates for production elements of all audience programs.
- At the direction of the Director of Civic Engagement, support with all production aspects of audience programs, in-person and digital components, across appropriate internal departments.
- Liaise with Marketing and Communications to co-develop messaging and promotional materials for Civic Programs.
- Attend and manage data for all Civic Engagement audience program activities; compile attendance figures; analyze data; cross-reference local data with Tessitura information.
- Serve as the contact person for data points and figures for Development and Marketing Departments, including external partners and grant application protocols. As the business evolves, so may this role.
- In collaboration with the Learning and Civic Engagement team, support and staff all Civic Engagement activities on and off-site, to include public performances of Opera in the Neighborhoods.
- Collaborate with the Learning and Civic Engagement staff to strategize, implement, plan and execute Explore Your Lyric and other cross-departmental activities.
- Provide internal stakeholders with contractual information, biographies, and photos of participants of all Civic Engagement programs.
- These duties may change as Lyric’s leadership identifies the need at any time.
Opera Insights
- In collaboration with the Director of Civic Engagement, determine the direction of the discussion and key themes from the correlating main stage operas.
- Research potential panelists and moderators whose backgrounds and expertise align with the theme of the correlating main stage opera.
- Research potential community partners, organizations, and educational institutions, including potential host venues.
- Curate the program utilizing the most appropriate candidates, venues, and community partners.
- Set and conduct virtual prep meetings with all participants.
- Provide day of event support.
Opera Pathfinders
- In collaboration with the Director of Civic Engagement, develop project timelines and share information internally to staff and externally to partner organizations, as needed.
- Attend all virtual and in-person sessions for students.
- Act as curriculum creator and facilitator for Opera Pathfinders Council sessions.
- Research, secure, and prep guest presenters whose background and expertise align with the planned curriculum.
Pre-Opera Talks
- Research, secure, and prep lecturers and substitutes whose background and expertise align with the themes of the main stage opera.
- At the direction of the Director of Civic Engagement, support all communications for pre-opera talk lecturers, reviewing and editing lecturers, and providing the edited version to the Director of Civic Engagement and Chief Artistic Officer for final approval.
- Manage Pre-Opera Talks and facilitate discussions, liaising with Artistic, Technical, Facilities, Front of House, and Company Management contacts.
- Procure any media needed for the lecture.
- Facilitate the lecturer’s pre-opera talk rehearsal with Technical & Production.
- Facilitate the lecturer’s pre-opera talk sound recording with third-party audio engineer.
- Serve as the lecturer’s point person through the run of their lectures.
Artist Talkbacks
- Research, secure, and prep main stage artists and moderator.
- Manage Artist Talkback and facilitate discussions, liaising with Artistic, Technical, Facilities, Front of House, and Company Management contacts.
- Serve as the artist and moderator’s point person for the preparation and duration of the event.
- Solicit, secure, prep, and manage volunteer staff.
- Solicit and document volunteer staff t-shirt sizes, assist Lyric marketing with placing orders, distribute t-shirts to volunteers and staff.
- In collaboration with Lyric’s marketing team, oversee design, printing, and distribution of all signage and marketing collateral.
- Manage, facilitate, and provide overall staffing support for guest presenter stations.
Opera in the Neighborhoods
- In collaboration with Lyric’s Assistant Technical Director, schedule and conduct site visits at all off-site venues.
- Act as liaison between venue and Lyric Unlimited for contracting and securing Certificate of Insurance (COI).
- Draft and distribute communication to Tour Manager, Director of Civic Engagement, Artistic, Technical, Facilities, and Company Management.
- Assist with bus facilitation.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in music performance, education, arts administration, or equivalent experience.
- Three to five years of professional experience in arts program management.
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
- Familiarity with opera, theater, or other performing arts.
- An ability to innovate across project form and practice.
- Experience project managing events across live, in-person, and digital platforms with an individual and community-based approach.
- Ability to work and think independently, a motivated self-starter who works in collaborative workgroups.
- Experience in establishing and sustaining collaborative internal partnerships.
- Excellent judgment and professionalism in partnering with internal and external contacts.
- Working knowledge of and comfort working with: Microsoft Office, specifically Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; Google Suite programs.
- Proficient project management skills. Must have the ability to document and communicate project plans, monitor progress, and achieve project milestones/results for others to understand.
- Must be culturally aware/sensitive, energetic, enthusiastic, well-planned, and organized.
- Ability to occasionally oversee, project manage evening or weekend functions, or performances.
- Sitting and/or standing for extended periods.
- Ability to operate a computer and to handle other office equipment.
- Ability to carry equipment (up to 20 lbs.) and arrange furniture.
- Ability to be on-site at Lyric and/or off-site partner locations
Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt
Salary is $59,000-$64,000
Application Deadline: Wednesday, December 17, 2025 (5:00pm CT)
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.
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