House Manager (Part-time), Shepherd School of Music

Position Summary

The House Manager plays a pivotal role in creating and delivering an exceptional on-site experience for patrons of the Shepherd School of Music. This position manages front-of-house operations for a robust calendar of orchestral, chamber, and opera performances, and is responsible for recruiting, scheduling, training, and managing payroll for a dedicated team of volunteers and student workers to serve as ushers and ticket scanners. The House Manager assists with a variety of rentals in SSoM spaces as venue/house support, and with special projects in areas of company management, such as hospitality and backline rental.

This position reports directly to the Director of Performance Operations for Music, working closely with the Manager of Schedule & Events, Production team and the Patron Services team. The ideal candidate possesses outstanding customer service skills and the organizational agility to gracefully manage dynamic performance environments within a premier school of music that is part of a thriving academic community. 

The ideal candidate has prior experience working in an educational or professional house management setting. This person has excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with a diverse group of students, staff, vendors, and patrons. They possess strong problem-solving skills and can respond calmly and quickly to urgent situations. 

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume and cover letter to the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in PDF format to avoid formatting issues.

Workplace Requirements

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person at the Shepherd School of Music. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Work Schedule

This position requires a flexible schedule, including evening and weekend hours to support music events and rentals. Position maintains a baseline of 20 hours per week during the academic year; hours may exceed 20 during peak production and performance weeks, depending on the concert calendar.

A complete schedule of required events and key dates will be provided at the start of each academic year/performance season for advanced planning.

Hiring Range

This is a part-time position and the proposed salary is $22.35 - $25.69 per hour, depending on experience and skills. Non-Exempt (hourly) positions under FLSA are eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• Associate’s degree
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on a year-for-year basis, may be substituted
• Three or more (3+) years of experience in front-of-house management, box office management, or patron services for a performing arts organization or higher education institution

Skills: 

• Strong customer service experience and a proven ability to meet performance standards
• Ability to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing with individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds
• Strong critical thinking skills, demonstrated ability to independently manage and adjust priorities in a fast-paced performance environment
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team, with strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with a diverse group of students, patrons, vendors, and staff in an educational and performing arts community
• Ability to train, supervise, and mentor others (e.g., student workers)
• Prioritizes safety by adhering to all university policies and procedures
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite

Preferences

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in a Performing Arts-related field
• Knowledge of Tessitura or other ticketing CRM databases
• Experience using handheld ticket scanners

Essential Functions

Performance Operations:

• Collaborates closely with Production and Stage Management to synchronize front-of-house readiness with backstage technical requirements, managing the "bridge" between patron arrival and the start of the performance.
• Works as an extension of the Marketing and Commun