Director of Events

Lincoln Park Zoo inspires communities to create environments where wildlife will thrive in our urbanizing world. The zoo is a leader in local and global conservation, animal care and welfare, learning, and science. A historic Chicago landmark founded in 1868, the not-for-profit Lincoln Park Zoo, is a privately-managed, member-supported organization and is free and open 365 days a year. Visit us at lpzoo.org.

GENERAL SUMMARY

Events are a critical source of revenue and help keep Lincoln Park Zoo free and open for all to visit daily. Lincoln Park Zoo seeks a director of events to run the slate of annual public ticketed events that support this revenue generation.

This role is entrepreneurial, ambitious, creative, and cross-functional. The team’s primary performance indicator is event revenue, with a goal of around $5M (gross) in ticket sales per year. The director leads that effort, as well as aligns events with zoo mission and brand, creates an excellent guest experience, forges partnerships, mentors a team, and is an important partner to just about every department at the zoo.

Candidates should expect to work at the zoo at least three days per week, plus after-hours events (possible evenings, weekends, holidays, and/or early mornings). Work is flexible and based around event schedule.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Build and implement an annual events calendar that earns approx. $5 million in gross ticket sales via event ticket sales for ZooLights, Fall Fest, Run for the Zoo, the Adults Night Out series, and more.
• Support, supervise, and mentor two event managers around volume and mix of annual events, ticketing/pricing strategy, and partnerships. Hire or support managers in the hiring of interns.
• Manage annual event budgets and progress to goals.
• Evaluate and evolve events strategy for greater efficiency and ROI.
• Produce select events and work with event managers to review and delegate event production as needed.
• Define promotional strategies and sell out events in partnership with Marketing team.
• Develop or update Events team SOPs and plan ahead for marketing and operational support.
• Expand existing and identify new promotional/brand partnerships to grow awareness and revenue.
• Support events associated with Marketing & Communications and select HR initiatives (partner party, press conferences, Chicago Reader Best of Chicago party, seasonal employee events as needed)
• Consult with other zoo departments on their programs and activations. Partner with Development team on sponsorship and sponsor activations. Collaborate on event promotion across departments.
• Work with the zoo’s Design team to maintain or evolve event branding
• Serve as media spokesperson for events, in partnership with PR team
• Maintain fluid understanding of zoo ticketing process and Ticketure transactional platform.
• Lead annual strategy for ZooLights, including permitting, contracts, schedule, ticket pricing, concepts, and more. Liaise with lighting partner, zoo Facilities team, and event manager in charge of light activations to evolve and improve the event each year.
• Work closely with Operations to create efficiencies in labor and event production.
• Be available for and support event production and execution, most notably including event setup. Perform physical labor associated with event needs.
• With Manager of Audience Research & Evaluation, refine event survey strategy and evolve events based on survey data.
• Drive efforts to include all Chicago communities and demographics in zoo events.
• Communicate clearly, consistently, and respectfully within Marketing & Communications (M&C) and across all zoo departments and levels to build relationships that support institution-wide goals of growing mission and revenue.
• Maintain awareness of warehouse/storage area status and inventory.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Are skilled in building plans that produce both a great guest experience and a strong ROI/meet revenue goals
• Are a strong, emotionally intelligent, roll-up-your-sleeves leader who loves working toward a concrete goal. You are ambitious, kind, creative, resourceful, and detail-oriented.
• Listen before you leap. Gather information and inputs to inform decisions
• Can easily organize lots of moving pieces on deadline and keep good records
• Can exercise sound judgment and respond in emergency situations
• Can work at the zoo at least three days/week, and are willing to work more days at the office or on-grounds as the job demand
• Have experience with the Microsoft 365 suite and common remote working tools like Zoom, Google docs, and Slack
• Speak Spanish (helpful but not required).
• Have a working knowledge of City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, and Illinois State liquor laws and permit processes (also helpful but not required).

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT

Minimum two years leadership experience, and at least 5-7 years of experience in events, marketing, revenue generation, budgeting, and contract management.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to remain stationary for 3-5 hours/day, and to move around inside (office and/or warehouse environment) and outside (event production).
• Ability to regularly perform a variety of physical tasks that may include but are not limited to climbing, bending, kneeling, twisting, reaching, and/or crawling. Reasonable accommodation will be made as needed.
• Physical strength, including ability and willingness to lift and move objects up to 50 lbs.
• Ability and willingness to operate and safely drive electric carts.
• Ability and willingness to work in all weather conditions.
• Ability and willingness to wear required personal protective equipment.
• No allergies to plants or animals exhibited on zoo grounds.
• Ability to traverse zoo grounds.

Lincoln Park Zoo is committed to an environment that is inclusive and welcoming. We celebrate the diverse qualities, perspectives, values, and experiences of all people. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and others who identify as nonwhite, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those with lived experience with racism and/or misogynoir are encouraged to apply. For Wildlife. For All.

LINCOLN PARK ZOO BENEFITS

In addition to such standard benefits as medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverages, and a 403(b) savings plan with an institutional match, benefits of working at the zoo include:

• Free admission to many other Chicago cultural institutions
• Free on-site parking anytime with access to Lincoln Park, Lakeshore Trail, and North Avenue Beach
• Discounts on event tickets (free admission to select events), attractions, dining, and retail at the zoo
• Quarterly staff mingle events and “LPZooU” training and educational sessions about the zoo, wildlife, ecology, and related subjects
• Company contribution to Health Savings Account (Medical PPO only)
• A working environment with green spaces and regularly available visits with wildlife!

Compensation: $90,000 annually