Private Events Associate

The Opportunity

The Nature Museum seeks an organized and detail-oriented individual with strong communication skills to be the Private Events Associate. This is a key role in supporting the ongoing private event functions of the Nature Museum. They will support many steps of the event planning process, such as birthdays, graduation parties, work events, weddings, and more. Weekend Birthday party logistics are a high priority of this role. The Private Events Associate will collaborate with guests and vendors to ensure a seamlessly planned and executed event. Experience in aquariums, zoos, museums, and/or other cultural institutions is desirable, but not essential.

The Ideal Candidate

• Enjoy being with, engaging, and adapting to children
• Positive and outgoing attitude
• Ability to adapt and operate in a dynamic and creative environment
• Excitement for nature
• Strong decision making skills
• Relate to the Nature Museum's mission and core values
• Ability to work successfully with and support a team and independently
• Customer service or hospitality background

Key Responsibilities of the Private Events Associate include

• Supports a variety of aspects of planning and executing private events for the Museum, including scheduling, coordinating room set-ups, audio/visual coordination, vendor/caterer coordination and communication to ensure events run smoothly from beginning to end.
• Lead weekend logistics of Birthday parties and other weekend daytime private events
• Communicate updates and processes with the guests and ensures a clear expectation of event needs.
• Acts as the on-site contact for private events.
• Responds to inquiries for private events.
• Support internal Museum events and daily operations as needed.
• Works cross-departmentally to keep the team informed of event needs.
• Stay up to date on best practices and trends in museum and non-museum private events.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Some experience managing events, especially birthday parties, or related experience.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Attention to detail.
• Comfortable working early mornings and late nights.
• Proven experience in supporting vendor relationships.
• Proven ability to analyze problems and solutions in a proactive, constructive, and creative manner.
• Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Comfortable handling live animals and non-living specimens.

Salary: $17.20 per hour

Schedule: Weekends during the day (Saturday & Sunday). Evenings upon request.

The Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of the organization. We strongly encourage applications from people of color and members of underrepresented groups.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off
• Paid Sick Leave

About Us

For 167 years, The Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (‘Nature Museum’) has been connecting Chicagoans to nature and science. As a leader in the field of scientific research, education, and community programming, Nature Museum’s mission is to create a positive relationship between people and nature through collaboration, education, research and collections, exhibitions, and public forums to grow the region’s urban connection to the world of nature and science. The Nature Museum believes that nature and science should and can be accessible to everyone and seeks to be a spark that ignites and fosters a sense of wonder for nature, an understanding of science and protection of the natural world.

Founded in 1857, the Chicago Academy of Sciences is Chicago’s oldest museum and one of America’s oldest scientific institutions. Created by members seeking to understand the natural world through methodical exploration and study, the Chicago Academy of Sciences became the first private scientific museum founded in the city of Chicago. When the Academy opened its doors to the public in 1869, the institution’s focus expanded to that of a community museum with the goal of welcoming and engaging Chicago residents and visitors. The scientific collections that have been curated and preserved through the Chicago Academy of Sciences have been used to help define human understanding of nature, ecology and the diversity of life in the United States. They are key resources in allowing the scientific community to interpret our present place in history as well as anticipate future conditions.

How to Apply:

Please send a resume and cover letter to [email protected] to apply.

The Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of the organization. We strongly encourage applications from people of color and members of underrepresented groups.

Pay: $17.20 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Application Question(s):

• Ability to work Saturday and Sunday

Experience:

• Customer service: 1 year (Preferred)

Shift availability:

• Night Shift (Required)
• Day Shift (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Chicago, IL 60614 (Preferred)

Work Location: In person