Audience Services Assistant

Company Overview

Bard on the Beach is Western Canada’s largest professional Shakespeare festival, with a focus on providing accessible, inclusive, and vibrant theatrical works to the public. The Festival presents Shakespeare plays, related dramas and special events from June to September in two modern theatre tents, in the magnificent waterfront setting of Senákw/Vanier Park. Bard Education also offers programs throughout the year. Full details here.

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Audience Services Assistant will join the Operations and Front of House team to provide excellent customer service and help create a positive experience for all patrons and members. The Audience Services desk at Bard on the Beach is a central place where patrons can find information, ask questions, and receive support. In this role, the Assistant will support Audience Services volunteers and be a friendly, knowledgeable presence, helping audiences with information about Bard’s productions, programs, and events, while also ensuring their comfort and accessibility during the outdoor Festival.

They will work with the Development team to support relationships with both new and returning donors, promote Bard memberships, and have conversations with patrons about how donations help support the Festival. Working together with Development and Operations, they will also help put ideas into action to increase awareness of and interest in Bard memberships on site.

This is a Canada Summer Jobs position, ideal for someone under 30 who is interested in arts administration, audience engagement, and nonprofit fundraising, and who enjoys working in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

The Audience Services Assistant will report to the Senior Operations Manager and will be part of a welcoming and collaborative staff team that is deeply committed to upholding and practicing Bard’s Company Commitments. 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Provide a welcoming, professional, and inclusive environment for all patrons, staff, and volunteers.
• Work alongside the Front of House Lead to supervise and support a team of Audience Services volunteers with varying levels of experience, providing guidance, answering questions, and fostering a positive, collaborative team environment.
• Engage with patrons to share information about Bard’s productions, programs, and services, and provide timely and helpful support.
• Support accessibility services, including setting up and troubleshooting the Bettear hearing assist system.
• Assist with supporting the Village and theatre spaces during pre-show, intermission, and post-show, working with Front of House and retail teams.
• Engage patrons in meaningful conversations about memberships and donations and clearly communicate their impact.
• Process in-person donations, ensuring transactions are smooth and easy for patrons.
• Develop volunteer resources and test new strategies to increase awareness and engagement with Bard’s membership and donation opportunities.
• Gather feedback and share key insights, trends and opportunities with the Development team.
• Work with Operations and Development teams to explore ways to integrate fundraising into the Front of House experience and help build practical, sustainable processes that can support these efforts over time.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Demonstrated experience working with the public in a customer service position.
• Comfort and confidence to communicate with the public about memberships and the benefits of donating.
• Comfort with learning systems and processes to support the hearing assist systems and volunteers and Front of House teams.
• An interest in non-profit fundraising or community engagement.
• Aninterest inthe theatreand the arts,and a desire to learn more about working in arts administration. 
• Familiarity with ticketing systems, databases or point of sales systems.  Bard on the Beach uses the Spektrix CRM software.
• Comfortable with technology and learning IT systems.  
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite; familiarity with Microsoft Teams is an asset. 

This is a Canada Summer Jobs Position. To be eligible candidates must:

• Be between 15 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period. 
• Be a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment. 
• Have a valid SIN at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.  

HOURS 
This position will start July 1 and go to the end of September.

30 hours per week. Must be available for a Wednesday-Sunday schedule to cover evening and weekend performances. 

You will work in-person at the Festival venue in in Senákw/Vanier Park.