Development Events Assistant

The Grant Park Music Festival (the Festival) in Chicago, Illinois seeks a part-time Development Events Assistant to coordinate pre-concert donor receptions for our 2026 season of outdoor concerts in Millennium Park. The Development Events Assistant is an integral part of the Festival’s team, helping to create a welcoming and festive environment in our Impresario Society “donor lounge” - the Impresario Terrace – the pre-concert gathering place for top-level supporters and enthusiastic friends of the Festival. 

We seek an energetic, detail-oriented individual who will work with our team to connect with guests - many of them regular attendees - who gather for light refreshments, beverages, and conversation before each Festival concert. The basic elements of this position include food and beverage setup and logistics, greeting and checking in guests, post-event wrap up, and data entry tasks. 

The Development Events Assistant will work approximately 15 – 25 hours per week, typically 1 or 2pm until 8 or 9pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during the ten-week Festival season, June 10 through August 15, 2026. The Development Events Assistant reports to the Development Director with a dotted line to the Development Operations Manager.

KEY DUTIES AND EXPECTATIONS

• Under supervision and in collaboration with Festival staff, manage and execute the hospitality arrangements for Festival pre-concert donor receptions at the outdoor Impresario Terrace, held in the southwest tent in Millennium Park.
• Pick up catering orders and other food at Mariano’s Lakeshore East and transport all items (on carts) to the event space (approximately 0.3 mile trip each way).
• Implement set-up of linens, floral decor, food buffet, bar, and supplies for each event.
• Ensure space is cleared at conclusion of each event. Launder table linens twice weekly.
• Act as ambassador of the Festival, greeting guests at check-in and recording attendance each evening.

MINIMUM CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

• 21 years or older.
• At least one year of experience in a performing arts environment, events, hospitality and/or related field.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to handle unexpected situations with grace and diplomacy.
• Ability to work flexible hours; weekend and holiday availability is required; June 19 and July 4 are workdays.
• Culturally competent with the ability to communicate in a welcoming and effective manner with people of all backgrounds.
• Ability to work outdoors, in heat, and/or inclement weather.
• Ability to raise/shift and transfer up to 40 pounds.
• Don’t fit all of the qualifications listed above, but feel passionate about the position? Please apply anyway! We are eager to work with enthusiastic and proactive people. You never know, you may just be the right fit for the role.

 COMPENSATION/SCHEDULE

• $18-20/hour, commensurate with experience.
• Hours: 15 - 25 hours per week. This position is part-time, seasonal, and non-exempt.
• Position Start Date: Late May or early June 2026.
• All concert nights (generally Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) are required during the Festival concert season - June 10, 2026 through August 15, 2026 - with some select exceptions.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

For more than 92 years, the Grant Park Music Festival has been Chicago's summer musical sensation, demonstrating that classical music performed by a world-class orchestra and chorus can have a transformative impact on the city. Showcased in the city's most spectacular setting, the Festival continues to be the summer gathering place for all of Chicago. The Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park is the official home of the Grant Park Music Festival, with free seats available for every concert.

The Festival strives to create a workplace that reflects the diversity of our city and the audiences we serve. People of all backgrounds and experiences, and especially those that have been historically underrepresented in the field, are encouraged to apply for open positions at the Festival. Read more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging HERE.

The Association provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to actual or perceived race (including traits associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, pregnancy (including childbirth, or medical or common conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), genetic information, marital status, familial/parental status, disability (physical and mental), military status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, citizenship or immigration status, unfavorable discharge from military service, order of protection status, credit history, arrest record, conviction record, family responsibilities, and any other classification/characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.  

The Festival is led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Giancarlo Guerrero, Chorus Director Christopher Bell, President and CEO Paul Winberg, and Board Chair Thomas Orlando.

For more information on the Grant Park Music Festival, please visit our website: gpmf.org.