Employment

Description:

The Assistant House Manager is responsible for the smooth operation of both the lobbies and audience seating areas during the run of Center for the Arts (CFA) events. House Managers welcome the public to the CFA and oversee their safety and well-being before, during, and immediately after the show. They answer questions, listen to patrons' compliments and concerns, and make audience members feel welcome. House Managers interact with the general public, all Front of House staff (Usher Supervisors, paid and volunteer ushers, set-up coordinators), CFA Ticket Office and Production staff, and College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) staff or external rental clients.

Key responsibilities include:

• Opening and/or closing the building on event days. House Managers are often the first to arrive before an event begins and the last to leave after it’s over.
• Assigning usher supervisor and usher duties for events, and leading Front of House staff to ensure coverage of duties and smooth operations. This can include taking on other Front of House duties such as scanning tickets, directing traffic, seating, or other tasks as necessary.
• Communicating with Production, Development, Parking, Concessions, Porters, Ticket Office, Security, clients, and other relevant parties during an event to ensure the correct timing of opening/closing spaces, audience seating, and other audience services.
• Resolving conflicts, including but not limited to patron, client, or Front of House employee disputes, complaints, emergencies, or other issues.
• Ensuring the proper set-up and cleanliness of all spaces, including seating areas, lobby spaces, and special events like receptions or Meet and Greet opportunities.
• Enforcing all Center for the Arts policies, including but not limited to late seating, photo/video, food/drink, and other safety policies.
• Acting as the primary safety officer and point of contact in the event of any emergencies
• Acting as the primary point of contact for any ADA or accessibility related queries or problems
• Reporting procedures such as creating Front of House reports, Incident reports, and other necessary paperwork.
• Occasionally, training new usher supervisors and/or ushers on Front of House procedures in the CFA, Harris Theater, TheatreSpace, and/or the DeLaski Performing Arts Building.
• Ensuring excellent customer service from Front of House staff and providing a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere at all performances. 

Required qualifications:

• Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and communication skills with a diverse staff and audience base
• Demonstrated advanced customer service capabilities
• Trustworthiness and responsibility as a leader at the Center for the Arts and George Mason University
• 6 months or more of ushering and/or customer service supervision experience
• Familiarity with the performing arts
• This job can require physical activity in sometimes demanding environments. House managers are often asked to stand, walk, sit, bend, lift, push, pull, etc. Accommodations can be made upon request.

The Assistant House Manager position is an hourly wage or student wage position capped at 20 hours/week or 1450 hours/year. Compensation is $20/hour and each shift is paid at a three-hour minimum. The anticipated start date is August 2026.

To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to Caraline Jeffrey McQuiston, Front of House Manager and Volunteer Coordinator, at cjeffrey@gmu.edu. Cover letter should address relevant qualifications and why you feel you’d be a good fit for the position.

Thank for your interest in joining the Center for the Arts community! We are currently accepting applications for our Paid Usher position. To learn more and apply, please fill out an application. If you have any additional questions, please contact our House Manager, Caraline Jeffrey.