Community Engagement Specialist at Ravinia Festival Association

Highland Park, Illinois, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

06 Apr, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

06 Jan, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Interpersonal Skills, Community Relations, Written Communication, Verbal Communication, Program Coordination, Logistics Management, Attention to Detail, Problem-Solving, Data Tracking, Reporting, Collaboration, Music Engagement, Arts Administration, Education, Diversity Engagement, Event Planning

Industry

Music

Description

Company Description At Ravinia, we believe in the transformative power of shared, live-music moments and their ability to inspire individuals, strengthen communities, and foster a more connected world. Beyond presenting outstanding performances by the world’s greatest musicians, our mission as a not-for-profit organization is to develop broader, more diverse audiences and performers in the music industry with our Reach Teach Play® community engagement and education programs, our Steans Institute’s collaborative and experiential artistic training programs, and more. Together, Ravinia’s initiatives serve tens of thousands of students, families, and emerging professional musicians. Our 36-acre park is home to North America’s longest-running outdoor music festival and its most artistically diverse. Over 100 different events, featuring a mix of classical, rock, pop, jazz, R&B, indie, and country performers, make up a typical summer season across our open-air and indoor stages, including the annual residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Position Summary The Community Engagement Specialist advances Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play mission by building and sustaining strong partnerships with individual schools and school districts, community organizations, and cultural institutions to ensure live performance experiences are accessible, relevant, and meaningful. Serving as the primary liaison for new and existing program partners, this role coordinates engagement opportunities that deepen Ravinia’s connection between the partner organization, artists, and the diverse communities we serve. The Specialist plans and implements guest artist performances in schools and community settings, coordinating single-visit engagements across multiple locations. This includes on-site support for performances typically lasting 45–60 minutes, ensuring programs are well-organized, accessible, and responsive to partner needs. In addition, the Specialist supports Ravinia’s ticketing program initiatives by coordinating group attendance and serving as a welcoming, front-facing presence for students, educators, families, and community audiences experiencing live music at Ravinia. Key Responsibilities Relationship-Building & Partner Stewardship * Build and sustain relationships with schools and school districts, community organizations, social service agencies, libraries, and cultural partners. * Serve as the primary liaison for new and existing partners, ensuring consistent communication, coordination, and follow-through. * Identify opportunities to deepen partner engagement and strengthen long-term collaboration. * Represent the organization professionally in community settings as a trusted, responsive partner. Program Administration * Manage scheduling, logistics, and coordination for community engagement programs across Chicago and nearby suburban locations. * Prepare and communicate day-of logistics and run-of-show details to partner locations in advance, ensuring all stakeholders are informed and prepared; address questions and troubleshoot issues prior to the engagement. * Serve as the internal point of coordination between guest artists, RTP operations, and external partners. Program Execution * Plan and schedule guest artist performances in schools, community settings, and at Ravinia. * Provide on-site support for single-visit engagements (typically 45–60 minutes), ensuring smooth execution and artist readiness. * Coordinate ticket distribution programs for Chicago area organizations, partner libraries, and community music students. * Provide timely problem-solving and support for partners and artists during program delivery. Tracking & Reporting Engagement Results * Track participation data, partner engagement, and program reach across all community engagement initiatives. * Collect qualitative feedback from partners, artists, and participants. * Maintain accurate records to support internal reporting, evaluation, and planning. * Contribute data and insights to support grant reporting, institutional learning, and program refinement. Qualifications * Bachelor’s degree in Arts Administration, Music Education, or a related field, or equivalent work experience * 2-3 years of work experience in community engagement, arts administration, education, or related field * Demonstrated focus on music, community engagement, and work with diverse communities preferred. Skills * Excellent interpersonal and community relations skills * Clear written and verbal communication with diverse stakeholders * Experience coordinating arts, music, or cultural programs, including outreach and engagement * Program planning and logistics coordination for multi-site events * Ability to manage multiple programs with attention to detail * Adaptability and problem-solving during live engagements * Data tracking and reporting to inform program improvement * Collaborative skills with artists, internal teams, and community partners Success Factors * Relationship-Building & Partner Stewardship: Builds and sustains trusted community partnerships through clear communication and follow-through. * Program Administration: Manages logistics and coordination to ensure programs are prepared and aligned in advance. * Program Execution: Delivers well-organized, accessible live engagement experiences. * Tracking & Reporting Engagement Results: Tracks participation and feedback to support reporting and program improvement. If you don’t meet every qualification but feel excited about the role, we strongly encourage you to apply. Work Environment This is a full-time position based at Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play office, located at 201 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park, IL, and involves frequent travel to support program needs, such as events, performances, and meetings. Some flexibility for remote work may be available depending on travel demands. For example, when traveling to schools or program sites, working from home before and/or after travel may be the most efficient use of time. This role requires access to a reliable personal vehicle to ensure timely and efficient travel between locations. Benefits Excellent health and welfare benefits include medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits, TeleDoc options, and life insurance. Company-paid employee well-being program, basic life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and four weeks of paid parental leave. Benefits also include comprehensive time off plans (holidays, vacation, sick, and personal days). Additionally, a generous employer-sponsored 401(a) retirement savings plan, employee-elected 403(b) retirement savings plans, learning and mentorship opportunities, and Ravinia lawn tickets for two (general admission) to the grassy areas, ideal for picnics (all concerts, except the Gala day concert). Ravinia is an Equal Opportunity Employer As an equal opportunity employer, Ravinia strongly believes that diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives is essential to our success, and we strive to create and sustain an equitable and inclusive environment for all our employees. Ravinia does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under federal, state, or local law. We encourage individuals of all identities and abilities to apply.

Responsibilities

The Community Engagement Specialist builds and sustains partnerships with schools, community organizations, and cultural institutions to enhance live performance experiences. They coordinate guest artist performances and manage logistics for community engagement programs.