Civic Engagement Manager

REPORTS TO : Director of Civic Engagement

STATUS : Full-time, Exempt

Through artistic excellence coupled with innovative, relevant programming; initiatives to connect with and grow new audiences; engagement with communities to ignite creativity across Chicago; and a modernized Opera House that is the setting for truly great experiences, Lyric is leading the advancement of opera. This collaborative vision will deliver ever more exciting, thought-provoking, and inclusive audience and community experiences – while increasing the gravitational pull of our art form, company, and city. The Learning and Civic Engagement, a division of Lyric Opera of Chicago, offers a multifaceted program of expanded civic engagement and artistic initiatives that include Lyric’s longstanding learning and community programs.

The Civic Engagement Manager is a critical member of the Civic Engagement team, helping to manage and operationalize Civic Engagement audience program activities. The ideal candidate should have extensive familiarity with opera, civic engagement practices and experience managing audience programs and experiences in the opera house as well as in the community across modalities (live, in-person, and virtual). The Civic Engagement Manager should have a keen understanding of season‑specific projects and the collaborative development and management of new and existing programs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Demonstrate leadership in alignment with Lyric’s mission and vision.
• At the direction of the Director of Civic Engagement, maintain existing Civic Engagement audience program initiatives (Pre-Opera Talks, Post-performance talk backs, Opera Insights, Opera Pathfinders, Explore Your Lyric, etc.) to support mainstage productions.
• Work with Director Civic Engagement to plan yearly audience programs and civic programming based on opera seasons to include all ancillary youth and civic programming.
• Support Director Civic Engagement in communications with Artistic, Facilities, Technical & Production, Front of House, Company Management, and Marketing Departments for all audience programs taking place in and outside of the opera house, and provide updates for production elements of all audience programs.
• At the direction of the Director of Civic Engagement, support with all production aspects of audience programs, in-person and digital components, across appropriate internal departments.
• Liaise with Marketing and Communications to co-develop messaging and promotional materials for Civic Programs.
• Attend and manage data for all Civic Engagement audience program activities; compile attendance figures; analyze data; cross-reference local data with Tessitura information.
• Serve as the contact person for data points and figures for Development and Marketing Departments, including external partners and grant application protocols. As the business evolves, so may this role.
• In collaboration with the Learning and Civic Engagement team, support and staff all Civic Engagement activities on and off-site, to include public performances of Opera in the Neighborhoods.
• Collaborate with the Learning and Civic Engagement staff to strategize, implement, plan and execute Explore Your Lyric and other cross-departmental activities.
• Provide internal stakeholders with contractual information, biographies, and photos of participants of all Civic Engagement programs.
• These duties may change as Lyric’s leadership identifies the need at any time.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS

Opera Insights

Opera Pathfinders

Pre-Opera Talks

Artist Talkbacks

Explore Your Lyric

Opera in the Neighborhoods

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

WORK CONDITIONS

COMPENSATION

Job Classification : Full‑time, Exempt

Salary is $59,000‑$64,000

Application Deadline : Wednesday, December 17, 2025 (5 : 00pm CT)

Lyric Opera offers benefits including health, dental, vision, 403B (no company match), 401(k) with company match, PTO (including sick, vacation, and personal days, and holidays), life / AD&D coverage, opportunities for professional development, and complimentary tickets.

Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, parental status, socio‑economic status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We strongly encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.

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