Job Description

IMPORTANT - If interested in the role, please be sure to apply at the full application link below.

The House Manager is primarily responsible for:

• Managing the seating areas of the venue
• Ensuring patrons are safe and have an enjoyable experience
• Responsible for Emergency Egress procedures
• Ensuring we remain staffed and on budget

Organizational Profile

Founded in 1938, Stern Grove Festival is an admission-free summer performing arts festival in San Francisco. Now entering its 88th season, the Festival draws over 100,000 people during its ten-week series of world class performances in the outdoor setting of Sigmund Stern Grove. Past seasons have included performing artists from around the world, including The Flaming Lips, Bob Moses, Chaka Khan, San Francisco Symphony, Kool & the Gang, Los Lobos, Smokey Robinson, Ziggy Marley, Carlos Santana, Allen Stone, and Janelle Monae.

As a cultural cornerstone of the Bay Area, Stern Grove Festival remains committed to making music accessible to all while celebrating artistic excellence and community connection. We strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences.

Leadership Standards

The festival strives to be a world-class leadership organization, and we ask all team members to uphold and grow in our core values: Integrity, Expertise, Experience, Growth Mindset, and Composure. Together, we create a culture of excellence where everyone can thrive and lead with purpose.

Reporting Relationships

The House Manager reports directly to the Director of Operations. The following positions report to the House Manager: Assistant House Manager and House Leaders. In addition, the House Manager works closely with the Perimeter, Safety, and Ticket Managers, Dispatch Team, Operations Staff, Security and Medical teams.

Position Description

The Stern Grove Festival House Manager will be responsible for recruiting, hiring the Assistant House Manager and House Leaders as well as scheduling, managing, conducting payroll and reporting on all staff assigned to the House. This includes training staff on policies and procedures and overseeing all activities and services related to the safety and comfort of patrons, with a goal of creating a positive experience for all audience members. The House Manager will oversee on-site, front of house operational needs including Concert Meadow, Esplanade, West Meadow and Hillside area set-up and strike, crowd management and control, response to patron requests and concerns, emergency response protocols, and any additional duties that pertain to the smooth functioning of the venue. The House Manager works with the Operations and Production Managers and is responsible for locking the buildings and shutting the venue down at the end of each concert. The House Manager will also be responsible for assisting the Director of Operations in concert reporting. 

General Duties

• Hire and train Assistant House Manager, House Leaders and Staff
• Work with the Director of Operations to create pre-production materials and schedule Operations Staff weekly in accordance with staffing needs and budget. 
• Attend weekly Staff Meeting and Festival Briefing and assist in preparing post-concert reports. 
• Coordinate with the Assistant House Manager to create weekly staffing schedules which you will approve. Furthermore the AHM on concert days oversees staff schedules, breaks, manages time sheets, payroll, incident reporting, and administrative duties with the Operations Tent
• Manage daily setup and strike of the concert venue.
• Oversee patron services and seating in the Concert Meadow, West Meadow and Hillside, including senior/disabled seating and picnic tables. Assist in closure of Concert Meadow if capacity is reached. 
• Ensure enforcement and compliance with all rules and regulations in the Grove, including maintaining clear aisle ways, smoking rules, restrictions on blanket size, unclaimed items, etc. 
• Adhere to SGFA approved policies, protocols, and procedures to ensure high standards are upheld in regards to staff professionalism and performance including the core standards
• Empower staff to articulate and embody the Festival’s mission and be ambassadors to the public.

Experience and Skills Required

• 3-5 years Front of House or Patron Services experience, preferably in a large outdoor performance venue.
• Ability to coordinate multiple schedules and duties in an organized and detailed fashion. 
• Experience managing staff. 
• Excellent communication skills and collaborative work ethic. 
• Experience providing exemplary customer service and ability to handle stressful situations with diplomacy and tact. 
• Working knowledge of ADA requirements, crowd control practices, crisis intervention, emergency procedures, and first aid. 
• Ability to judge rapidly changing conditions and make quick decisions while adhering to SGFA guidelines. 
• Ability to maintain self-assurance and level-headedness at all times. 
• Have a great sense of humor and maintain dedication to the SGFA mission. 

Physical Requirements

• Able to lift/carry 50lbs
• Able to experience periods of extended standing, employees must be able to remain on their feet in a stationary position.
• Able to walk and climb considerable distances including on the hillside during the course of a work day.
• Grasp, lift, carry, push and pull heavy objects such as barricades, fencing, and carts.
• Stooping, crouching and kneeling is needed to place signage throughout the Grove
• Listening and ability to speak is required. In a typical work day the employee will be interacting with large groups of people and they must have the ability to hear and clearly express their ideas with spoken words. 

If you meet some of the qualifications but not all, we encourage you to apply. We believe diverse experiences and perspectives strengthen our organization.

Work Environment / Physical Demands

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while successfully performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Occasionally sound levels may exceed 100 db. All efforts will be made to protect employee’s hearing. 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the incumbent in this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills. 

Locations

1. SGFA Office
2. Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard, San Francisco
3. Work from Home: Video conferences as needed

Availability and Commitment:

It is expected that this opportunity will be mutually beneficial to both parties and that the employees availability and commitment to work is upheld. Stern Grove Festival attempts to accurately estimate the amount of time required to perform these job duties and expects the employee to uphold their commitment to the working arrangement.

Working Arrangement and Hours:

• Must be available every Sunday: May 18, 2025 - August 17, 2025
• *except Memorial Day Weekend
• Must be available Saturdays in June + August 16th
• Up to 16 hours per week in April
• Up to 24 hours weekly advance and onsite venue work from May - August

Hybrid working style with 50% in office collaboration as mutually agreed upon. Working arrangement, hours per week, and compensation to be finalized in offer letter.

Compensation

Starting at $35 and commensurate with experience

How to apply

Please fill out this link here -

Email

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]

EEO Statement

SGFA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, SGFA complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation and training. SGFA expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

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