This position contributes to the success Brookfield Zoo Chicago (“BZC”) by creating and providing an extraordinary guest experience, driving attendance through engaging and impactful onsite and offsite special events, experiences, and promotions to help grow the Zoo’s audience base.
PRIMARY JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
- Plan, execute, and oversee an annual series of special events aligned with Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s marketing and attendance goals, including flagship events like Holiday Magic, Boo! at the Zoo, and Roaring Nights.
- Enhance existing events and develop new ones by researching and recommending concepts, developing detailed plans for layouts, promotional materials, innovative ideas, run-of-show, attendance goals, revenue, and profit projections to support decision-making and align with Brookfield Zoo's strategic goals.
- Oversee all aspects of special events, including collaboration with external vendors, internal teams, and partners on event elements, gathering feedback, managing negotiations, facilitating communication, and ensuring seamless execution.
- Manage event budgets, track expenditures and revenue, and optimize ROI. Source vendors, build and negotiate contracts, and issue RFPs in compliance with BZC policies, including MBE/WBE/DBE Supplier Diversity requirements.
- Maintain comprehensive special event records, including attendance, weather data, budget, and guest feedback, and prepare post-event reports to evaluate performance and inform future planning.
- Lead email communications for events, including crafting promotional campaigns, developing "know before you go" information, and building and distributing post-event surveys to gauge satisfaction and gather actionable feedback.
- Be onsite for all Zoo events to oversee execution and address any issues in real-time.
- Oversee shipping fulfillment, event integration, promotion, and onsite experience of the animal adoption program to ensure efficient operations and guest satisfaction.
- Develop and implement actions to improve workplace culture with an emphasis on driving results and fostering inclusion. Actively lead employee engagement, talent development, and retention initiatives. Responsible for hiring, selection, placement, orientation, training, and management of assigned staff, including but limited to schedules and time off, performance reviews, recognition, staff development, disciplinary actions, and recommendations of employment actions.
- Develop, cultivate, and manage marketing promotions in collaboration with external stakeholders, such as partnering with cultural institutions, sports teams, and community organizations to increase visibility, create unique onsite programs, and drive attendance. Initiatives may include hosting external partners for social media and email content creation, offering ticketing collaborations, featuring the Zoo at external events, or organizing exclusive member-first experiences to enhance engagement and awareness.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Experience Required
- POSITION REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Hospitality, Event Planning, or a related field or eight years of equivalent experience with a high school diploma or educational equivalent (e.g., GED) required.
- Six years minimum experience in event planning with minimum two years of manager, supervisory, or similar experience.
- Computer proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required.
- Strong interpersonal skills with a warm, amiable personality.
- Ability to build rapport and interact effectively with others, including but not limited to internal staff, vendors, suppliers, and media.
- English fluency at a full professional proficiency.
- Must be proactive, persistent, helpful, and able to deal calmly with multiple issues.
- Experience developing and managing budgets required.
- Strong communication skills, verbal, written, including effective listening and presentation skills. • Ability to maintain the confidentiality of privileged information.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Must be self-motivated, flexible, confident, and enjoy working in a dynamic environment.
- Strong coordinating, follow-up and follow-through skills essential.
- Cultural competency; experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience.
- Valid driver’s license required. Illinois residents must possess a valid Illinois license within 90 days of hire. Valid out-of-state license required for out-of-state residents. DESIRABLE/PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus.
- Experience working for another experience-based organization, zoo, aquarium, museum, or cultural organization a plus.
Further Comments
- This position description summarizes the primary duties and functions of this position but should not be considered a complete listing of every duty the incumbent may ever be called upon to perform.
- Incumbent is required to gain an intimate understanding of the organization, its mission, vision, values, and philosophies and how advancement activities impact the operation and sustainability of BZC.
- Incumbent is expected to effectively integrate and coordinate work with a variety of other departments.
- Must be comfortable with long periods standing, being outside, and dealing with varying weather conditions.
- Must be comfortable working in an environment that is mission and values driven. Incumbent must be self-motivated, highly professional, tactful, a problem solver, and represent the organization in a professional manner.
- Must be passionate about their work and have a commitment to excellence.
- Because BZC is an organization that runs at a very fast pace with multiple, rapidly changing priorities, the incumbent must be flexible and adaptable and comfortable working in a dynamic organization.
- Incumbent is expected to be present and visible at events sponsored by BZC for employees, and other audiences, including evenings, weekends, and early mornings, as needed.
Perks
- www.brookfieldzoo.org/custom.czs/files/06/06337b2c-b3db-45a2-8eb2-f8362486bd0e.pdf
Salary
- This is a non-union full-time salaried position, grade 08 with an expected hiring range of $67,000 t
