Job Description

Special Instructions to Applicants: Applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in PDF format to the Supporting Documents section of the application.

About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre, tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system that supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

The Front of House Manager plays a pivotal role in creating and delivering an exceptional onsite experience for patrons of the Shepherd School of Music. This position manages front-of-house operations for a robust calendar of orchestral, chamber, and opera performances, while recruiting and training a dedicated team of volunteers and student workers to serve as ushers and ticket scanners. The ideal candidate possesses outstanding customer service skills and the organizational agility to gracefully manage dynamic performance environments within a premier school of music that is part of a thriving academic community.

The ideal candidate has prior experience working in an educational or professional house management setting. This person has excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with a diverse group of students, staff, and patrons. They possess strong problem-solving skills and can respond calmly and quickly to urgent situations.

Workplace Requirements

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person at the Shepherd School of Music. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

This position requires a flexible schedule, including evening and weekend hours to support music events. Typically requires a minimum of 3 hours per week during the academic semester; hours will increase during peak production and performance weeks, occasionally exceeding 10+ hours per week depending on the concert calendar.

A complete schedule of required events and key dates will be provided at the start of each academic year/performance season for advanced planning.

Hiring Range

This is a 9-month (August – May) part-time position, and the hiring rate is $19.08-$20.44 per hour, depending on skills and experience. Non-Exempt (hourly) positions under FLSA are eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• High School Diploma
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted
• Two or more (2+) years’ experience in front of house management, box office management, or patron services for a performing arts organization or higher education institution

Skills

• Strong customer service experience and a proven ability to meet performance standards
• Ability to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing with individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds
• Strong critical thinking skills, demonstrated ability to independently manage and adjust priorities in a fast-paced performance environment
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team, with strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with a diverse group of students, patrons, and staff in an educational and performing arts community
• Ability to train, supervise, and mentor others (eg. student workers)
• Prioritizes safety by adhering to all university policies and procedures
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite

Preferences

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in a Performing Arts-related field
• Knowledge of Tessitura or other ticketing CRM databases
• Experience using handheld ticket scanners

Essential Functions

Performance Operations

• Collaborates closely with Production and Stage Management to synchronize front-of-house readiness with backstage technical requirements, managing the "bridge" between patron arrival and the start of the performance.
• Works as an extension of the Marketing and Communications’ Patron Services team to ensure all touchpoints, from lobby activations and program distribution to usher interactions, reflect the Shepherd School’s brand and strategic messaging.
• Liaises with the Production/Stage Manager to make real-time decisions regarding concert starts, late seating, intermissions, and emergency response, balancing artistic needs with the patron experience. Works with the Patron Services Senior Manager to organize and oversee standby seating for sold-out events.
• Conducts pre-concert briefings with staff and ushers; ensures venue readiness, including ticket scanning logistics and the physical environment.
• Communicates patron feedback to Facilities staff related to temperature, plumbing, building access, and safety concerns. Supports and assists patrons with mobility concerns or other special needs.
• Manages FOH incident reporting, provides detailed feedback to both Production and Marketing (Patron Services) regarding audience flow and operational friction points.

Volunteer & Student Worker Management

• Recruits and trains a pool of volunteers and student workers, instilling a service culture that aligns with Rice University’s high standards for professional conduct.
• Trains and oversees ushers and ticket scanners, outlining duties, house rules, and service expectations, including scanning tickets, distributing programs, and other relevant materials such as ADA services, greeting audiences, and properly addressing audience conflict or misconduct.
• Identifies student workers who excel as ushers for development in elevated usher positions.
• Ensures all volunteers and student staff adhere to Rice Policy 831 regarding the stewardship of university property (scanners, furniture, supplies) and professional ethics.
• Maintains an accurate record of student worker shift attendance and hours worked in order to ensure prompt payment.

Additional Functions

• Assists Box Office staff with ticketing as needed, and Marketing and Communications staff with administrative work during events.
• Additional duties as assigned to support the school’s fiscal and administrative stewardship.

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.