Venue Manager

Description

About Us: 

16 On Center Chicago owns and operates several live music venues, third-party production, restaurants, bars, and food halls across Chicago and New York. Join the team of one of the country's leading independent promoters.

Our most effective service to our community comes from a team with a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds, and experiences. 16 On Center actively seeks a diverse applicant pool and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Position Summary

As the Venue Manager at Thalia Hall, you will oversee day to day operations, ensuring events run smoothly and the guest and staff experience is consistent across the property. You’ll work closely with teams across production, bar, ticketing, marketing, and private events to keep operations aligned and efficient. This role partners with leadership, Finance, and HR to support staffing and performance, while maintaining a strong focus on safety, compliance, and clear communication across teams.

Additional responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Operations

• Partner with ownership to develop and maintain an organizational structure that supports safety and financial performance
• Oversee operations of all events at Thalia Hall
• Coordinate regularly with management of Tack Room, Punch House, and Mariscos San Pedro
• Maintain safety protocols and ensure consistent staff training and compliance
• Oversee the in-house security team, prioritizing safety and hospitality across the property
• Support operations across bar, production, ticketing, booking, marketing, and overall venue functions
• Partner with the Private Events team to ensure seamless sales processes and event execution
• Oversee property maintenance and vendor relationships
• Support the production team in maintaining equipment and planning for replacements
• Coordinate with Blue Star Properties on building repairs, improvements, and construction
• Oversee staffing across the venue and partner with managers and HR on hiring, performance management, and employee relations
• Drive cross-outlet business through coordinated operational and marketing initiatives
• Lead accessibility initiatives across all outlets

Financials

• Partner with Finance and ELT on financial strategy while maintaining accountability for cost targets set by the CFO
• Oversee Marketing Friendly Marketing (MFM) partnerships, including activations, budgeting, and inventory management
• Partner with Finance and ELT on financial strategy and maintain accountability for cost targets set by the CFO

Leadership

• Serve as the public face of Thalia Hall and a unifying leader across all outlets
• Communicate leadership updates to department heads and ensure clear, timely information flow between teams and ELT
• Establish and maintain consistent meeting cadences across departments
• Foster an inclusive and welcoming culture for employees and guests
• Represent Thalia Hall in community engagement and civic events as needed
• Build and maintain positive relationships with building tenants
• Develop training and growth pathways to support retention and internal mobility 

Requirements

About You: 

• 5+ years of experience in venue, hospitality, or live event operations, with at least 2 years in a leadership role
• Experience overseeing multi-department operations (e.g., events, bar, production, security, or ticketing)
• Strong operational knowledge of live events or high-volume hospitality environments
• Comfortable managing budgets, reviewing financial performance, and working toward cost targets
• Experience leading teams, including hiring, coaching, and performance management
• Ability to navigate complex, fast-paced environments and make decisions in real time
• Strong communication skills with the ability to align multiple teams and stakeholders
• Experience working with vendors, building management, and external partners
• Knowledge of safety protocols, compliance standards, and best practices in guest and staff safety
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with extended periods of standing and walking, including navigating stairs and multiple levels, and lifting up to 25 pounds as needed; reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
• Tolerance for loud environments and all types of music
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays based on event schedules

Position Details

• Job Type: Full-time, Salary Exempt
• Compensation: $80k - $90k
• Benefits: Health insurance with employer contribution; voluntary dental, vision, short-term disability, accident, and hospital coverage; employer-paid life insurance; voluntary life insurance; 401(k) retirement plan with company match; paid parental leave after 1 year of service; transit and parking program; unlimited PTO