Community & Group Sales Representative

Department: Audience Services & Community Engagement
Reports To: Sales Lead, Marketing Director
Location: Chicago, IL (regional travel required)
Employment Type: Part-Time or Full Time, Temporary (through March 2026, with potential extension)
Hours: Approximately 15–40 hours per week
Compensation: $25 per hour plus performance-based incentives

The Community & Group Sales Representative supports Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture’s mission to connect people and organizations through the arts, thought, and community. This role focuses on cultivating and managing relationships with schools, parishes, and community organizations to drive group attendance and build long-term partnerships.

This position combines sales, outreach, and relationship management in a faith- and culture-centered environment. The Community & Group Sales Representative serves as both an ambassador and sales professional — introducing organizations to the Athenaeum Center’s programming and fostering lasting engagement across future seasons.

• Develop relationships with schools, parishes, and community organizations through calls, emails, and in-person meetings.

• Identify and qualify leads, present programming opportunities, and secure group bookings.

• Represent Athenaeum Center professionally in meetings and community events, communicating its mission and artistic offerings.

• Manage outreach within assigned regions, aligned to Archdiocese vicariates or nearby dioceses.

• Plan efficient visit schedules and maintain balanced coverage of local and regional organizations.

• Adapt outreach strategies to match the cultural and logistical characteristics of each territory.

• Track all outreach and sales activity using the organization’s shared CRM and reporting tools.

• Maintain accurate and timely records of communications, follow-ups, and confirmed bookings.

• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure a smooth booking process and excellent client experience.

• Work closely with Athenaeum’s Audience Services and Marketing teams, and with partner organizations engaged in remote outreach.

• Participate in weekly check-ins to share progress, insights, and local engagement updates.

• Provide recommendations on improving outreach efficiency, community alignment, and future campaign planning.

• Support clients from initial interest through post-event follow-up, ensuring a positive experience.

• Gather feedback from partner organizations to inform future community engagement strategies.

• Demonstrated success in sales, business development, or community engagement roles (performing arts or nonprofit experience preferred).

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

• Strong organizational and time management abilities; able to balance multiple outreach channels and leads.

• Comfortable working in faith-based and educational settings with professionalism and cultural sensitivity.

• Reliable personal transportation is required for local and regional outreach visits; mileage reimbursement is provided.

• CRM literacy (HubSpot, Salesforce, or Tessitura experience a plus).

• Part-time position expected to run through March 2026, with potential for renewal or expansion based on performance and programming needs.

• Strong performance may lead to renewal or advancement opportunities within the Audience Services or Marketing departments.

• Includes mileage reimbursement and access to all necessary materials and collateral.

• Performance-based incentives are available and tied to confirmed group sales revenue, with tiered bonuses based on achievement of measurable performance goals.

The Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture exists to invite people into encounters with Beauty through the arts, thought, and community. The Community & Group Sales Representative advances this mission by building authentic relationships that connect organizations and audiences with the Center’s cultural programming in meaningful and lasting ways.