Patron Services & Group Sales Associate

Description

WPA Payroll Title: Patron Services & Group Sales Associate
 

Department: Marketing, Communications, & Creative Media
 

Title of Immediate Supervisor: Patron Services Manager
 

Hours: 40 hours/week with occasional additional hours on an “as needed” basis
 

Pay: $54,000, full-time exempt, annual 

Best Consideration Date: July 9, 2026

How to apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter for consideration to the link provided. 

Position Summary: This position is a front-line representative for Washington Performing Arts patrons. Whether answering calls, processing ticket orders, sending emails, or staffing a performance at one of our multiple partner venues, the Patron Services & Group Sales Associate provides the highest level of service to our subscribers, single ticket buyers, and guests. In addition to receiving and responding to patrons’ calls and emails, this position actively manages our group sales process, which includes tasks such as finding, researching, and soliciting groups for particular performances as well as the season in general. Lastly, this position contributes information, ideas, and plans in regular Marketing, Communications, & Creative Media and all-staff meetings to support organizational revenue and engagement goals.  

About Washington Performing Arts: One of the most established and honored performing arts institutions in America, Washington Performing Arts has engaged for 60 years with artists, audiences, students, and civic life. The city is truly our stage: for decades, in venues ranging from concert halls and clubs to public parks, we have presented a tremendous range of artists and art forms, from the most distinguished symphony orchestras to both renowned and emerging artists in classical music, jazz, international genres, and more. Washington Performing Arts deeply values its partnerships with local organizations and other arts institutions. Through events online and in myriad performance venues and neighborhoods, we engage international visiting artists in community programs and introduce local artists to the lives of both young people and adults through residencies and education programs. Our achievements have been recognized with a National Medal of Arts and with four Mayor’s Arts Awards from the DC Government. Celebrating our 60th anniversary in 2026, we are ever inspired by the motto of our founder, Patrick Hayes: “Everybody in, nobody out.” Visit our website at WashingtonPerformingArts.org for more information. 

Organizational Values: In keeping with our mission and guiding principles, we seek, represent, and welcome a multiplicity of voices in everything we do from programmatic content to the composition of our board and staff. Accordingly, we seek to build a team that reflects—and meets the needs of—the community we are part of and serve. While we have made important progress, we continue to pursue that goal through intentional, focused learning and action. Hiring a workforce that embodies and reflects these values is but one component—we strive to make Washington Performing Arts ever more inclusive, and true to our founder’s ethos of “everybody in, nobody out.” We aspire to make every employee feel welcome and motivated to do their best work. We know that we work better together in service of Washington Performing Arts' mission, because of our differences, not despite them.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Washington Performing Arts subscribes to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual  orientation, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression. In addition, the District of Columbia adds protection for marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, or political affiliation. Washington Performing Arts’ employment decisions are made. 

Requirements

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A 

Number of Direct Reports: N/A 

Names and Functional Titles of Direct Reports: N/A  

Essential Duty #1: Patron Services & Ticket Sales  

Percentage: 30% 

• Proactively answer and return incoming patron phone calls and emails, limiting response time to a reasonable minimum. 
• Process internal/external subscription and single ticket orders in Tessitura ticketing software, adhering to Washington Performing Arts patron services policies and procedures.  
• Maintain, update, and add patron records in Tessitura in accordance with Washington Performing Arts standards.  
• Assist in maintaining a secure environment for financial transactions. 
• Assist the Patron Services Manager in season and performance setup in Tessitura, system and website testing, performance closeouts, and end of day settlement procedures as needed. 
• Manage external donation and complimentary ticket requests. 
• Assist with the preparation and mailing of subscription renewal packets, as well as single tickets and other marketing and sales materials throughout the season.  
• Engage in outbound phone-sales campaigns as assigned by the Patron Services Manager. 
• Additional ticketing duties in collaboration with Patron Services Manager. 

Essential Duty #2: Staffing Performances & Events
Percentage: 30% 

• Assist the Patron Services Manager and other organization colleagues in running the Washington Performing Arts Patron Services table at performances. Provide assistance to patrons who approach the table with ticketing/will-call needs (requires occasional nights and weekends)  
• Assist in preparing all necessary materials for the Washington Performing Arts lobby table, including will-call tickets, seating books, location passes, and other patron service needs. 
• With Patron Services Manager and Front of House Staff, troubleshoot ticket scanners and address accessibility seating needs at events 

Essential Duty #3: Group Sales 

Percentage: 25% 

• Manage and expand an ambitious, customer-centric group sales program with a strong retention effort and focusing on acquisition campaigns for new groups.   
• Maintain and build upon existing lists for group sales mailings and contacts.  
• Develop relationships with community groups, apartment communities, retirement homes, religious institutions, schools, clubs, etc.  
• Coordinate the creation of group sales printed materials and emails with Marketing, Communications, & Creative Media colleagues.  

Essential Duty #4: Marketing, Communications & Creative Media Team 

Percentage: 15% 

• Complete and distribute daily sales reports using Washington Performing Arts template and Tessitura reporting 
• Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings, trainings, and other organizational events as needed. 
• Assist in brainstorming creative strategies for establishing sales campaigns, promoting individual events, and increasing organizational visibility and brand awareness. 
• Participate in the development of improved organizational processes to provide optimum accuracy, streamline operations, and enhance standards. 

Specific Conditions of Work  

• General office environment during business hours, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; D.C.-area performance venues for live performances 
• In-person attendance at various performance events, which requires availability evenings and weekends, particularly during peak performance periods and high-volume patron activity. 
• Ability to work in Washington. D.C., office location full-time for first 90 days; adjusting to a minimum of three days per week in the office with two remote days afterward (e.g., teleworking and concerts and other events) on a regular basis, as needed. 
• Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a satisfactory background check, conducted in accordance with applicable local employment laws and regulations.

Qualifications 

• Minimum 2 years of experience in ticket sales or patron/customer service–related field. 
• Experience with Tessitura (or another ticketing/CRM system) and proficiency with Windows.  
• Strong verbal communication skills and comfort engaging with patrons both on the phone and face-to-face.  
• Attention to detail, a calm and pleasant demeanor, and a genuine desire to help others.  
• Ability to multitask effectively while maintaining accuracy and professionalism. 
• Basic computer literacy and comfort speaking on the phone for extended periods of time. 
• Demonstrable interest in and familiarity with a range of performing arts genres, artists, and works.  

Benefits of Working with Washington Performing Arts

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision plan offerings including some 100% employer-paid options. 
• HSA and FSA plans.  
• Employer-paid Life Insurance with AD&D plus Long-Term Disability Insurance. 
• Annual Health & Wellness and Professional Development stipend. 
• Employee Assistance Program.  
• 403B and Roth Retirement Savings Plan Options. 
• 15 vacation days per year, 2 days of Personal Time off, up to 13 days of sick leave.  
• Four weeks paid parental leave (after full-time employment of 1 year).  
• Employee-paid, pre-tax commuter benefit for taking public transportation to work.  
• 10 paid holidays plus organization-wide, one-week winter break (December) and summer break (July).  
• Opportunities to attend Washington Performing Arts performances.