Visitor Experience Coordinator

Description

Spoleto Festival USA is internationally recognized as America’s premier performing arts festival. For 17 days and nights each spring, Spoleto Festival USA fills Charleston’s historic theaters, churches, and outdoor spaces with performances in opera; theater; dance; and chamber, symphonic, choral, and jazz music. Spoleto Festival USA is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. 

The Role 

Spoleto Festival USA is seeking a Visitor Experience Coordinator to coordinate the onsite, guest-facing side of the 2027 Festival, running May 28 through June 13. You’ll coordinate recruitment, training, and scheduling for our seasonal House Managers and more than 250 volunteer ushers, step in to cover shifts when needed, and make sure every venue is staffed, ready, and welcoming before the lobby opens. 

We’re looking for a warm, organized coordinator who is at home in a live event setting. You can coach a volunteer in the moment, keep a schedule of hundreds of people straight, and stay calm when a show changes at the last minute. This is a seasonal, full-time role from mid-November 2026 through June 25, 2027. 

Above all, you genuinely love working with people. Your energy is infectious, you inspire the people around you, and you make sure every staff member and volunteer you work alongside is equipped and empowered to deliver an exceptional, hospitable experience for every patron and guest. 

Position Type: Seasonal, full-time, exempt, and not benefit-eligible 

Location: Charleston, SC (onsite) 

Department: Box Office & Visitor Experience 

Reports to: Box Office & Visitor Experience Manager 

What You’ll Do 

• Set the tone for exceptional hospitality, and make sure the staff and volunteers you work alongside have the tools, information, and confidence to do their jobs well. 
• Coordinate recruitment and training for seasonal House Managers and more than 250 volunteer ushers on guest service, safety, emergency response, and accessibility. 
• Build and manage the House Manager and usher schedule across every venue and performance, cover call-ins and last-minute changes, and step in to work House Manager and front of house shifts when needed. 
• Help train staff across every Box Office & Visitor Experience position, with a focus on guest service and venue operations. 
• Make sure every venue is staffed and guest-ready before the lobby opens, with pre-doors meetings starting on time. 
• Receive will call, equipment, and supplies from the Box Office team at each venue and verify that everything is there and working before doors. 
• Work onsite at Festival pop-ups at community and promotional events alongside the Box Office Coordinator. 
• Keep volunteer records current in Better Impact and Tessitura, and maintain the House Manager Manual, Usher Manual, and Emergency Action Plans. 
• Coach House Managers and ushers throughout the Festival and close out the season with thank-you letters, updated manuals, and lessons learned. 

What You’ll Bring 

• Front of house, guest services, venue operations, or hospitality experience, ideally in live events. 
• Experience recruiting, training, and coaching volunteers or seasonal staff, with warmth and professionalism in the moment. 
• Comfort managing high-volume scheduling and records; experience with Better Impact or Tessitura is a plus. 
• A genuine love of working with people and a warm, positive attitude that inspires everyone around you. 
• A hospitality-first mindset and a natural instinct to anticipate what people need before they ask. 
• Experience scheduling, training, or coordinating a team, including seasonal, volunteer, or student staff. 
• Sharp organization and attention to detail, and a calm, steady approach under pressure. 
• Strong communication skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office. 
• Working knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as it relates to accessible seating and patron service. 
• Prior Spoleto Festival USA experience is a plus, but not required. 

Requirements

• Seasonal from mid-November 2026 through June 25, 2027, with a standard 40-hour week plus evening, weekend, holiday, and on-call hours during the Festival. 
• You’ll step in to cover shifts across the department as needed. 
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.; this employer participates in E-Verify. 
• Must be at least 21, hold a valid driver’s license, and be able to pass a background check. 
• Requires standing, walking between venues, working in low light and outdoors, and lifting up to 50 lbs., including box office printers and loaded equipment wagons. 
• Based on-site in Charleston, SC, with regular presence at Festival venues and events. 

Compensation & Perks

This position pays $700 per week. As a seasonal role, it is not benefit-eligible, and it includes complimentary admission for you and a guest to select Festival performances and events.

Spoleto Festival USA is an equal opportunity employer and committed to diversity in hiring. Spoleto Festival USA does not discriminate in employment on the basis of an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, hairstyles or hair texture, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, parental status, marital status, military status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. Our greatest strength comes from our ability to come together as unique individuals. Come as you are and bring the best version of yourself.

Uncertain if you fulfill every requirement? Don’t let that deter you. We enthusiastically evaluate a wide spectrum of candidates and welcome you to apply. If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at careers@spoletousa.org. 

To Apply

Please apply through the Careers page at spoletousa.org. All applications are submitted and reviewed through Paylocity.