Career Opportunities at The Connecticut Forum:
- Audience Relations and Administration Coordinator
Audience Relations and Administration Coordinator
The Connecticut Forum seeks a detail-oriented administrative professional to be considered for the full-time position of Audience Relations and Administration Coordinator.
Job Description
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Audience Relations and Administration Coordinator manages the public interface and the daily operational functions of The Connecticut Forum, specializing in constituent-focused engagement, including administrative support, ticket sales and distribution, donor and sponsor stewardship and Forum event logistics. Working closely with the entire Forum Team to advance the organization’s mission and strategic goals, this position is responsible for event logistics related to the Forum events – from engaging parties who call the Forum office regarding ticket and subscription purchases, to ticket disbursements and logistics related to hosting the Forum events, including arranging travel and accommodations for speakers and managing Forum event front of house theater operations, working closely with The Forum’s partners. In addition, the position is responsible for all aspects of gift accounting. This includes receiving, recording and entering gifts into the Salesforce database, producing and analyzing gift accounting reports, preparing and sending thank you notes and receipts, and other related activities. In addition, the Audience Relations and Administration Coordinator will support The Connecticut Forum’s Board of Directors, including scheduling meetings, producing reports and other administrative activities. The Audience Relations and Administration Coordinator position is full-time and based in Hartford, Connecticut, with the expectation of working in the office five days a week. The Audience Relations and Administration Coordinator will be expected to work occasional evenings, particularly on Forum nights and in the lead up to a Forum event.
Key Responsibilities
• Public Interface
-Coordinates ticket and subscription sales, including processing, distribution and payments.
-Engages callers and responds to requests related to tickets and other needs, directing calls when appropriate to Forum colleagues
• Forum Preparation
-Coordinates and manages travel and accommodations for Forum speakers
-Manages Forum Box Office, including coordination of volunteers to assist in set-up, Will Call ticket pick-up, and trouble-shooting
-Coordinates front of house set-up with Forum partners and volunteers, including arranging tables, technology, signage, and materials for Forum information tables
-Coordinates transportation of front of house materials with Forum courier
-Coordinates green room arrangements, including refreshments and other needs for Forum speakers
-Supports pre-Forum gatherings
• Administration
-Maintains records with updated organizational information (e.g., employee handbook, insurance policies, contact information, etc.)
-Processes mail and coordinate deliveries, maintain files and other administrative duties
-Receives and forwards accounts payable documents to partner accounting firm
-Coordinates office equipment repairs, general office maintenance and appearance
-Manages office supply inventory, ordering additional supplies as needed
-Provides staff support to the Board of Directors, including scheduling meetings and other administrative duties
• Gift Accounting
-Receives sponsorship fees and individual donations, makes regular deposits to bank
-Receives and records donations, sponsorships, grants and other philanthropic gifts, maintains records of donor communications, solicitations, reporting, gift acknowledgement, event attendance and more in Salesforce/Patron Manager
-Prepares and sends gift acknowledgments and receipts to donors, funders, charitable giving platforms, etc.
-Produces reports and analyses on philanthropic giving and sponsorships
Qualifications
• 1+ year(s) experience in administrative support, gift accounting, finance or related fields.
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred
• Client-focused with a passion for customer relations
• Detail-oriented with a passion for database management
• Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact and communicate with a diverse group of constituents
• Passion for The Connecticut Forum mission
• Proficiency in Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• Knowledge of Salesforce, PatronManager or another CRM a plus
How To Apply
• Candidates should send a resume, as well as a cover letter describing how their qualifications and experience match the development needs and mission of The Connecticut Forum—to Mana Zarinejad at [email protected].
• The Connecticut Forum offers a comprehensive benefits package. The salary is competitive and considers applicant’s qualifications, within the framework of the organization’s annual operating budget, and in the approximate range of $38,000-$43,000.
• The Connecticut Forum is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. In addition to federal law requirements, The Connecticut Forum complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.
About The Connecticut Forum
The Connecticut Forum is a nationally recognized, one-of-a-kind nonprofit organization serving Connecticut and beyond. Co-founded in 1992 by Doris and Richard Sugarman, The Forum’s mission is to encourage the free and active exchange of ideas in forums that inform, challenge, entertain, inspire, and build bridges among all people and organizations in our community.
The Forum fulfills its mission by presenting large scale, high profile, issue-focused in-person panel discussions and events among renowned experts and celebrities, and through outreach programs serving youth and the community. In addition to its core programming, The Forum shares its expertise with the community by providing leadership, resources, and consultation services to community organizations, nonprofits, corporations, schools, and others. The 2023-2024 season features: An Evening with Ken Burns in Conversation with Audie Cornish; Liz Cheney: On Defending Democracy and a Path Forward; Being Human in an Age of AI: Debating Advances and Ethics; and Chefs! Top Chefs Dish on Food, Flavor and Culture featuring Marcus Samuelsson and Gail Simmons.
