Events Jobs in Chicago, IL

Program and Events Coordinator
Illinois Humanities
Status: Full-time / Exempt
Reports to: Senior Director of Public Engagement
Location: Chicagoland area

Illinois Humanities, the Illinois partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that foster reflection, spark conversation, build community, and strengthen civic engagement. We provide free, high-quality humanities experiences throughout Illinois, particularly for communities of color, individuals living on low incomes, counties and towns in rural areas, small arts and cultural organizations, and communities highly impacted by mass incarceration.

For more information, visit www.ILhumanities.org

Position Summary:

The Program and Events Coordinator plays a crucial role in supporting the successful planning and execution of Illinois Humanities' programs and events. Acting as a vital bridge between public programming and the administrative team, this position ensures seamless coordination, timely execution, and professional support throughout all phases of events and programs (with the exception of development-led events). This role is responsible for coordinating Illinois Humanities' signature programs and events, including, but not limited to, People's Salons, the Envisioning Justice Statewide Convening, One State, the Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards, the Odyssey Graduation Ceremony, and other public humanities programs and special initiatives as assigned.

The Program and Events Coordinator is responsible for ensuring staff, presenters, partners, vendors, and supplies are present, prepared, and in the right place at the right time. This "back of house" logistical coordination enables program managers and directors to focus on engagement with partners, audiences, and participants.

This position will require occasional travel within Illinois.

Essential Responsibilities:

Program Planning and Coordination (35%)

Event Production (30%)

Internal Administrative Support (Approximately 30%)

Other (5%)

Work Environment:

This position is active and requires frequent physical activity in support of Illinois Humanities events and programs. The Program and Events Coordinator is expected to regularly lift, carry, push, and move event supplies, tables, chairs, signage, and other event-related items weighing up to 30 pounds. The role also requires frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, and setting up or breaking down event spaces.

This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and scanners. Employees are regularly required to talk, hear, see, and communicate effectively via computer.

Our Chicago Loop office is accessible. Work at off-site locations is required and those may not be fully accessible. Evening and weekend work is required based on the organization's event calendar.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Illinois Humanities' Chicago office is currently operating in a hybrid work environment with required in-office days and optional remote workdays each week.

Requirements:

Experience & Skillset:

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

The skills and experience needed to be successful in this job exist on a spectrum. Highly qualified and desirable candidates may not meet 100% of the skills and experience included in this description. We encourage all who are interested in this position to apply.

WHAT WE ARE OFFERING:

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Step one: All submissions will be reviewed, and the initial candidate pool will be formed after phone screenings. Not all submissions will make it into the candidate pool.

Step two: Candidates in the pool will take part in an interview with members of the Illinois Humanities Team via Zoom or in-person.

Step three: There may be additional rounds of interviews with the final candidates. Final candidates may be asked to provide additional information. Selection and placement of the final candidate will occur after these final rounds of interviews. Placement for this position is anticipated to occur in September of 2026. Once the final candidate has accepted their offer of employment, all other applicants will be notified of their status.

Illinois Humanities is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ qualified individuals based on individual merit. It does not discriminate against any individual with respect to the terms and conditions of employment based on that individual’s race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, housing status, or any other non-merit factor protected under state, local or federal laws. Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all personnel actions such as recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotions, training, transfer, termination, and opportunities for training. Illinois Humanities is committed to a fair and equitable workplace where everyone is a respected and valued member of the team.

COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY:

To support public health efforts to reduce the risk of COVID-19, Illinois Humanities has adopted a policy that requires all staff and interns receive a complete COVID-19 vaccine based on the CDC’s current definition, which is subject to change. Employees must submit a full Record of COVID-19 Vaccination or have a fully signed Reasonable Exception approval by date of hire.

To Apply: Please upload a resume and cover letter to the application website.

Please submit this application to the "Work With Us" page or through the relevant job website. Application review will begin in August 2026 and applications will be accepted throughout the recruiting process.