Volunteer & Front-of-House Manager

Company Overview

The Fools are committed to bringing high-quality theatre to the people and eliminating the barriers that prevent patrons from engaging with the arts. We exist to serve the people of Ottawa and strive to share our work with surrounding communities, particularly those without access to live theatre. We aim to inspire connections at our performances between the art, the audience, and the community we perform within. 

Today, the Fools are best known for our Torchlight Shakespeare in the Park series, where we tour 90-minute versions of Shakespeare’s hits to parks across Ottawa and Eastern Ontario for pass-the-hat donations. This tour spans two months, offers 42 performances, and reaches over 10,000 patrons. Over 20% of the company’s patrons report that Fools shows are the only theatre productions they attend. Outside the summer season, the Fools offer educational programming in the form of our annual spring school festival and in-school workshops.

We believe that it doesn’t matter where you live, how much you make, or how old you are: theatre should be accessible to everyone.

Don’t live near a theatre? We’ll come to you.
Don’t have much disposable income? Our shows are pay-what-you-can.
Can’t find a babysitter? Bring your kids! Bring your dog, too!
Didn’t eat dinner? Bring a picnic, or grab a snack at our Front of House tent!

Job Description

a Company of Fools is seeking a Volunteer & Front-of-House Manager to join our team for our Shakespeare in the Park Tour in our 36th season! They will be a key player on the crew of this outdoor production that reaches over 10,000 patrons in 35+ communities across the Ottawa region. Candidates must meet the requirements for the Canada Summer Jobs program (age 15-30, eligible to work in Canada and have a Social Insurance Number).

Contract Dates: June 22 - August 17, 2026 

Pay Rate: $18.50/hr average 35hr/week

Reporting to the Production Manager (PM) and General Manager (GM), the Volunteer & Front-of-House Manager (VM) will be responsible for the recruitment and management of 60+ individual volunteers and 30+ community association partnerships during our Shakespeare in the Park tour. 

The VM will be responsible for recruiting front-of-house volunteers and organizing their shifts at all 42 performances throughout the summer. We maintain a database of diverse volunteers who range in age and experience, and also recruit new volunteers through high schools and local networks (Volunteer Ottawa, Ottawa Festivals Network). 

The VM will also be trained to manage the front-of-house, which includes managing front-facing volunteer ushers, receiving donations, handling concessions displays and sales, selling merchandise, determining placement of signage, and offering audience assistance. The VM will train and manage volunteers to assist with these tasks throughout the summer in each park we visit. 

The VM will also assist the GM with coordinating pre-show community events in conjunction with community associations across the region. These events are put on by local community associations to coordinate with the Fools performance in their neighbourhood. The VM will assist community associations in executing their events, acting as a liaison between the associations and the Fools.

During their employment the VM will learn the following skills and be responsible for the following tasks while under the supervision of the PM and GM:

Pre-Production and Rehearsals

• Assisting in the creation of the volunteer welcome package and training guide

• Recruiting volunteers to assist with front-of-house operations at 42 performances

• Emailing and connect with community associations to coordinate special events that coincide with Fools performances

• Scheduling volunteers using a scheduling software, ensuring adequate support is available at every performance

• Communicating volunteer schedules and event schedules to the crew and volunteers

• Assisting in programming free pre-show events in partnership with community associations

• Assisting in the creation of the yearly survey to be conducted during performances 

Performance Weeks

• Learning the duties involved with running front-of-house for a professional theatre company

• Reviewing upcoming parks for accessibility considerations, auxiliary events (such as show sponsors) and communicating this information with the crew and volunteers

• Coordinating transportation arrangements for volunteers who are minors

• Training and lead 4-6 volunteers each night to assist with front of house operations, seat and welcome patrons, distribute programs, solicit audience surveys, and manage the audience during performances

• Setting up front-of-house including placing promotional signage and setting up community partner and show sponsor sites

• Using a point-of-sale (POS) system to prepare inventory and sell merchandise and concession items during performances

• Ensuring adequate supplies of consumables for each performance (ice, snacks, drinks, batteries, flashlights, etc.) and communicating with management if restocks are required

• Assisting with nightly cash reconciliation of sales and donations using POS reporting software

• Reporting in our electronic park database on the park conditions, audience numbers and anything else notable that happened during each performance 

• Ongoing communication with volunteers to remind them of upcoming shifts and events

• Ensuring there is no trace of the production in local parks by picking up litter after each show and making sure the park is cleaner than when we arrived

Post-Tour

• Participating in a post-production meeting to provide feedback on the season and contribute their onsite experience for future season planning

• Inventory merchandise and updating records to reflect current stock

• Repairing and conducting any maintenance required on front of house equipment in an effort to reuse

Front of House Manager duties include:

• Enthusiastically and professionally represent a Company of Fools in all interactions with the public

• Train and supervise volunteer ushers

• Supervise the audience during the performance

• Prepare and distribute programs and audience surveys

• Assist patrons as needed

• Set up and manage the FOH tent, selling and maintaining an inventory of merchandise and concession

• Communicate inventory requests to PM/office staff

• Assist with nightly cash reconciliation

• Assist in facilitating pre-show events with community partners

• Assist Production Manager and crew in setup and teardown of stage/set, backstage and front of house areas

Successful candidates must be available for all contract dates (Monday-Saturday, afternoons and evenings), be physically capable of repeated heavy lifting (up to 50 lbs), and be able to maintain a professional, positive attitude at all times and in all sorts of summer weather (rain, shine, heat, humidity, cold).

Assets:

• Enjoy working outdoors in all weather conditions

• Experience in volunteer management

• Experience in customer service, retail, or food service

• Experience assisting patrons with disabilities

• Familiarity with Ottawa theatre companies and practices

• Can adapt to different working conditions and processes

• Can work independently

• Organized and detail-oriented

• Open to feedback and ongoing direction

• Can calmly communicate your limits when working in challenging conditions (extreme heat, heavy lifting, high-pressure timelines)

• Familiarity with a Company of Fools and/or pursuit of theatre-related studies 

• G class driver’s license/access to a vehicle 

• CPR and/or First Aid Training

• General enthusiasm for workplace safety

For more information about a Company of Fools or Torchlight Shakespeare, please visit www.fools.ca

To apply please send a cover letter and CV to generalmanager@fools.ca no later than 11:59pm on Sunday, April 26th, 2026 with the subject line “Volunteer & FOH Manager”. Please format your CV & cover letter with the following format “LAST NAME.FIRST NAME CV/Cover Letter”.

Thank you for your submission. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We will be considering all applications on a rolling basis and start interviewing as soon as we find suitable candidates. Submitting as soon as possible helps your chances of being selected.

a Company of Fools encourages submissions from diverse candidates of all backgrounds regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

This position has been made possible by the Canada Summer Jobs Program.