We Are Hiring – Program Director For Our Summer Sound Walk Series!

We Are Hiring – Program Director For Our Summer Sound Walk Series!

Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology is seeking a Program Director for our annual Summer Sound Walks in the Parks Program. 

Summer Soundwalks in the Parks is dedicated to providing free, public soundwalks, workshops, and training sessions that engage multi-generational, local communities in their own neighborhoods. Funded by the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks (NOITP) program, participants explore cultural and natural soundscapes, including rivers, streets, traffic, human, and animal sounds.

Each event lasts one hour, featuring a 45-minute soundwalk led by a teaching artist, such as a local sound artist or scientist, followed by a 15-minute group discussion. The Program Director will coordinate six soundwalks across various Chicago parks, identifying and collaborating with teaching artists, a Chicago Park District liaison, and other team members for promoting and documenting the events.

Recommended Skills

  • Understanding of soundwalk theories, practices, and sound/listening phenomena
  • Interest in the artistic, scientific, and social dimensions of Acoustic Ecology and MSAE’s mission
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Prior experience in event planning and coordination
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills
  • Basic proficiency with A/V equipment and technology
  • Effective problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities

Job Responsibilities

  • Curating and confirming Teaching Artists, Communications Manager, and Graphic Designer, and volunteer event documentarian roles.
  • Collaborate closely with the Chicago Park District liaison.
  • Collecting theme titles and descriptions from teaching artists.
  • Scheduling dates and locations, including alternate rain dates, in coordination with teaching artists and NOITP liaison.
  • Attend mandatory NOITP Orientation in late April/early May.
  • Manage required paperwork for teaching artists and NOIP, including some basic financial management tasks.
  • Work with Communications Manager and Graphic Designer to coordinate creation and sharing of visual materials.
  • Direct and coordinate distribution of posters and cards with teaching artists and park supervisors.
  • Attend each program event to welcome participants (audience) on site, in Chicago, greet and inform  attending park district assistant/liaison, introduce teaching artists, provide health and safety guidance when needed.
  • Track and report participation numbers, demographics, selected images, and highlights/stories in October about the overall program with the Night Out In the Parks team

Job Type: Seasonal, February – October 2025

Pay: $2,000 – $3,000 stipend, commensurate with experience

Interested applicants should send their cover letter and resume to Sarah Clewett at sarah.m.clewett@gmail.com.

The Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology (MSAE) is dedicated to understanding the role of sound and listening in natural habitats and human societies. We promote public dialogue concerning the identification, preservation, and restoration of natural and cultural sound environments. Established in 2009, we realize our mission through local and regional initiatives. These include public soundwalks, educational workshops, and creative and scholarly productions. Our partners include the National Park Service, Center for Humans and Nature, Chicago Park District, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, Mixage Fou, and World Listening Project, among others.