Volunteer

Section: Operations

Department Description:
Convention Operations, or Con-Ops handles getting things to and from the convention. The department also handles radio communications at CON and helping make sure all logistics issues are solved in a timely fashion.

Section: Operations

Department Description:
The Convention Support department provides crew members to departments who need help. Con Support Crew can work the event without a commitment to a particular department, earning a rollover badge after 16 hours.

Section: Programming

Department Description:
Costume Events runs and facilitates the Masquerade event. Helps Cosplayers with their participation in the event, help monitor stage needs.

Section: Operations

Department Description:
EMRT (Emergency Medical Response Team) is the group at Anime Central that responds to incidents requiring first aid and/or other medical care. Our group consists of individuals from emergency medicine.

Section: Operations

Department Description:
Anime Central seeks to provide a quality experience for everyone. For any of our attendees with special needs, come to any of our Accessibility Services Desks for assistance. In the Hyatt we are located in the Grand Boardroom, next to Customer Service. Over in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center we can be found next to Registration.

Section: Guest Relations

Department Description: Guest Assistants provide support and assistance to guests of honor as it relates to the convention. This includes assisting guests of honor with guest related events (panels, autographs, etc.) as well as interpretation services as needed.

Section: Guest Relations

Department Description:
Guest Logistics is the arm of our Guest Relations section for handling the transportation and radio in support of Guests. Staff in this area will be driving guests to and from the airport, taking guests on any special requested stops during the convention.

Section: Guest Relations

Department Description: Guest Services is a small department that works behind the scenes within Guest Relations Section ensuring that the Guests of Honor are feeling welcome and appreciate. we also help with the autographs team making sure the Guests of Honor requests are fulfilled.

Section: Operations

Department Description:
The Incident Response Team (IRT) is responsible for the safety and well being of Anime Central attendees.  They also assist with  rules enforcement in the Hyatt and the Convention Center, line control for large events, mobile first line customer service and much more.

Section: Programming

Department Description:
Main Events handles big events at the con such as masquerade,and our raves. They handle setup and tear down, line control, and ushering at main events.

Section: Sales

Department Description:
Anime Central's Merch department sells all of the fantastic ACen merch so you can show your ACen pride. Everything from shirts to yearly pins. We've got it all!

Section: Programming

Department Description:
Panel Programming is responsible for reviewing, scheduling, and managing panels and panelists.

Section: Sales

Department Description:
One of the largest departments in the convention, the Registration team processes memberships and payments for attendees before and during the convention.

Section: Operations

Department Description:
Staff Suite is a 24 hour room where ACen Staff can go to relax on break and eat. Catering is provided by a local Chicago catering company.

Section: Programming

Department Description:
Table Top Gaming does setup and maintenance tabletop game rooms. Setup and check in with demo vendors. Check badges for attendees.

Section: Programming

Department Description:
Video Gaming assists with setup and check in with vendors in video games rooms. Check badges at the door, help attendees with any issues.

Section: Programming

Department Description:
Video Programming department handles set up and running of anime viewing rooms. This department handles 24 hour service at con.

Role Purpose

Main Events Team Members are responsible for overseeing activities and events within the Main Events programming space and coordinating with other departments as necessary.

Duties

• Act in a Professional manner and present a Courteous and Polite demeanor.
• Maintain calm during stressful and chaotic situations.
• General knowledge of the Convention in support of the attendee experience.
• Crowd Control Management: maintain current headcounts; assist with seating and backstage operations;  and check IDs for 18+ Main Events.
• Maintain communication with the Main Events Manager & Assistant Managers.
• Refresh schedules and documents as needed internally and with outside departments.
• Assist attendees and other staff and escalate issues to the appropriate department/level.
• Report on time for all scheduled shifts and remain on duty until relieved.
• Execute department initiatives and other duties as assigned by the Department Manager.

Skills/Prerequisites

• Convention staffing experience preferred, but not required. Ninja training a bonus!
• Theater, technical stage crew, or stage management highly preferred, but willing to train.

Requirements

• Attendance at training events prior to/at the convention and at least one set of Crew Blacks.
• Departmental Meeting directly following the last all staff meeting at the Hyatt.

If you are interested please fill out the volunteer form and specify 'Main Events' as the department you are interested in.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this
position at any time; This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not
prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Role Purpose:

Develop and drive department initiatives of the convention for Artists and Retailers. Lead efforts to develop and maintain relationships with new and existing exhibiting partners in support of department and organizational needs.

Duties:

• Respond to Emails within 48 Hours
• Keep un-archived Emails below 50.
• Accurately answer emails from Artists, Retailers, and organization committees to the best of your ability while seeking knowledge for unknown answers from Department Manager.
• Attract potential staff to the Department that have talents beneficial to the Department's success.
• Perform "Well-Checks" on Retailers, Artists, and Volunteer Staff to audit current operations.
• Ability to learn operational policy and knowledge to full fill manager on duty activities
• Work and coach staff so that they meet their responsibilities and assist the primary event fulfilling all associated functions
• Support department hiring needs pre event.
• Use, respond, answer to Radio Calls during the event.
• Take initiative to recommend updates to department policies and functions throughout the year.

Skills/Prerequisites:

• Customer Service and Conflict Resolution skills
• Problem Solving and Documentation
• Basic Math and Language Comprehension skills
• Ability to commit to pre and post event responsibilities in addition to at event responsibilities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

To Apply Submit resume and cover letter to exhibitspace@acen.org and vss@mapsevents.org

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this
position at any time; This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not
prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Role Purpose:

Guest Assistant Interpreters provide support and assistance to Guests of Honor as it relates to the convention

Duties:

• Coordinating communication and necessary translation tasks for Guests of Honor during the convention (Japanese to English/English to Japanese)
• Planning and assisting with guest-related events while coordinating with other departments as needed
• Assisting in managing travel arrangements
• Going out on social outings
• Wearing business casual attire
• Assisting with other tasks as needed

Skills/Prerequisites:

• Eligible to volunteer at ACen (See Volunteer Staff Requirements at (http://www.acen.org/about-us/volunteer/)
• Fluent, formal (teineigo) Japanese speaking skill
• Ability to interpret and translate English into Japanese and Japanese into English
• Availability Thursday through Sunday of the event
• Availability to also work Monday morning a plus but not required
• Ability to work long hours and walk and stand for extended amounts of time
• High level of professionalism
• Customer service experience 
• Ability to stay organized while multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Prior convention experience and knowledge a plus but not required
• Knowledge of anime industry-related Japanese a plus but not required

If you are interested please fill out the volunteer form and specify 'Guest Relations Assistants' as the department you are interested in.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time; This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Role Purpose:

The Guest Logistics department provides support and assistance to guests of honor as it relates to the convention.

Duties:

• Assisting with transportation for Guest of Honor
• Arranging for travel for Guest of Honor for excursions
• Via a transportation service or directly driving yourself
• Assisting with airport pickups and departures for Guests of Honor
• Assisting with planning excursions for Guest of Honor
• Coordinating outings with Guest Assistants department
• Looking up venues and related information in the area for excursions as needed
• Making reservations for excursions
• Providing information services for the Guest Relations section
• Assist with keeping track of Guest of Honor location during the convention
• Assist with answering radio calls for the Guest Relations section providing information as needed regarding Guest of Honor activities
• Assisting with other tasks as needed

Skills/Prerequisites:

• Meet the requirements for volunteering at ACen
• Ability to be able to drive strongly preferred
  • Have a valid drivers license and good driving record
• Availability Thursday Morning through Sunday afternoon
• Availability Monday morning preferred but not required
• Ability to work long hours (lots of walking)
• Professionalism and ability to stay organized while multi-tasking
• Prior convention experience and knowledge a plus but not required

If you are interested please fill out the volunteer form and specify 'Guest Logistics' as the department you are interested in.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this
position at any time; This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not
prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Guest Assistants provide support and assistance to guests of honor as it relates to the convention.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Planning and assisting with guest-related events while coordinating with other departments as needed.
• Assisting in managing travel arrangements.
• Going out on social outings.
• Assisting with other tasks as needed.

We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications:

• Eligible to volunteer at ACen.
• Availability Thursday through Sunday (May 16th – May 19th, 2019).
• Availability to also work Monday (May 20th) morning a plus but not required.
• Ability to work long hours and walk and stand for extended amounts of time.
• High level of professionalism and customer service oriented.
• Ability to stay organized while multi-tasking in fast paced environment.
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• Prior convention experience and knowledge a plus but not required.

Job Purpose:

To act as a point of contact in assisting attendees in enjoying the convention by identifying and aiding with accessibility concerns.

Duties:

• Document, process, and guide attendees in receiving specialty badges.
• Acts as guide and information point of contact to attendees.
• Aids attendees with accessibility concerns.
• Greets and reaches out to attendees with accessibility concerns.
• Process attendees payments for badges.
• Monitors and responds to radio communications
• Responsible for maintaining the order in line at our booths.
• Other duties as assigned

Skills/Pre-Requisites:

• Active Listening and Observation Skills
• Bookkeeping Skills
• Discretion
• Handle Cash Transactions
• Detail Oriented
• Fluent in ASL (preferred)

If you are interested please fill out the volunteer form and specify 'Event Accessibility Services or EAS' as the department you are interested in.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this
position at any time; This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not
prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Role Purpose:

IRT Line Control ops are responsible for managing lines for large events all around the convention such as those outside the Grand Ballroom and the Rosemont Ballroom. For many attendees, Line Control ops will be the most frequent kind of IRT ops they interact with.

Duties:

• Monitor and report to dispatch via team/radio communication
• Documents and records incidents as needed
• Responds to and reacts appropriately to situations as they arise
• Directly interacts with attendees to answer questions and help.
• Patrols line areas
• Maintain orderly lines in high traffic area
• Badging and ID checks into Main Programming events
• Further duties as assigned by IRT Management

Skills/Prerequisites:

• Customer Service Skills
• Ability to walk/stand for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to work as a team in a regimented structure.
• Active listening and monitoring skills.
• Ability to communicate via radio.
• Ability speak loudly without yelling.
• Ability to think on your feet and make quick decisions.

If you are interested please fill out the volunteer form and specify 'IRT' as the department you are interested in.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this
position at any time; This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not
prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Role Purpose:

IRT Dispatch directs information flow and communications for the department, and keeps track of all of the activities IRT is engaged in on the floor. Commanders work with the dispatchers assigned to their shifts or teams to make sure there is adequate coverage in their areas, and dispatchers are responsible for directing ops and teams, supplying information to ops, and managing their rotations and breaks.

Duties:

• Monitor and track radio traffic via team/radio communication
• Documents and records incidents as needed
• Responds to and reacts appropriately to situations as they arise
• Logs incidents with detail
• Communicate op assignments and rotations
• Communicate with upper management for elevated situations
• Log major incidents/outcomes in the registration database
• Further duties as assigned by IRT Management

Skills/Prerequisites:

• Customer Service Skills
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to work as a team in a regimented structure.
• Active listening and monitoring skills.
• Ability to communicate via radio.
• Ability to think on your feet and make quick decisions.
• Ability to work in dark areas for prolonged amounts of time
• Experience with Microsoft Office and Google Drive

If you are interested please fill out the volunteer form and specify 'IRT' as the department you are interested in.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this
position at any time; This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not
prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Role Purpose:

IRT Administration is responsible for maintaining the Pen, keeping track of IRT’s supplies, checking in and out equipment such as vests and radios, running op check-in and check-out at the beginning and end of the convention, and collecting and checking paperwork. Though working in Administration is not the most glamorous job on IRT, it is one of the most important.

Duties:

• Monitor and report to dispatch via team/radio communication
• Documents and records incidents as needed
• Responds to and reacts appropriately to situations as they arise
• Databasing incident reports as they are collected
• Maintain the Pen
• Check-In and Check-Out supplies/Track inventory
• Track staff at event/Track staff paperwork
• Log major incidents/outcomes in the registration database
• Further duties as assigned by IRT Management

Skills/Prerequisites:

• Customer Service Skills
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to work as a team in a regimented structure.
• Active listening and monitoring skills.
• Ability to communicate via radio.
• Ability to think on your feet and make quick decisions.
• High level of organizational skills
• Experience with Microsoft Office and Google Drive

If you are interested please fill out the volunteer form and specify 'IRT' as the department you are interested in.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this
position at any time; This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not
prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Role Purpose:

IRT Rules Enforcement shifts consist of roaming the convention grounds, responding to incidents, looking for rules violations, making sure that IRT is nearby if attendees need them, and helping attendees. They are also responsible for some more direct policy enforcement, such as making sure the elevators in the Hyatt are not overloaded.  The Rules Enforcement sub-department has options for the hotel (days, mids, nights), as well as an option for the Exhibit Hall.

Duties:

• Monitor and report to dispatch via team/radio communication
• Documents and records incidents as needed
• Responds to and reacts appropriately to situations as they arise
• Directly interacts with attendees to answer questions and help.
• Patrols hotel area
• Elevator monitoring
• Further duties as assigned by IRT Management

Skills/Prerequisites:

• Customer Service Skills
• Ability to walk/stand for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to work as a team in a regimented structure.
• Active listening and monitoring skills.
• Ability to communicate via radio.

If you are interested please fill out the volunteer form and specify 'IRT' as the department you are interested in.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this
position at any time; This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not
prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Role Purpose:

IRT Special Events is responsible for crowd control and rules enforcement inside ACen’s largest and loudest events, such as the Soap Bubble. They ensure that IRT has a presence inside these events and that everyone in them is safe. They are also responsible for making sure no-one who is not authorized goes into the events and the surrounding back hallways.

Duties:

• Monitor and report to dispatch via team/radio communication
• Documents and records incidents as needed
• Responds to and reacts appropriately to situations as they arise
• Directly interacts with attendees to answer questions and help.
• Patrols inside Main Programming areas and back hallways of their areas
• Maintain safety of attendees and hotel property
• Further duties as assigned by IRT Management

Skills/Prerequisites:

• Customer Service Skills
• Ability to walk/stand for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to work as a team in a regimented structure.
• Active listening and monitoring skills.
• Ability to communicate via radio.
• Ability speak loudly without yelling.
• Ability to think on your feet and make quick decisions.
• Ability to work in dark areas with strobe lights and loud music for prolonged amounts of time

If you are interested please fill out the volunteer form and specify 'IRT' as the department you are interested in.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this
position at any time; This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not
prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Role Purpose:

To perform essential operational functions before,during and after the convention.

Duties:

• Assist in organizing and packing the MAPS warehouse pre-con
• Prepare and load pallets onto truck to transport them to and from the convention
• Unload truck and move convention materials to their set location
• Assist in set-up, inventory and distribution of radio equipment
• Track dolly usage through proper utilization of established forms
• Monitors and responds to radio communications
• Perform battery swaps for staff requiring charged batteries
• Assist in organizing the MAPS warehouse and conducting a post-con inventory
• Other duties as assigned

Skills/Prerequisites:

• Active Listening and Observation Skills
• Ability to utilize both paper and computer programs (Excel) to track equipment usage
• Must be able to lift 30 lbs
• Must be able to work a variety of shifts (we operate 24 hours a day during the convention)
• Detail Oriented
• Must be available either Wednesday-Sunday or Thursday-Monday

If you are interested please fill out the volunteer form and specify 'Convention Operations' as the department you are interested in.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this
position at any time; This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not
prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.