Director of Programs

BHC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

BHC is seeking a Director of Programs in Chicago to design and execute an ambitious calendar of member experiences across culinary, arts and culture, wellness, travel, and entertainment. This role blends creative vision with rigorous operations, requiring collaboration across departments and strategic partnerships with world-class talent.

The ideal candidate will craft signature experiences that elevate the Club’s brand, manage a growing programming team, and ensure flawless execution with a

Qualifications

• Experience crafting luxury experiences within hospitality, private clubs, or lifestyle brands.
• Proven ability to curate programs across culinary, arts, wellness, travel, and entertainment.
• Experience building partnerships with chefs, artists, brands, and cultural organizations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive annual programming strategy aligned with the Club’s brand and member interests.
• Curate experiences across culinary, arts, wellness, travel, entertainment, family, sports, and lifestyle.
• Oversee planning, timelines, budgets, staffing, and processes for all programming.
• Build and mentor a high-performing programming team and establish operating standards.
• Cultivate strategic partnerships with world-class talent and brands; manage external vendors.

Skills

Creative vision

Operational discipline

Partnership development

Team leadership

Job description

The Director of Programs is responsible for developing and executing a world-class calendar of member experiences that define life at the Club. This individual will envision, curate, and oversee programming across culinary, arts and culture, wellness, family, travel, entertainment, education, sports, and lifestyle experiences.

This role requires an individual who is equally creative and operational; someone who can imagine exceptional experiences while ensuring every detail is flawlessly executed. Working collaboratively across the organization, the Director will build strategic partnerships, cultivate relationships with world-class talent and brands, lead a growing programming team, and establish the Club as one of the country’s most sought-after private membership communities.

The ideal candidate possesses exceptional taste, relentless curiosity, strong operational discipline, and a passion for creating experiences that leave lasting impressions.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop the Club’s Programming Vision

• Develop and execute a comprehensive annual programming strategy that reflects the Club’s brand, values, and member interests.
• Create a balanced calendar of recurring traditions, signature events, and exclusive one-of-a-kind experiences.
• Continuously identify emerging trends, cultural moments, and partnership opportunities that elevate the member experience.
• Ensure programming evolves alongside the needs and interests of an engaged membership.

Curate Extraordinary Member Experiences

Design and oversee programming across a broad range of experiences, including:

• Culinary events and chef collaborations
• Wine and spirits programming
• Artist residencies and exhibitions
• Live music and entertainment
• Guest speakers and thought leadership events
• Wellness and fitness programming
• Family and children’s experiences
• Marina and outdoor recreation
• Sporting events and VIP hospitality
• Cultural excursions and curated travel
• Holiday celebrations and signature annual events

Lead Program Execution

• Oversee the planning and execution of all Club programming from concept through completion.
• Develop production timelines, budgets, staffing plans, and operational processes.
• Ensure every event is executed with exceptional attention to detail and reflects the highest standards of luxury hospitality.
• Evaluate programming performance and continuously refine offerings based on member engagement and feedback.

Build Strategic Partnerships

• Develop relationships with chefs, artists, performers, speakers, luxury brands, cultural organizations, and experience providers.
• Identify unique collaborations that create exclusive access and memorable member experiences.
• Negotiate partnerships and manage external vendors while maintaining exceptional quality and fiscal responsibility.

Lead and Develop the Programming Team

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing programming team.
• Establish departmental processes, standards, and operating procedures.
• Foster a collaborative, creative, and accountable culture.
• Assess organizational needs and help shape the future structure of the department as the Club grows.

Partner Across the Organization

• Collaborate closely with Membership, Food & Beverage, Marketing, Club Operations, Finance, and Executive Leadership to ensure programming aligns with the Club’s strategic objectives and consistently delivers extraordinary member experiences.

REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

The successful candidate will likely bring experience creating and delivering exceptional experiences within luxury hospitality, private clubs, lifestyle brands, cultural institutions, luxury travel, entertainment, or experiential organizations.

Experience may include:

• Luxury private clubs
• Luxury hotels and resorts
• Lifestyle hospitality brands
• Cultural or performing arts organizations
• Luxury travel companies
• Experiential marketing agencies
• Sports and entertainment venues
• High-end event production

Most importantly, this individual has demonstrated the ability to curate experiences that inspire engagement, build community, and create lasting loyalty.

SUCCESS PROFILE

The ideal candidate is:

• Highly creative with exceptional taste and aesthetic judgment.
• Naturally curious and constantly seeking new ideas and experiences.
• Equally comfortable developing strategy and executing details.
• A relationship builder with an extensive network of partners and collaborators.
• Exceptionally organized and capable of managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Calm under pressure and energized by fast-paced environments.
• Passionate about hospitality and creating meaningful moments for others.
• A collaborative leader who develops high-performing teams and elevates those around them.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Within the first year, the Director of Programming will have:

• Established a compelling annual programming strategy that differentiates the Club in the luxury marketplace.
• Created signature experiences that become defining moments for members.
• Built strong partnerships with leading chefs, artists, performers, brands, and cultural organizations.
• Developed scalable operational processes that support consistent, high-quality execution.
• Built and developed a high-performing programming team.
• Increased member engagement through thoughtful, innovative, and memorable experiences that reinforce the value of Club membership.

BHC is an equal employment opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs, and are not based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, uniformed service, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other factor or characteristic protected by applicable law. BHC participates in E-Verify.