MERCHANDISE & MARKETING INTERNSHIP
Position status: Temporary
Reports to: Marketing & Communications Director
Supervision by: Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Compensation: $16.80 per hour (up to 200 hours total)
Posted: March 2, 2026
Application Deadline: ASAP or by April 15
Start date: June 2 (negotiable)
Chamber Music Northwest seeks a part-time, seasonal Merchandise & Marketing Intern whose role it is to support the marketing staff for the 2026 Summer Festival.
THE POSITION
Chamber Music Northwest seeks a mature, professional, and motivated Merchandise & Marketing Intern for its 2026 Summer Festival. The Merchandise & Marketing Intern will work closely with, and under the supervision of the Marketing & Communications Director, and alongside the Marketing & Communications Coordinator. The individual selected for this role will not only learn what goes on behind the scenes at a major music festival, but will gain practical skills in marketing, communications, merchandising, sales, customer relations, and finance management. This is a fun position that will give the intern whirlwind real-world experience.
Pre-festival:
- Be responsible for listing Summer Festival concerts and events on various online calendars and travel sites locally, regionally, nationally.
- Create systems to track the marketing and sales of festival merchandise including CDs, t-shirts, etc., including:
- Prepare Summer Festival merchandise reports including product pricing and sales projections
- Inventory current merchandise for Summer Festival sale
- Design engaging merchandise product displays
- Coordinate the sale of artist CDs and CD signings with operations team and manage artist CD stock
- Mail and/or email Program Magazine advertisers copies and an invitation to attend the festival
- Contribute, as needed, to community engagement marketing, and the CMNW team on relevant projects such as group sales, social media content creation, event support, etc.
During the festival:
- Manage/perform on-site merchandise sales at festival concerts/events, including set-up and breakdown
- Perform daily inventory check of all festival merchandise, and reconcile cash sales
- Prepare sales reports
- Manage and process all concert and event photography taken during the festival. This includes downloading and accurately naming photo files on a near-daily basis
- Due to front-of-house placement and the interaction with patrons, the role will help capture and share Summer Festival activities through photography, videography, collecting quotes for social media, and other duties as assigned or self-generated
- Contribute, as needed, to community engagement marketing and CMNW team
- Represent the festival professionally and responsibly at all times, from working with vendors to welcoming festival patrons and artists
- Various duties as assigned or elected
Post-Festival:
- Create final merchandise sales reports
- Complete analysis of merchandise sales and profits
- Take final inventory of merchandise
Intern will serve as a team member, and should plan to be asked to assist any departments including Marketing, Development, Operations, Production, and Front of House, as needed.
TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS
An ideal candidate will be very personable and professional. The position requires positive energy, excellent communication skills, and meticulous attention to detail—and willingness to pitch in wherever needed. Visual marketing experience is helpful. A successful candidate must be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively in close proximity to different personalities. Intern must be open to receiving feedback and guidance throughout the course of the internship. An excellent intern has access to, and pays attention to, mobile phone and email communications in a timely manner. Preference will be given to candidates with a strong background or interest in the arts or classical music, knowledge of Portland, and interest in arts administration.
EXPERIENCE
A successful candidate will have at least two years of post-high school education in a related field. They will have demonstrated success in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and working with a variety of people. Preference may be given to those with skills in rudimentary graphic design, social media, visual merchandising, and customer service. As the intern will be moving the merchandise to and from every concert, a reliable car is required as this position requires a car to transport merchandise between venues daily, as well as a valid driver’s license, the ability to lift and carry at least 40 pounds.
CONDITIONS & COMPENSATION
The Marketing and Merchandise Internship is a 20-hour (approximate) per week, seasonal position. The full term of the position is June 4-July 23, 2026. The Summer Festival specifically runs June 25-July 19. Merchandise & Marketing Intern will be paid $16.80 per hour for up to 200 hours over the course of the internship. They will have access to all festival events and complimentary tickets to share. College credit may be arranged with the individual’s institution.
Hours prior to the June 25 festival start will be daytime office hours, Monday-Thursday roughly 11am-3pm. Once the Festival begins, office hours will be flexible and could be largely remote. Intern must be available as many as six days a week during the Festival, including nights. On pre-festival/non-concert days, this position spends the majority of time in an open office setting with fluorescent and natural lighting. Once the festival has started remote work is quite possible. Occasional heavy lifting is required.
Chamber Music Northwest believes that our staff should reflect the diversity of our community. We welcome all qualified applicants, and encourage those who identify as Black, Indigenous, persons of color, LGBTQIA+, and differently-abled persons to apply.
CMNW is a 501(c)3 organization and equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.
HOW TO APPLY
Candidates should email ONE pdf file (no larger than 10mb) including a cover letter, résumé, and three references to marketing@cmnw.org with the subject line “MMI + Name” by April 15. Please, no phone inquiries.
ABOUT CHAMBER MUSIC NORTHWEST
Now in its 56th season, Chamber Music Northwest’s flagship Summer Festival presents programs of top international caliber that include mainstage concerts and numerous free education and engagement events in Portland. The artists invited to perform at Chamber Music Northwest range from rising stars to veterans and are among the most sought-after soloists, chamber musicians, and recording artists in the world.
Chamber Music Northwest’s mission is to inspire our community through concerts and events celebrating the richness and diversity of chamber music, performed by artists of the highest caliber, presenting our community with exceptional opportunities for enjoyment, education, and reflection. Chamber Music Northwest is led by Artistic Directors Gloria Chien and Soovin Kim, and Executive Director Peter Bilotta.
Research is encouraged at www.cmnw.org.