Director, Event and Conference Services

University of Louisville • Shelby, MI

21h • Onsite

About The Position

The Event and Conference Services team in the Department of Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Louisville is seeking a Director to provide overall leadership of the Shelby Campus Conference Center. The Director sets the vision, establishes strategic direction, develops operational goals and plans, and provides day-to-day leadership for successful operation of the unit, including conference center operations, sales and marketing, leasing management, and stewardship of Shelby Campus. The Director is responsible for building strong relationships within the university and the community, developing and maintaining excellent business practices, establishing high standards of quality in all aspects of service delivery, and selling and promoting services in order to achieve a financially self-supporting operation and to promote a positive impression of the university through all interactions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and eight (8) years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Grade 9 (Salaried)

Nice To Haves

• Professional experience in the hospitality industry, particularly in venue management, with at least two years in a leadership/supervisory role.
• Experience in a higher education venue is a plus.
• Thorough understanding of sales strategies and tactics with demonstrated success in sales and business development practices
• Thorough knowledge of event planning and catering best practices
• Experience with budgeting and financial management of a program or department
• High degree of competence using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat. Experience with Visio a plus.
• Experience/competence using customer relationship management software. Experience with Momentus (formerly Ungerboeck) a plus
• Experience/competence using social media platforms for business development
• Knowledge of and established relationships in the local business community a plus

Responsibilities

• Hire, train, supervise, coach and evaluate staff to meet the needs of the business and ensure their continued professional development. Establish and maintain a healthy, inclusive and positive work environment. Communicate university and Delphi Center policies and processes and ensure compliance.
• Develop/optimize unit policies, procedures, and systems to support continuous improvement of efficiency, effectiveness, productivity and profitability. Consult with university business operations, procurement office, University Counsel and other leaders to ensure all aspects of operations are in compliance with university policies.
• As a member of the Delphi Leadership Team, participate in meetings and activities in support of division-wide initiatives and efforts as needed.
• Develop and manage the financial budget for the unit. Collaborate with the Delphi Center business office to monitor and update financial performance and establish, enhance and utilize Momentus and other tools to enable forecasting and data analysis to guide financial decision making. Provide monthly and year-end financial reporting to Vice Provost.
• Oversee and manage all leasing operations including sales, contract development and execution for new and renewing tenants. Serve as primary point of contact with tenants. Continuously seek ways to maximize revenue potential through leasing unused or underutilized space.
• Serve as university liaison for the security, maintenance, and good stewardship of the Shelby Campus buildings and grounds. Collaborate with university departments such as physical plant, UPDC and campus police as well as external partners such as NTS.
• Formulate a multi-faceted sales and business development plan to maximize conference center occupancy and meet or exceed revenue and profitability goals. Collaborate with the Delphi Center marketing department on communications, promotions and social media. Execute day-to-day sales operations including responding to sales inquiries, using continuous follow-up to convert prospects to bookings, conducting tours, writing and managing proposals, booking events in Momentus and overseeing contract development. Work closely with the rest of the unit to ensure a seamless transition from sales to execution. Provide an outstanding level of customer service to ensure client satisfaction and increase repeat bookings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director