Director of Event Services

Oregon Metro•Oregon Convention Center, OR

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Metro is seeking a strategic, collaborative leader to direct a unified Event Services Department serving the Oregon Convention Center (OCC) and Portland Expo Center. The Director oversees teams responsible for planning, coordinating, and managing a range of events, including national conventions, trade shows, consumer shows, meetings, and community events. The role provides strategic direction, develops staff, manages departmental resources, and aligns event execution with organizational standards and client expectations. The Director will strengthen collaboration and consistent service standards across the two venues while recognizing their distinct operational needs. The role also helps prepare for the Expo Center’s planned transition toward a sports complex model. As a member of the Venues Leadership Team, the Director contributes to organizational strategy and decision-making, offers insight into client and event needs, and partners with leaders across departments. This position is typically based on a Monday-through-Friday daytime schedule, with a hybrid telework arrangement. Onsite work is required, and employees must reside in Oregon or Washington. Flexibility is needed to support event operations, including occasional evening, weekend, and holiday work; extended hours and workweeks exceeding 40 hours may be necessary. The position is classified as Manager I, is not represented by a union, and is not eligible for overtime.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in the assigned program area or a related field, such as Event Management, Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Operations Management, or Organizational Leadership; equivalent combinations of experience, education, and training may qualify.
Three years leading or supervising people.
Two years of project management experience in the area of responsibility, such as event management and coordination, venue management and operations, or planning and execution of large-scale events; equivalent combinations of experience, education, and training may qualify.
Deep knowledge of event and venue management, including event planning, operational coordination, safety requirements, crowd management, and industry best practices.
Proven ability to develop high-performing teams, manage performance, coach employees, and support professional growth and succession planning.
Strong client relationship management skills, including balancing service with organizational policies, operational limitations, and protection of venue resources.
Financial acumen in budgeting, resource allocation, expense management, and operational planning.
Skill in strategic planning, change management, and leading initiatives that improve operations and advance organizational goals.
Effective communication and collaboration skills, including building relationships, navigating challenging conversations, resolving conflicts, and fostering accountability and inclusion.
Adaptability in unifying teams across venues, navigating competing priorities, and guiding employees through organizational change.
Sound judgment, strong organizational and problem-solving skills, and the ability to make timely decisions and manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
Technological proficiency and the ability to evaluate and adopt tools that improve operations.
Ability to work onsite and, as operational needs require, occasionally evenings, weekends, and holidays, with extended hours or workweeks exceeding 40 hours.
Must reside in Oregon or Washington to work at Metro.

Nice To Haves

Extensive experience managing or planning complex events in convention centers, expo centers, arenas, or similar large venues.
Experience leading and developing event management teams, including coaching, performance management, and staff development.
Experience managing complex client relationships, resolving escalations, and balancing client needs with organizational requirements.
Experience leading organizational change and improving technology, processes, and workflows to increase operational efficiency.
Experience managing budgets, staffing resources, and operational priorities.
Developing proficiency in Momentus and AutoCAD.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a unified Event Services team serving both the Oregon Convention Center and Portland Expo Center, fostering shared identity, accountability, collaboration, professional growth, and continuous improvement.
Align operations across venues by establishing consistent expectations, procedures, workflows, and service standards while accounting for each facility’s operational needs.
Provide strategic oversight of event planning and execution to ensure plans meet client expectations, organizational policies, operational requirements, and applicable safety and regulatory standards.
Guide staff in managing complex client relationships, resolving escalated issues, and balancing client needs with organizational priorities, facility capabilities, and financial considerations.
Provide direct leadership and operational support for complex or high-profile events as needed.
Develop and manage departmental budgets and resources, including personnel and operating expenses.
Oversee staffing, workload distribution, performance management, training, and succession planning.
Collaborate with operational departments and business partners to resolve challenges, improve coordination, and support successful event execution at both venues.
Advance departmental technology, procedures, and workflows to improve efficiency, streamline operations, enhance service delivery, and support evolving industry practices.
Represent Event Services on the Venues Leadership Team and contribute to organizational strategy, operational decision-making, and cross-functional initiatives.