First Opportunity Program: 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 and Portland Expo Center. The Director will lead teams responsible for planning, coordinating, and managing a wide range of events, including conventions, trade shows, consumer shows, meetings, sporting events, and community events. The position provides strategic direction, develops staff, manages departmental resources, and aligns event execution with organizational standards and client expectations. The role will strengthen collaboration and consistent service standards across both venues while recognizing each facility’s distinct operational needs. It will also help prepare the department for the Portland Expo Center’s future transition toward a sports complex model. As a member of the Venues Leadership Team, the Director contributes to organizational strategy and decision-making and partners with leaders across departments. The position is hybrid, typically working Monday through Friday during daytime hours, with onsite work required and telework available at times. Flexibility is needed for occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays, and extended hours or workweeks exceeding 40 hours may be necessary. Employees must reside in Oregon or Washington. The full annual salary range is $122,301.12 to $156,091.17; the likely appointment range is $122,301.12 to $134,836.98, subject to qualifications and Metro’s pay equity review. The role is classified as Manager I, is not overtime-eligible, and is not represented by a union. This recruitment is limited to applicants who live in the First Opportunity Target Area and meet its qualifying annual household income requirements.

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.
Three years of experience leading or supervising people.
Two years of project management experience in an area of responsibility, such as event management and coordination, venue management and operations, or planning and execution of large-scale events.
Alternatively, a combination of experience, education, and training that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential duties.
Deep knowledge of event and venue management, including event planning, operational coordination, safety requirements, crowd management, and industry best practices.
Leadership ability in team development, performance management, employee coaching, 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 operational improvement initiatives.
Effective communication and collaboration skills, including relationship-building, navigating challenging conversations, resolving conflicts, and fostering accountability and inclusion.
Adaptability to unify teams across venues, navigate competing priorities, and guide employees through organizational change.
Sound judgment, organization, problem-solving, timely decision-making, and ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
Technological proficiency and ability to evaluate and adopt tools that improve operations; ability to develop proficiency in Momentus and AutoCAD.
Applicants must live within the First Opportunity Target Area and meet the qualifying annual household income requirements.
Employees 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.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a unified Event Services team serving both the Oregon Convention Center and Portland Expo Center, fostering team identity, accountability, collaboration, professional growth, and continuous improvement.
Align event services 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 across both venues.
Advance departmental technology, procedures, and workflows to improve efficiency, streamline operations, enhance service delivery, and support evolving industry practices.
Represent the Event Services Department on the Venues Leadership Team and contribute to organizational strategy, operational decision-making, and cross-functional initiatives.