Field Event Manager

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Education Support Services (ESS) provides audiovisual and instructional support, event and media production, training, and consulting services to faculty, staff, and students in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and Harvard community. The team supports the school’s mission by delivering premium technology offerings that enhance and creatively advance the teaching & learning environment. ESS is comprised of three service groups: Event & Media Production, Teaching and Learning Support, and Integrated Audiovisual Services.

The Field Event Manager for Event & Media Production works closely with the Director of Events and Media Production and the Manager of Media Production to manage event staffing and associated resources, ensuring operational success across a portfolio of Harvard community events, including those on evenings and weekends. The Manager oversees the work of ten positions: two Field Production Managers, event coordination staff, and six Senior Media Technicians. This position is responsible for hiring, managing these roles and their incumbents, and overall performance management. The incumbent actively participates in the Events budget planning process, coordination of work, provides data, and advises leadership regarding staffing and operational needs, and participates in developing a book of business to ensure this service line has a sustainable financial model.

Requirements

• Minimum of two years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience
• Advanced knowledge of event production and audiovisual best practices and systems, including projection, live video production and streaming, and audio reinforcement.
• Experience or training in customer service, particularly field operations, and a strong ability to deliver high-level solutions in a timely and dependable manner.
• Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills; ability to identify and resolve the root cause of systemic technical or process issues.
• Ability to serve as a change agent and manage a team through periods of rapid change.
• Can easily present technical concepts to clients in non-technical language.
• Management experience, including financial planning, budget oversight, and staff supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects through completion.
• Demonstrated team performance skills, a service-mindset approach, and the ability to act as a trusted advisor.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
• Must be able to move equipment and cables across campus.

Nice To Haves

• Previous working experience with ServiceNow, SharePoint, Panopto, Zoom, Farmer’s Wife/Cirkus, and Filemaker desirable.
• Working knowledge of ITIL and ITSM (IT Service Management) best practices and tools desirable.
• Previous experience managing in a union environment and working with faculty in higher education is a plus.
• Familiarity with HR practices (evaluation, hiring, etc.).
• Certification in IT or AV field desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manages day-to-day field event staffing, coordination and scheduling, and resource distribution across field teams to ensure operational success across a portfolio of Harvard community events, including evenings and weekends.
• Oversees onboarding, training, and professional development for the field events team; assigns work, ensures quality control, and plans in conjunction with ESS leadership.
• Participates in the hiring process, including interviewing candidates; approves time and absences for direct reports.
• Serves as a trusted advisor to ESS leadership, troubleshooting operational issues on the ground.
• Determines, with input from the coordinators, Field Production Managers, and Manager of Media Production, capacity to support event requests and refers clients to outside resources as required.
• Coordinates with the Integrated AV Services team to ensure design updates and maintenance of event venue equipment that effectively support event needs, should those differ from standard designs.
• With other managers and ESS leadership, develops and maintains an operations dashboard, aggregating real-time information from workflow platforms and other inputs (including ITSM platforms and HART) to support data-driven decision-making by ESS leadership.
• Cultivates new business and maintains positive relationships with existing clients; coordinates/supervises the invoicing and billing process to ensure accuracy and timeliness and explores opportunities to improve workflows and optimize revenue generation.
• Actively participates in the Events budget planning process, provides data, and advises leadership regarding staffing and operational needs; contributes to developing a book of business to ensure this service line has a sustainable financial model.
• Organizes the review and purchase of non-capital equipment in support of field events, ensuring operational needs are met and that purchase requests are reviewed and approved to maximize ESS support strategies and efficiencies.
• Abides by and follows HUIT technical standards, policies, and Code of Conduct.
• Builds strong relationships with AV teams, Teaching & Learning colleagues, clients, and vendors to successfully execute non-class events and achieve a high level of client satisfaction.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree