Manager of Hospitality and Events

Principia The • Elsah, IL

9d • $57,750 - $67,200 • Onsite

About The Position

The Manager of Hospitality and Events oversees the day-to-day operations of campus events, guest services, conference support, and hospitality functions, including the Guest House. This position is responsible for coordinating logistics, supervising event staff, ensuring exceptional guest experiences, and executing events and hospitality services in alignment with institutional standards. Working under the direction of the Director, the Manager ensures the smooth operation of campus venues, guest accommodations, student event staffing, and event support services while maintaining a high standard of customer service and operational excellence. This position reports to the Director of Events & Hospitality and works closely with Student Life, Facilities, Dining Services, Media Services, Admissions, Advancement, Athletics, Academic Affairs, and the President's Office. The Manager supervises student event staff and may oversee additional event support personnel. The position serves as a primary operational liaison with campus departments, vendors, conference organizers, and guests.

Requirements

• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays as required by event schedules
• Ability to stand, walk, lift, move, and transport event materials and equipment.
• Ability to work in indoor and outdoor environments.
• Must be able to respond to operational issues during events and guest stays as needed.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three to five years of experience in event operations, hospitality, conference services, guest services, or a related field.
• Strong organizational, customer service, and project coordination skills.

Nice To Haves

• Student of Christian Science, preferred
• Supportive of Principia’s guiding statements
• Experience supervising staff and/or student employees preferred.
• Experience working in higher education, hospitality, nonprofit, or other mission-driven environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates and executes the logistical aspects of campus events, conferences, meetings, and special programs.
• Serves as the operational lead for assigned events, ensuring facilities, catering, technology, transportation, equipment, signage, and staffing needs are met.
• Assists with major institutional events including Commencement, Convocation, Parent & Family Weekend, Orientation, Homecoming, speaker events, and campus traditions.
• Supports student organizations, house boards, departments, and conference groups with event planning and execution.
• Monitors event activities and provides on-site troubleshooting and problem resolution.
• Manages day-to-day operations of the Guest House and related hospitality services.
• Oversees guest reservations, check-in processes, room readiness, amenities, and service requests.
• Ensures a welcoming, professional, and high-quality experience for campus visitors, speakers, conference attendees, prospective students, alumni, donors, and other guests.
• Coordinates hospitality arrangements for VIP visitors and special campus guests.
• Maintains guest service standards established by the department.
• Recruits, trains, schedules, and supervises student event staff and support personnel.
• Assigns work responsibilities and monitors performance.
• Develops student leadership, customer service, hospitality, and event management skills.
• Ensures appropriate staffing coverage for events, conferences, and guest operations.
• Maintains training materials and operational procedures for student workers.
• Coordinates space reservations, room setups, furniture arrangements, equipment deployment, and event readiness.
• Monitors the condition and utilization of event venues and hospitality spaces.
• Coordinates with Facilities, Custodial Services, Dining Services, and Media Services to ensure successful event execution.
• Maintains inventories of supplies, equipment, and hospitality resources.
• Assists in managing departmental budgets and tracking event-related expenditures.
• Processes invoices, purchase requests, reservations, and operational documentation.
• Maintains event records, utilization reports, and assessment data.
• Supports contract administration and vendor coordination as assigned.
• Generates reports related to event participation, facility utilization, and guest services.
• Serves as a key point of contact for event sponsors, guests, vendors, and campus partners.
• Communicates event requirements clearly and effectively across departments.
• Upholds professionalism, diplomacy, and confidentiality when interacting with internal and external stakeholders.
• Contributes to a culture of hospitality, collaboration, and service excellence across campus.

Benefits

• Generous Employee Tuition Discount: Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded).
• Relocation: Principia provides a relocation reimbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary, when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles.
• Professional Development: Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support.
• Comprehensive Benefits: including comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, paid time off, a 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching, and more.

What This Job Offers

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