Rentals Manager

Museum Of Life And Science•Durham, NC

6h•$57,000 - $65,000•Onsite

About The Position

What if your next event venue included dinosaurs, treehouses, butterflies, and 84 acres of possibilities? Join the Museum of Life and Science as our Rentals Manager and lead the team that brings unforgettable weddings, celebrations, corporate gatherings, and special events to life—all while delivering exceptional client experiences and helping grow a dynamic, revenue-generating program.

Requirements

College degree in Event Management, Hospitality Management, or a related field, or 3+ years of relevant professional experience
Commitment to the Museum’s mission of sparking curiosity and respect for nature and science
Ability to collaborate effectively across teams, set priorities, and provide clear direction and leadership to staff.
Experience with contracts, budgets, invoices, and revenue goals
Experience responding to client escalations
Proficiency with CRM, event-management, database, or project-management systems
Available to work occasional weekends, evenings, and late nights
Physical ability to be on one’s feet for 8+ hours, travel distances of up to one mile on variable terrain, and lift 25 lbs.

Nice To Haves

Sales, business-development, or marketing experience
Experience working in a museum or similar public-facing environment
Previous experience supervising, coaching, or leading staff
Experience in emergency management
Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

Lead and support a responsive, client-centered sales and planning process that helps convert inquiries into successful rental events while meeting Museum revenue and service goals.
Set daily and weekly priorities for the Rentals team and assign work based on the event calendar, staff availability, and operational needs.
Provide regular supervision, coaching, feedback, and performance evaluations for direct reports.
Maintain oversight of the full rental calendar and identify potential conflicts involving staffing, spaces, equipment, or other Museum resources.
Establish and reinforce consistent team procedures, service standards, planning practices, and client communications.
Hire, train, coach, and develop Rentals staff; partner with Assistant Managers to build team capacity, delegate responsibilities effectively, and ensure appropriate coverage.
Serve as the first point of escalation for clients, vendors, and staff. Resolve routine concerns independently and bring significant policy, financial, safety, or client-service concerns to the Director.
Work closely with other Museum departments to ensure events are appropriately planned and supported.
Serve as the on-site venue manager or Event Captain for complex or high-profile events as needed.
Complete Emergency Coordinator training and serve as an after-hours Emergency Coordinator when needed.
Monitor rental revenue, sales pipeline, departmental expenses, and budget performance against established goals; identify trends or concerns and recommend appropriate action.
Ensure contracts, invoices, payment collection, recordkeeping, and financial reconciliation are completed accurately and on time.
Partner with the Director to implement departmental strategies, initiatives, and operational improvements.
Develop and maintain productive relationships with caterers, rental companies, planners, and other event vendors to support high-quality events and consistent Museum standards.
Represent the Museum at networking events and trade shows.
Perform other duties as assigned.