Assistant Director, Event Services & Systems

University Of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous time off

Retirement plan

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

University of Michigan is seeking a leader to manage Conference & Event Services technology systems, train staff, and drive project initiatives. You will oversee a small team and two service desks, ensuring accurate event contracts and coordinated service delivery across campus partners.

Reporting to the Associate Director for Event Services, you will work on departmental software upgrades, invoicing, and business analytics to improve efficiency and revenue planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 4 years of event management experience in a corporate hospitality or university environment, or related environment.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience supervising, developing, and supporting professional and/or student staff.
• Experience supporting business technology systems, including training, and/or process improvement.
• Experience leading projects and coordinating work.

Responsibilities

• Lead the administration, configuration, maintenance, and continuous improvement of Conference & Event Services technology systems, including scheduling software, resource and pricing configurations, client data, and system upgrades.
• Evaluate latest technologies and serve as project manager for new system implementations, software replacements, department plans, and process improvements in collaboration with technical and operational partners.
• Develop and maintain department operating procedures, policies, system documentation, training materials, and other resources that support use of technology and operational processes
• Lead technology and systems training for Conference & Event Services and other Student Life partners, providing ongoing support to system users.
• Oversee professional and student staff, including oversight of two service desk operations and responsibility for hiring, training, performance management, and service standards.
• Foster a service-focused culture that supports communication with clients and delivers a high-quality conference and event experience.
• Manage a portfolio of conferences and events. Coordinating with clients, catering, facilities, and other campus partners is crucial. This collaboration helps develop proposals, reservations, service agreements, and event logistics.
• Oversee event-related financial and business processes, including accurate invoicing, revenue projections, sales and pacing reports, customer evaluations, and business analysis to inform operational and financial decision-making.
• Support the planning and execution of large-scale conferences, events, and department initiatives, and represent Conference & Event Services on division or university committees and work teams as assigned.

Skills

Event management

Staff supervision

Project leadership

Training & support

Communication with clients

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Scheduling software

Job description

Job Summary

Department Summary

Conference and Event Services provides expertise in conference and event management to U-M and external groups. The department coordinates over 15,000 events annually, over 160 summer conference groups, over 100,000 summer bednights and dozens of conferences. Overall department sales typically exceed $13 million. As a member of the team you will provide systems administration, project management, and event management for the department. You will lead a team responsible for service desk operations and serve as the department lead for student supervision for a large annual conference coordinated by the department. This Student Life auxiliary organization endeavors to be student-focused and financially assertive, requiring the ability of its leadership to fulfill the Student Life mission while managing entrepreneurial and business-savvy enterprises.

Job Summary

Lead department systems administration and configuration including systems training. Be the project manager for department initiatives and new software implementation. Lead a customer service operation (currently 2 full-time employees, 12-15 students) to ensure that all event related communication and contracts for service are accurate and complete. Maintain a portfolio of events requiring multiple services coordination. Financial responsibilities include department event invoicing (currently 2x week) and providing business analysis reports to inform operational efficiencies and revenue projections.

You will report directly to the Associate Director for Event Services, while working with the Director on departmental initiatives and projects.

You will work a hybrid-schedule out of Ann Arbor, MI.

• Lead the administration, configuration, maintenance, and continuous improvement of Conference & Event Services technology systems, including scheduling software, resource and pricing configurations, client data, and system upgrades.
• Evaluate latest technologies and serve as project manager for new system implementations, software replacements, department plans, and process improvements in collaboration with technical and operational partners.
• Develop and maintain department operating procedures, policies, system documentation, training materials, and other resources that support use of technology and operational processes
• Lead technology and systems training for Conference & Event Services and other Student Life partners, providing ongoing support to system users.
• Oversee professional and student staff, including oversight of two service desk operations and responsibility for hiring, training, performance management, and service standards.
• Foster a service-focused culture that supports communication with clients and delivers a high-quality conference and event experience.
• Manage a portfolio of conferences and events. Coordinating with clients, catering, facilities, and other campus partners is crucial. This collaboration helps develop proposals, reservations, service agreements, and event logistics. Additionally, it enables resolving issues independently.
• Oversee event-related financial and business processes, including accurate invoicing, revenue projections, sales and pacing reports, customer evaluations, and business analysis to inform operational and financial decision-making.
• Support the planning and execution of large-scale conferences, events, and department initiatives, and represent Conference & Event Services on division or university committees and work teams as assigned.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 4 years of event management experience in a corporate hospitality or university environment, or related environment
• Minimum of 2 years of experience supervising, developing, and supporting professional and/or student staff.
• Experience supporting business technology systems, including training, and/or process improvement.
• Experience leading projects and coordinating work

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Your benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .

Additional Information

This role may have reporting obligations under Title IX and Clery.

Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment and applicants for this position will not be sponsored for work visas.

Selected candidates whose start date is between 4/1/2026 - 9/1/2026 will not be eligible for the university FY26-27 salary/merit plan unless otherwise notified.

Salary may vary depending on qualifications, experience, and education of the selected candidate.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.The review and selection process maybegin as early as the eighth day after posting.Thisopening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.