Chief of Events & Facilities

Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau; Hammond (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority (SSCVA) seeks a Chief of Events & Facilities to lead event strategy, sales, planning, and execution at the Indiana Welcome Center and off-site activations. You will develop innovative concepts, secure sponsorships, and drive revenue while ensuring brand standards and safety across all programs.

Responsibilities include budgeting with the CFO, vendor coordination, and post-event evaluations to continuously improve offerings for visitors and the

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in event management.
• Budgeting and financial reporting experience.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Experience with venue management and event operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead event strategy, sales and booking for the Indiana Welcome Center and off-site locations.
• Develop and propose innovative event concepts and experiences to attract visitors and generate revenue.
• Identify sponsorships and funding opportunities to support events and programs.
• Establish event pricing, policies, contracts and procedures for rentals.
• Oversee on-site event operations, staffing, and vendor management.
• Coordinate with marketing for max attendance and visibility.
• Collaborate with Facility Manager on maintenance scheduling and capital improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Project management

Communication

Negotiation

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in marketing / hospitality / event management

Job description

BASIC FUNCTIONS

The Chief of Events & Facilities leads and manages all aspects of event strategy, booking, planning, and execution for the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority (SSCVA). This role oversees events hosted at the Indiana Welcome Center as well as off-site activations and programs that support tourism, community engagement, and organizational revenue.

This position is responsible for securing sponsorships, developing partnerships, and ensuring the successful execution of events from concept through completion.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Event Strategy, Sales & Booking

• Oversees all aspects of booking and managing events at the Indiana Welcome Center and offsite locations.
• Develops, proposes, and leads the creation of new and innovative event concepts, programs, and experiences that attract visitors, engage the community, generate revenue, and enhance the SSCVA's tourism mission.
• Continuously identifies emerging event trends, opportunities, and community interests and develops creative programming ideas that can expand SSCVA's event offerings and visitor experiences.
• Identifies and secures sponsorships, partnerships, and funding opportunities to support events and programs.
• Establishes event pricing, policies, contracts, and procedures for internal and external facility rentals.
• Cultivates relationships with community partners, vendors, municipalities, and tourism stakeholders to expand event opportunities.
• Serves as the primary contact for event clients and partners from inquiry through post-event evaluation.
• Oversees event marketing collaboration with the marketing team to maximize attendance and visibility.

Event Planning & Execution

• Leads planning, logistics, and execution of SSCVA signature events, partner events, and community programs.
• Develops timelines, run-of-show documents, staffing plans, and vendor coordination for all events.
• Works with CFO on event budgets, revenue tracking, and financial reporting to ensure fiscal responsibility and compliance.
• Oversees on-site event operations including setup, teardown, staffing coordination, and vendor management.
• Ensures all events meet SSCVA brand standards, safety requirements, and customer service expectations.
• Conducts post-event evaluations and implements improvements for future programming.

Facilities Oversight & Coordination

• Works with the Facility Manager and collaborates on event setup and capital improvement projects.
• Coordinates facility scheduling to ensure alignment between events and maintenance.
• Ensures compliance with safety, security, and accessibility standards for all public and event spaces.
• Assists with long-term facility planning and budgeting related to event growth and operational needs.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Ideal candidate possesses strong experience in event management and sponsorship development. Demonstrated leadership, budgeting, and project management skills required. Excellent communication, negotiation, and organizational skills essential.

Bachelor's degree in marketing, hospitality, tourism, event management, business, or related field preferred. Five or more years of progressive experience in event planning, venue management, or related field required.

DISCLAIMER

Job descriptions are not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with a job; they are intended to be reflections of the principal job elements essential for this position.