Director of Operations, Event Management Services

Lindenwood University; Saint Charles (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Lindenwood University seeks a Director of Operations, Event Management Services to oversee planning, budgeting, and execution of internal and external university events. You will lead teams of event planners, negotiate contracts, and align event operations with ROI objectives.

You will facilitate potential university partnerships across facilities, guide event management personnel, and coordinate logistics with multiple stakeholders to support university events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ten years of experience in event management, preferably in a collegiate environment.
• Prior management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops comprehensive event strategies aligned with university goals and ROI.
• Reviews and negotiates facility rental contracts to maximize ROI and ensure documentation for legal review.
• Creates, manages, and reconciles multi-event budgets including invoice processing.
• Negotiates competitive pricing with vendors to maximize ROI.
• Recruits, trains, supervises and mentors event staff; sets performance metrics and standards.
• Leads on-site event operations, manages run-of-show timelines, troubleshoots emergencies, ensures guest satisfaction.
• Analyzes performance metrics, reviews customer feedback, and reports on overall event profitability.

Skills

Event planning

Budget management

Contract negotiation

Staff leadership

Vendor sourcing

Microsoft Office

Communication

Confidentiality

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Reservation systems

Job description

Benefits of Being a Lindenwood Employee:

• Upon hire, employer-paid tuition benefits for bachelor’s(employee, spouse, and dependent) and master’s degree programs(employee and spouse only).
• Tuition discounts for doctoral programs (employee only).
• Comprehensive benefits plan: medical, dental, vision, lifeinsurance, disability insurance, and retirement options.
• Paid holidays: MLK Jr. day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break(Wednesday – Friday), and winter break (Dec. 23 – Jan. 1).
• Free lunch Fridays: LU employees are eligible for a free mealon Fridays at the Evans Commons Dining Hall or Spellman DiningHall; Chick-fil-A and Qdoba included.
• Professional development opportunities through the Lindenwood Learning Academy .

Job Title Summary

Job Title: Director of Operations, Event ManagementServices

Division: Fiscal Affairs

Evaluation Group: Exempt

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Senior Vice President, Operations

Positions Supervised: Event Coordinator, Event LogisticsCoordinator, Manager for Campus Box Office

Job Summary

The director of operations, event management services isresponsible for overseeing the planning, budgeting, and executionof internal and external university events. They lead teams ofevent planners, negotiates contracts, and aligns event operationswith overall university and return on investment (ROI) objectives.They assist in the facilitation of potential university partnershipopportunities impacting multiple university stakeholders throughthe use of university facilities. This position oversees andprovides guidance to the event management personnel.

Essential Job Functions and Performance Indicators

The intent of this job description is to provide a representationof the types of duties and level of responsibility that will be required of positions given this title. This job description shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Job Responsibilities and Execution

• Develops comprehensive event strategies ensuring every event aligns with university goals and objectives.
• Reviews and negotiates facility rental contracts to maximize ROI as well as ensure all applicable documentation is completed and submitted for legal review.
• Creates, manages, and reconciles multi-event budgets including invoice creation and processing.
• Negotiates competitive pricing with applicable vendors to maximize ROI.
• Recruits, trains, supervises and mentors event staff and coordinators. Set performance metrics and operational standards for service delivery.
• Leads on-site event operations, manages "run of show" timelines, troubleshoots emergencies, and ensures exceptional guest or attendee experiences.
• Analyzes performance metrics, reviews customer feedback, and reports on the overall success and profitability of events.

Service Excellence

• Supports the mission of the University and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellence.
• Models, supports, and holds others accountable to the University’s values

Communication, Teamwork, and Collaboration

• Serves as primary contact for all departments pertaining to partnership opportunities with event management services.
• Coordinates with key departments to manage logistics of external and key university events.
• Collaborates with university’s marketing and communication team to promote key information related to event management services.

Job may require other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered. Additional requirements may be designated by position.

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum ten years of experience in the event management environment and/or within a collegiate environment is preferred
• Prior management experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

May be representative, but not all inclusive, of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform this job competently.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures
• Familiar with contractual language, insurance guidelines, on-line reservation systems, inventory management, and vendor sourcing related to event management services.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software products
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skillsExcellent organizational and prioritization abilities including the ability to multitask
• Strong professional integrity and ability to maintain strict confidentiality
• Ability to use good judgment, think critically, and problem solve

Work Environment

Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of this job’s functions. Please click here to view Lindenwood University’s flexible work designation description.

• General office setting
• Fully On-Ground
• Flexible schedule is required as job will require ability to work evenings and weekends.

Physical Abilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to work effectively at a computer for up to eight hours daily
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lindenwood University is an Equal Opportunity employer. The University complies with appropriate federal, state, and local laws and provides equal employment opportunities and access to educational programs without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status to all qualified applicants and employees. Lindenwood University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and dedicated to providing a positive discrimination-free educational work environment.