Director of Venue Operations

Arts Hacker

Bend (OR)

On-site

USD 69,000 - 75,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Tower Theatre Foundation seeks a Director of Venue Operations in Bend, Oregon. You will drive financial performance, client experience, and front‑of‑house operations across Tower Theatre and Encore, shaping calendars, revenue, and staff growth.

The role requires tech‑savvy leadership to balance artistic vision with community access and sustainability while guiding a high‑performing team and overseeing multi‑function operations.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in business administration, arts administration, hospitality, venue management, or a related field.
Current First Aid/CPR certification and OLCC Alcohol Service Permit.
Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in performing arts venue operations, hospitality, or related fields.
Experience leading and developing staff across multiple functions.
Hands-on experience with ticketing and event management platforms.
Experience integrating systems (including via middleware platforms like Zapier) is a plus.
Strong organizational and project management skills to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and oversee multiple initiatives simultaneously.
Valid Oregon driver’s license, proof of current automobile insurance, and ability to meet driving requirements.
Ability to pass a criminal background check.

Responsibilities

Lead a mission-aligned operations team with clear expectations, development, collaboration and accountability.
Collaborate with programming, engagement, education, marketing, development, production and finance for aligned strategies.
Work with Finance to build and monitor budgets and provide regular progress reports to the Executive Director.
Own and optimize facility calendars for Tower Theatre and Encore to reflect artistic vision and financial sustainability.
Maximize calendar yield and manage event mix in support of TTF’s mission.
Ensure technical feasibility and production requirements are incorporated into scheduling.
Use data and planning tools to reduce dark days and improve long-range calendar performance.
Own dashboards tracking utilization, rental margin, ticketing performance, and concessions profitability.
Lead rental revenue strategy and negotiate contracts for 150+ annual events.
Build long-term relationships with rental clients and grow ancillary revenue from concessions and services.
Monitor event-level profitability with Finance and manage ticketing operations and pricing policies.
Set and monitor FOH KPIs; oversee concessions and hospitality performance.
Serve as senior escalation point for patron and risk management issues.

Skills

Leadership experience

Staff development

Ticketing systems

Project management

Data-driven decision making

Contract negotiation

Vendor/client relations

Financial oversight

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in business administration, arts administration, hospitality, venue management, or related field

Tools

Ticketing platforms

Data dashboards

System integration (Zapier)

Job description

Director of Venue Operations
FLSA Status: Exempt
Compensation: 68,800-75,000 annually
Category: Full-time (includes some evenings and weekends)
Reports to: Executive Director
Direct Reports: Events Manager; Ticketing Services Manager

Summary:
The Director of Venue Operations is at the intersection between operations, business development, and technology; and leads the financial performance, client experience, and front‑of‑house operations of the Tower Theatre Foundation’s (TTF) venues. The Director holds primary accountability over the facility calendars and ensures that every event balances artistic vibrancy, community access, and financial sustainability. As a member of the leadership team, this position drives earned revenue, optimizes venue utilization, and builds a high‑performing team through intentional coaching, clear expectations, and investment in staff growth.
This is a tremendous opportunity for a tech‑savvy sales and operations leader to maximize and strengthen the business of one of the most iconic theatres in Bend, Oregon.

Essential Duties

Leadership and Strategy
- Lead, mentor, and support a mission‑aligned operations team by fostering a culture of clear expectations, development, collaboration, accountability and shared purpose.
- Serve as a vital member of the TTF leadership team, collaborating with colleagues across programming, community engagement, education, marketing, development, production, and finance to ensure aligned messaging, and integrated strategies.
- Work with colleagues and Finance to build and monitor budget.
- Provide the Executive Director with regular progress reports.
Calendar Stewardship & Venue Strategy
- Serve as the primary owner for the facility calendars for the Tower Theatre and Encore, bringing together the Directors of Programming and Community Engagement to ensure scheduling decisions reflect TTF’s artistic vision, community commitments, and financial sustainability.
- Optimize calendar utilization and event mix to maximize yield per use day, while supporting TTF’s mission and identity.
- Partner with the Director of Production to ensure technical feasibility and production requirements are incorporated into scheduling and advance planning.
- Use data and planning tools to reduce dark days and improve long‑range calendar performance.
Financial Oversight & Business Intelligence
- Owns visibility into venue performance through dashboards tracking utilization, rental margin, ticketing performance, and concessions profitability.
- Partner with Finance to develop and manage rental and front‑of‑house budgets, including forecasting and variance analysis.
- Use data and technology to streamline workflows and inform decision making.
- Contribute to monthly financial and operational reviews, bringing forward insights and recommendations.
Rental Revenue & Client Experience
- Lead rental revenue strategy, pricing frameworks, and contract negotiation across 150+ annual events at the Tower Theatre and Encore.
- Serve as primary relationship lead for rental clients focusing on building long‑term partnerships and nurturing repeat rental clients.
- Grow ancillary revenue through concessions, hospitality packages, and value‑added services
- Monitor event‑level profitability metrics in partnership with Finance.
Ticketing & Front of House
- Oversee ticketing operations, including ticket builds, pricing structures, comp policies, and system optimization.
- Set and monitor KPIs for Front of House operations; ensuring consistency professionalism, and efficiency.
- Oversee concessions and hospitality performance; focusing on service quality and financial results.
- Serve as senior escalation point for patron and risk management issues.

Additional Responsibilities

Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental and organizational needs.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in business administration, arts administration, hospitality, venue management, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
Current or ability to obtain First Aid/CPR and OLCC Alcohol Service Permit.
Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in performing arts venue operations, hospitality, or related fields.
Experience leading and developing staff across multiple functions.
Hands‑on experience with ticketing and event management platforms.
Experience integrating systems (including via middleware platforms like Zapier) is a plus.
Strong organizational and project management skills to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and oversee multiple initiatives simultaneously.
Valid Oregon driver’s license, proof of current automobile insurance, and ability to meet TTF’s driving requirements, if driving is required as part of the position.
Ability to pass a criminal background check.

Working Conditions

Work is primarily performed in indoor office and theatre settings
Regular evening and weekend work required
Occasional exposure to loud noise.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements listed below are necessary to perform the essential functions of this position. The employee must be able to meet these requirements, with or without reasonable accommodation.