Director, The Slover

City of Norfolk, VA; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Signing bonus

Job summary

The City of Norfolk is seeking a visionary Director for The Slover, a premier mixed-use destination welcoming hundreds of thousands annually. You will provide strategic leadership, oversee operations, and coordinate programming across venues, libraries, and education initiatives to maximize impact and community engagement.

With a master’s degree and at least five years in senior leadership, you will expand partnerships, diversify revenue, and guide staff to deliver exceptional experiences while

Qualifications

• Specialized knowledge through a master’s degree or related degree and equivalent experience in nonprofit or business.
• Experience with event management and community-focused arts and communication.
• Five plus years of leadership and organizational development, and diverse staff management.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic vision and executive leadership for The Slover.
• Oversees venue operations, community programming, and revenue-generating activities.
• Cultivates partnerships with the Slover Library Foundation, Norfolk Public Library, city leadership, and community stakeholders.

Skills

Event management

Community engagement

Leadership

Education

Master’s degree / MBA / MPA or related degree

Job description

Description

The City of Norfolk is seeking an innovative, visionary, and collaborative leader to serve as Director of The Slover, the City's premier mixed-use event, meeting, and community destination that welcomes over 150,000 visitors a year. The Director provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for one of Norfolk's signature public facilities, integrating hospitality, event experiences, arts and culture, entrepreneurship, education, and public services into a vibrant destination that serves residents, businesses, visitors, and community partners.

The Director is responsible for ensuring operational excellence, exceptional customer experiences, financial sustainability, and strong community partnerships. Through innovative leadership and collaboration, the Director maximizes facility utilization, expands community impact, and positions The Slover as a center for civic engagement and learning as well as a regional destination where people gather to celebrate, collaborate and experience arts and culture.

The Slover Is Home To Five Integrated Operating Areas

• Venue Rentals & Guest Experiences: including meetings, conferences, weddings, special events, and the 235 Speakeasy at The Slover
• Downtown Branch at Slover: An anchor-branch sized library in the Norfolk Public Library System
• Creative Studios: Digital Media, Sound Studio, and Maker Studio
• Hendrix Business Center: A resource for entrepreneurs who are starting or growing business or non-profit organizations
• Café Space: Operated through a lease agreement

The Director ensures these operating areas work together as a cohesive destination while recognizing the unique mission and purpose of each. The Downtown Branch at Slover is an integral component of the Norfolk Public Library System. The Director of The Slover provides administrative oversight for the Downtown Branch while ensuring library operations support the strategic direction, policies, service standards, and initiatives established by the Director of Libraries.

The Director serves as the primary representative for The Slover and works collaboratively with City leadership, the Slover Library Foundation, Norfolk Public Library System, community organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit partners, and private businesses to strengthen community engagement, increase earned and contributed revenue, expand strategic partnerships, and enhance The Slover's regional visibility and impact.

Essential Functions

Executive Leadership

• Provides strategic vision and executive leadership for The Slover.
• Establishes measurable organizational goals and performance metrics.
• Promotes a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and exceptional customer service.
• Leads organizational change initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness and customer experience.

Venue & Destination Operations

• Oversees The Slover as a premier event venue and multi-use destination.
• Maximizes facility utilization through a balanced mix of public services, community programming, and revenue-generating activities.
• Provides leadership for venue rentals, meetings, conferences, weddings, special events, and hospitality operations, including the 235 Speakeasy and café lease agreement.
• Ensures outstanding customer experience across all operating areas.
• Ability to develop new opportunities for community events, lectures, art shows and civic gatherings as well as develop synergistic partnerships with other attractions both in the city and in the region.

Downtown Branch at Slover

• Provides administrative oversight for the Downtown Branch at Slover.
• Collaborates with the Director of Libraries to ensure library operations, collections, programming, and services remain aligned with the Norfolk Public Library System's strategic plan, policies, and service standards.

Hendrix Business Center

• Oversees programs, partnerships, and services supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, workforce development, and lifelong learning.
• Expands opportunities for economic development through strategic partnerships and community collaboration.

Creative Studios

• Provides leadership for the Creative Studios by expanding access to innovative technologies, creative resources, and educational opportunities.
• Supports programming that encourages creativity, digital literacy, and community engagement.

Financial Management & Revenue Development

• Develops and administers departmental operating and capital budgets.
• Identifies opportunities to diversify revenue through venue rentals, commissions, grants, philanthropy, and entrepreneurial initiatives.
• Monitors financial performance and ensures responsible stewardship of public resources.

Community Partnerships & External Relations

• Serves as The Slover's chief ambassador and spokesperson.
• Cultivates productive relationships with the Slover Library Foundation, Norfolk Public Library leadership, Friends of Norfolk Public Library, City leadership, businesses, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders.

Facility Operations

• Oversees facility maintenance, capital improvements, safety, security, and long-range asset management.
• Ensures the facility remains welcoming, accessible, and operationally efficient.

Organizational Leadership

• Recruits, develops, mentors, and evaluates department staff.
• Promotes diversity, inclusion, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Supports employee development through coaching, succession planning, and professional learning opportunities.

Education/Experience

Specialized knowledge in a professional or technical field which is generally acquired through a master’s degree, MBA, MPA or related degree and equivalent coursework/experience related to non-profit or business.

Experience with event management, community focused arts and communication. Possesses and builds strong relationships in the region within the business, nonprofit and institutional communities.

Five plus years of related experience, including a track record of organizational leadership and development; innovation in lifelong learning through programs, exhibits, services, and events; knowledge of complex building operations and technology; and experience in equitably leading a diverse staff and patronage.

Additional Information & Requirements

Signing Bonus

This position is eligible for a one-time $5,000 sign-on bonus.

This position is unclassified and serves at the will of the City Manager.

• Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
• Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.
• Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.

Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

• The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant's school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

Note

The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.

Non-City

Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.