Director, The Slover

City of Norfolk, VA

Norfolk (VA)

On-site

USD 110,000 - 170,000

Full time

15 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Job summary

The City of Norfolk seeks an innovative, visionary leader to serve as Director of The Slover, the city’s premier mixed-use event, meeting, and community destination. You will provide strategic leadership and oversee operations spanning hospitality, arts and culture, education, and public services.

Five+ years of leadership, experience in event management and community partnerships, and a master’s or related degree are required.

Qualifications

Master’s degree, MBA, MPA or related degree; experience in non-profit or business.
Five+ years of related leadership experience.
Experience in event management, arts and culture, and community partnerships.
Ability to develop and monitor budgets; fundraising and revenue diversification.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic vision and executive leadership for The Slover.
Oversee venue operations, rentals, events, and hospitality services.
Develop partnerships with libraries, foundations, and community partners.
Manage budgets and revenue development.
Recruit and develop staff; promote diversity and inclusion.

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.

Description

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.

Benefits

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.

Tuition Assistance Program

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.

Supplemental Questions

I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)
I am not a Veteran
I am a Veteran
I am a Disabled Veteran

Please select the highest level of education you have completed.
High School Diploma/GED
Some College (6 months or more)
Vocational/Technical Degree
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree or higher

Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?
Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee
Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee
No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee

Please describe your experience creating and administering a departmental budget.

How many years of supervisory experience do you possess?
I do not have any related experience
Less than one (1) year of experience
1 to 2 years of experience
2 to 4 years of experience
More than four (4) years of experience

How many years of management experience do you have in library services or a related field?
Less than 6 months
6 months to 1 year
1 to 2 years
2 to 4 years
4 to 5 years
5+ years
No experience

If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employee's full name, department, and job title, and your relationship to the employee. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."