Senior Associate Director, Venues

The George Washington University; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 77,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

The George Washington University is seeking a Sr. Associate Director, Venues, to lead GW Venues’ operations on the Foggy Bottom campus. This role oversees the USC and other campus venues, guiding two Venue Managers and coordinating with internal partners to deliver high-profile events.

Reporting to the Director, Venues, you will manage planning, budgeting, vendor relationships, safety/compliance, and post-event reviews, with hybrid onsite requirements in Washington, DC.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED with 4 years of relevant experience; or a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
• CMP or related certification is required.
• Experience organizing complex events at a university is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead Venue Manager for sponsored and external events at USC and campus venues.
• Partner with leadership to market USC capabilities to high-value prospective clients.
• Supervise two Venue Managers and develop venue staff training.
• Ensure compliance with safety, accessibility, and university policies across events.
• Coordinate with Facilities, Campus Safety, GWPD, AV, and USC staff to deliver events.
• Create detailed event orders and manage vendor selection, budgeting, and on-site execution.

Skills

Event management

Stakeholder coordination

Leadership

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Description Summary

The George Washington University was founded in 1821 in response to a vision that the nation’s foremost founder spelled out in his last will and testament. He dreamed of a university that would educate the citizen leaders of the new nation he had done so much to create. Today the university that bears his name is different in many ways from what George Washington could have imagined. He could not have imagined the sheer size of its enrollment, now 26,000 students, including women as well as men from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Nor could he have envisioned a university with multiple campuses and 14 schools; with more than 120 departments and 95 centers and institutes; with a half-million-square foot science and engineering building; with a school of public health, located on a circle that bears his name; or with a museum housing a world-class collection of textiles and the history of the great capital city he had only begun to plan.

Posting Details

I. Job Overview

Job Description Summary

The George Washington University was founded in 1821 in response to a vision that the nation’s foremost founder spelled out in his last will and testament. He dreamed of a university that would educate the citizen leaders of the new nation he had done so much to create. Today the university that bears his name is different in many ways from what George Washington could have imagined. He could not have imagined the sheer size of its enrollment, now 26,000 students, including women as well as men from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Nor could he have envisioned a university with multiple campuses and 14 schools; with more than 120 departments and 95 centers and institutes; with a half-million-square foot science and engineering building; with a school of public health, located on a circle that bears his name; or with a museum housing a world-class collection of textiles and the history of the great capital city he had only begun to plan.

GW Venues (a department in the Division of Safety and Operations) produces and manages events in specialty venues on the Foggy Bottom Campus. We provide services to a broad spectrum of clients both in the community and outside of the community. We provide spaces for our students, faculty, staff and guests to host events, meetings and gatherings. We highlight university traditions, produce memorable guest speaker events and coordinate many other activities unique to our campus with local, national and international acclaim. Our record of excellence, support and cooperation is one that we are proud of.

Reporting to the Director, Venues, the Sr. Associate Director, Venues assists with supporting the GW Venues Team that manages the logistics for events and activities booked on campus by an Event Hosts. These events provide support for both internal and external partners who require logistical assistance in specialty event venues, outdoor spaces and other emerging partner campus venues. This position serves as the strategic lead for sponsored and external events booked at the University Student Center ( USC ). The Sr. Associate Director manages two Venue Managers as direct reports to manage the events at USC and other emerging partner venues on campus.

Responsibilities include

• Serves as the lead Venue Manager for sponsored and external events at USC and other specialty venues on campus overseeing assigned events from the planning stage through live execution.
• Partner with leadership to strategically market the unique abilities and resources of the USC , actively engaging with high-value prospective clients to pitch capabilities, overcome objections, and successfully bring in new clients.
• Manages two Venue Managers as direct reports.
• Partners with event hosts to plan and execute campus events while actively enforcing all university compliance policies, safety guidelines, accessibility standards, and operational excellence expectations.
• Assists in the development, enforcement, and updating of venue usage policies, event safety procedures, scheduling protocols, operational guidelines, and SOPs for new venues.
• Contributes to weekly team meeting agendas and participates actively in cross-functional coordination meetings to align on upcoming event requirements and coordinating with USC operational staff.
• Ensures spaces are utilized at optimal capacity during events.
• Works with event hosts on logistical planning, direction, and execution, including but not limited to consulting on vendor selection, script review, and budgeting.
• Serves as the primary liaison between clients, contractors, caterers, administrators, and university partners to manage all logistical aspects of events.
• Conducts pre-event walk-throughs with clients, vendors, and security to familiarize them with the venue.
• Supervises event onsite, acting as the primary point of contact for troubleshooting and last-minute adjustments.
• Conduct post-event walkthroughs with clients to ensure the venue, furniture, and equipment are returned in their original condition, documenting any discrepancies or maintenance issues that require resolution.
• Coordinates and cultivates relationships with shared services and partner departments across campus (e.g., Facilities, Campus Safety, GWPD , AV, Housekeeping, USC staff, etc.) to execute event logistics, including room setup, vendor/attendee access, staffing, and crowd management to ensure all operational needs are addressed efficiently.
• Works with clients to determine room setups and create/update diagrams for each event.
• Provides guidance to clients regarding third-party vendors for additional services (e.g., décor, entertainment, rentals) and work along with the Production Team to provide guidance on vendors for additional AV services.
• Assists with interviewing candidates, training, and supervising venue staff.
• Assists with the development and management of trainings and templates for venue staff.
• Creates detailed event orders—including comprehensive timelines, setup logistics, furniture and equipment needs, and labor requirements—to clearly communicate operational expectations and final costs to the client.
• Consults with the scheduling department to assess availability for requested events and staffing needs at venues on campus.
• Maintains accurate records of event details, incidents, and client feedback for continuous improvement, assisting with the development, distribution, and analysis of post-event evaluation surveys.
• Creates and sends all appropriate reports in a timely manner.
• Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position. The position is based at GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus in Washington, DC.

Minimum Qualifications

Qualified candidates will hold a high school diploma/ GED plus 4 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications

• CMP or related certification required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working at a University is desired
• 4+ years’ experience organizing complex events, managing large auditoriums/theaters or TV quality studio venues is preferred.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Commitment to GW’s values
• Intellectual, professional and a person of integrity
• Honest, with the highest ethical standards
• Passionate, collaborative, strategic, and smart with a hands-on, roll-up-the-sleeves orientation
• Ability to work independently
• Self-starter; hard worker
• Takes the initiative; very high energy
• Personally accountable
• Assumes ownership, control, and accountability for all areas of responsibility and commitments made to others
• Sincere, open, and direct communicator
• Puts organizational interests above self-interests and is comfortable expressing candid opinions
• Highest levels of responsiveness
• Combination of strong intellect that is combined with a practical and realistic common sense understanding of how to get things done
• Ability to demonstrate initiative, a strong desire to succeed and exert the extraordinary effort often required
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-growth, entrepreneurial environment
• Ability to work with faculty and staff in a respectful way
• Establish trust and credibility with institutional leadership and across the University
• Seeks “win-win” solutions to help foster continued integration and collaboration
• Flexible and receptive to change
• A positive “can-do” attitude.

Hiring Range

$76,921.10 - $133,924.98

GW Staff Approach to Pay

How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

Healthcare Benefits

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

II. JOB DETAILS

Campus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

College/School/Department: Division of Safety and Operation

Family: Safety and Facilities

Sub-Family: Events

Stream: Management

Level: Level 1

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5 pm, with flexibility to work occasional nights and/or weekends

Will this job require the employee to work on site?: Yes

Employee Onsite Status: Hybrid

Telework: Yes

Required Background Check: Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Special Instructions to Applicants: Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Internal Applicants Only?: No

Posting Number: S014429

Job Open Date: 08/26/2026

Background Screening

Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

EEO Statement

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.