Senior Event Permitting Specialist

City and County of Denver; United States; Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

457B Retirement Plan

PTO 140 hours

Paid holidays & personal days

Medical, Dental & Vision plans

Family Leave

Employee Assistance Program

EcoPass

Job summary

Denver Arts & Venues (DAV) is seeking a Senior Event and Film Permitting Specialist to coordinate citywide permitting for 450+ events and 350 filming projects annually on public property. You will serve as senior point of contact, guiding organizers and partner agencies through requirements while upholding standards and risk mitigation.

This role supports mega-events, high-visibility productions, and interagency coordination, with a focus on safety, policy alignment, and proactive process

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Marketing, Business Administration, Facility Management, or related field.
• 5 years of event production, planning, or permitting experience.
• Driver's license required; licenses/certifications kept current.
• Ability to lead multi-agency projects and engage executive leadership.
• Strong written and verbal communication; risk management.

Responsibilities

• Interpret policies and advise on permitting requirements for events and films.
• Manage a high-volume portfolio of complex event and film applications.
• Oversee full permit lifecycle and determine modifications.
• Issue invoices, permits, and denials; track decisions in CRM.
• Collaborate with City agencies to resolve conflicts and impacts.
• Lead coordination meetings with organizers and stakeholders.
• Lead post-event debriefs and implement improvements.

Skills

Project management

Interagency coordination

Communication

Analytical thinking

Risk assessment

Public safety planning

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration or related field

Tools

CRM database

PEFP system

Job description

About Our Job With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

What We Offer

The City and County of Denver offers competitive pay commensurate with education and experience. The salary range for this position is $80,217-132,358/year. New hires are typically brought into the organization with a starting pay between $95.000-110,000/year, based on education and experience.

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date STD, LTD, HSA, FSA, Life Insurance CARE Bank
• Family Leave Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program, Employee Volunteer Program
• EcoPass (unlimited free RTD bus/train rides)

Location & Schedule

This position reports to 1245 Champa St. Denver, CO, 80204.

Denver Arts and Venues currently operates on a hybrid schedule in which a minimum three days a week are in office or onsite. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

Who We Are & What You’ll Do

So that all may thrive, Denver Arts & Venues (DAV) enriches and advances Denver’s quality of life and economic vitality through premier public venues, arts, cultural and entertainment opportunities. DAV is also responsible for operating some of the region’s most renowned facilities including Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Colorado Convention Center, Denver Coliseum and McNichols Civic Center Building. Arts & Venues also oversees numerous cultural investments and grant programs such as Denver’s Public Art Program. Denver Arts and Venues is deeply committed to an equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) practice that closes access gaps in arts and culture with urgency and accountability. We believe long term impact requires changing traditional processes, creating new systems, and developing authentic relationships to transformative work. Our work stands at the intersection of arts, culture and community.

Denver Arts and Venues is seeking a Senior Event and Film Permitting Specialist within its Public Event and Film Permitting (PEFP) team, which coordinates citywide permitting and compliance for more than 450 events and 350 filming projects held annually on Denver's public property; parks, streets, alleys, and plazas. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, this role serves as the senior point of contact and subject‑matter expert for event and film permitting guiding organizers, producers, and partner agencies through City requirements while upholding permitting standards, policy alignment, and risk mitigation. Events range from marathons, festivals, and championship parades to nationally televised productions and other large‑scale activations requiring significant multi‑stakeholder coordination.

Key Responsibilities

• Permitting and Compliance: Interpret complex policies and advise event organizers, film producers, vendors, City agencies, elected officials, and other stakeholders on permitting requirements, feasibility, compliance pathways, safety considerations, and citywide impacts.
• Manage a high‑volume portfolio of complex event and film applications, including those with heightened public visibility and enhanced risk mitigation needs.
• Oversee the full permit lifecycle - approving, escalating, or recommending modifications to applications based on City requirements, risk considerations, and operational constraints.
• Issue invoices, permits, and denials; ensure accurate tracking of decisions and supporting documentation in the CRM database and PEFP's system of record.
• Collaborate with multiple City agencies to identify and resolve conflicts, process gaps, competing priorities, and public impacts related to high‑profile events and films.
• Facilitate recurring coordination meetings with City agencies, organizers, producers, and stakeholders to align expectations, timelines, and operational needs.
• Lead post‑event debrief meetings, synthesizing input from City agencies and organizers into actionable recommendations for improving operations, safety protocols, policy, workflows, and interagency coordination.

Industry Engagement and Continuous Improvement

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve citywide event permitting guidance, standard operating procedures, safety toolkits, and process documentation.
• Track industry standards, best practices, safety recommendations, and regulatory changes; advise leadership on policy or procedural adjustments to keep Denver an accessible, competitive destination.
• Represent PEFP as a senior liaison in citywide forums including transportation planning, emergency management, and safety agency collaborations and in industry associations (CSEA, MSEA, ESA, IFEA).
• Provide on‑site support for high‑profile events as the senior PEFP city representative, coordinating real‑time response with safety agencies and city leadership.

Projects and Initiatives

• Support mega‑event bid reviews (major sports events, political activities, cultural festivals, large‑scale film productions) including feasibility assessment, permitting pre‑analysis, operational consultation, and coordination with organizers and tourism partners.
• Oversee or coordinate industry‑related trainings for staff, organizers, and City agencies on topics such as risk preparedness, crowd management, permitting best practices or other related specialty area.
• Initiate and drive projects that advance Denver Arts & Venues' mission, operational goals, and service standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

Ideal Candidate Qualifications

Seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in special event operations, event or film permitting, public safety planning, emergency management, municipal operations, or a closely related field, including work with complex, high‑impact events or productions. Advanced expertise in event permitting, municipal regulations, public property use, public safety considerations, operational planning, and interagency processes, with the ability to interpret complex requirements and translate them into clear, actionable guidance for diverse stakeholders. Experience independently leading complex, multi‑agency projects involving public safety partners, transportation considerations, community impacts, and competing operational priorities. Ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives without direct authority, build consensus among stakeholders with competing priorities, and drive work from concept through implementation — including engagement with executive leadership, elected officials, and community groups. Advanced project and workload management skills, including the ability to prioritize multiple high‑impact initiatives, anticipate emerging issues, and deliver results in a fast‑paced environment with short‑ and long‑term deadlines. Exceptional written and verbal communication and organizational skills. Strong analytical, research, and problem‑solving skills, including the ability to leverage data tools and emerging technologies (including AI) for process improvement. A high level of integrity, discretion, professionalism, and commitment to public service and excellent customer experience. Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively, support colleagues, share expertise, and deliver exceptional customer service.

Highly Desirable Experience

• Experience coordinating events or productions with 50,000+ attendees, significant transportation impacts, complex public safety considerations, and substantial community impacts.
• Experience collaborating with local, state, and federal safety agencies on operational plans, risk assessments, or emergency response frameworks.
• Experience conducting risk assessments, developing Event Emergency Action Plans, or facilitating emergency preparedness planning.
• Experience assessing mega‑event bids or proposals, including feasibility analyses, operational recommendations, and interagency coordination strategies.
• Experience developing and delivering training or educational content for professional audiences, government agencies, event organizers, or industry stakeholders.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Education Requirement: Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Marketing, Business Administration, Facility Management, or a related field.
• Experience Requirement: 5 years of experience performing event production, planning, or permitting activities.
• Education and Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post‑high school education. Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
• License/Certification Requirement: By position, requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application. Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real‑time captioning via CART, or disability‑related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact [e-mail] with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. For information about right to work, please refer to City and County of Denver resources.