Venue Operations Manager

Virginia Moca; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia MOCA seeks a Venue Operations Manager to coordinate internal and external facility usage, oversee rentals, and manage the museum's master calendar. You will drive revenue through rentals and partner collaborations while enforcing policies to minimize risk.

The role requires leadership, budgeting, and strong customer service skills, with responsibilities spanning evenings and weekends as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in business, management or museum studies.
• Minimum 3 years of related event planning, facility rental or museum experience.
• Experience with budgeting and program management is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and oversee all facility usage and rentals to meet revenue goals.
• Administer the master calendar and building schedule with cross‑department collaboration.
• Supervise the part‑time Event Coordinator and provide event oversight including evenings and weekends.
• Maintain records, track payments, and assist in marketing materials for facility rentals.

Skills

Administrative skills

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Computer skills

Budget management

Leadership

Planning

Customer service

Public relations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Management/Museum Studies

Equivalent experience

Tools

Planning Pod

Microsoft Office

Job description

POSITION: Venue Operations Manager

TYPE: Full-time

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

DEPARTMENT: Operations

REPORTS TO: Director of Operations

SUMMARY: Part of the Operations Department, the Venue Operations Manager coordinates and oversees all internal and external facility usage, including facility rentals. Administering the Museum’s master calendar and building schedule, the Venue Operations Manager works closely with members of all departments to coordinate facility usage needs and to assist in their planning and execution. This position also directly manages the Museum’s sales of facility rentals and other revenue- and non-revenue generating facility usages and activities in the Museum, including reciprocal, non-profit, community partner, and Batten University rentals. To meet or exceed annual budget goals, the Venue Operations Manager cultivates and maintains strong, positive relationships with clients, corporate, community, and University partners, as well as vendors, and develops and enforces facility usage policies that minimize risk to the Museum, its resources, and its operations.

SCHEDULE: 9-5 Monday through Friday typical. Day-of facility rental and Museum event support will require additional evenings and weekends.

COMPENSATION: $55,000

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work closely with Director of Operations to set facility rental goals and budget. Solicit, contract, coordinate and supervise a robust calendar of facility rentals to meet or exceed those goals and revenue objectives.
• Work with all departments and University counterparts to oversee the Museum’s master calendar and to create the monthly Building Schedule for the security team, and to help coordinate and facilitate events and rentals.
• Work with Marketing & Events Department to coordinate marketing efforts and update Facility Rental marketing materials as needed, and to assist with Virginia MOCA’s special events.
• Represent Virginia MOCA at networking events, industry showcases, bridal expositions, and other opportunities that promote the Museum as a premier event venue.
• Provide exceptional and timely customer service and solicit post-event feedback to build and maintain strong relationships with clients, community and University partners, and outside vendors and coordinators.
• Maintain updated records, track payments, and submit accounting materials to Finance, and monitor retention, peak timeframes, and other market trends.
• Oversee Museum amenities to monitor condition, cleaning, maintenance, and replacement needs, and propose replacements or new acquisitions as needed.
• Supervise part-time Event Coordinator, who will serve as primary day-of staff member for facility rentals, and provide operational oversight and coverage/support as needed, including evenings and weekends.
• Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, Museum Studies or related area of interest required, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of related event planning, facility rental or museum experience.
• Demonstrated facility rental success and/or sales success, strong administrative and interpersonal skills, excellent writing, communication and computer skills, and proven budget and program management skills.
• Experience with customer service and working with public desired along with working knowledge of facility rental policies and procedures.
• Must have strong leadership and planning skills.
• Knowledge of modern computer programs, including database entry and Microsoft Office.
• Experience in Planning Pod a plus.
• Prolonged standing, sitting, and computer usage.
• Flexible work schedule to include some nights, early mornings, and weekend hours for meeting with clients, event oversight, or Virginia MOCA special events.
• Ability to work long hours as needed.
• Ability to lift and carry 10-20 pounds or greater.
• Maintain working standards and best practices for the museum, as defined in employee handbook and by the American Alliance of Museums.

Virginia MOCA strives for an inclusive work environment and actively embraces a diversity of people, ideas, talents, and experiences. We highly encourage Black, indigenous, and people of color, individuals with disabilities, and other historically underrepresented groups to apply. No phone calls or walk-ins, please. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews will be held thereafter.