Director of Event Services

Are you a seasoned leader in the events and venue management industry? Do you want to join a team of event professionals committed to delivering exceptional guest experiences? If so, we invite you to apply for the role of Director of Event Services at the OCC. 
 
As the leader of our Event Services department, you will provide strategic direction and oversight to our Event Managers and other staff within the Event Services Department, ensuring the success of every event we execute. With your strong leadership skills and event management experience, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact and contribute to OCC’s continued success.

Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today and tomorrow. We offer a highly competitive compensation and benefits program. Learn more about the benefits Metro offers. 
 
The Oregon Convention Center is one of the largest convention venues in the Pacific Northwest, attracting out-of-town visitors to national conventions, tradeshows and meetings, and local people to special events. The convention center’s roughly 160 employees host more than 1 million visitors each year.
 
As part of the Metro family, the Oregon Convention Center helps make greater Portland a great place to call home. Metro brings people together to shape the future of our area and provides parks, venues, services and tools at a regional scale.
 
As the Director of Event Services you will:

Manage, train, and develop the Event Managers 
Coordinate and strategize with other departments to deliver on client requests 
Review event plans and diagrams to ensure SOP and process alignment, regulatory compliance, and information accuracy 
Support events and clients on site tours, planning meetings, and event management coverage 
Advocate for your department and clients to remove barriers in achievable client needs and requests 
Navigate challenges with clients and guests 
Work with the Director of Event Operations and Event Setup & Operations Manager on interdepartmental challenges, strategy, and budget planning and management 

Attributes for success:
Is passionate about providing superior public service in a team environment.
Deep knowledge and understanding of event management principles, standards, and approaches  
Venue management experience and understanding of standard safety requirements, ingress and egress, and crowd management principles 
Ability to effectively manage clients to ensure high levels of service while advocating for and protecting the venue, the staff, and assets  
Ability to be very detail-oriented and organized while also managing time and priorities wisely 
Ability to advocate for your staff and department while upholding the values, goals, and strategic direction of the organization 
Ability to develop and manage a department budget, including planning for equipment replacement, materials and services, and personnel. 
Ability to develop and execute strategic direction for the department to achieve short- and long-term goals.  
Ability to coach and develop supervisors, professionals, and event staff, including succession planning, developing career pathways, and strengthening skillsets within the department  
Knowledge of and ability to effectively manage multilevel teams, including team building, personnel supervision, mentoring, talent development, training, and performance evaluation 
Ability to manage a diverse team with compassion, collaboration, and accountability 
Excellent and effective verbal and written communication skills 
Advanced proficiency with computers and software, including Microsoft Office, event management software, and AutoCAD 

Diversity and inclusion:  At Metro, we’re committed to hiring a workforce representative of the communities we serve, recognizing that a diverse workforce strengthens our organization. We invest in employees by supporting equitable and inclusive hiring practices, employee policies and training programs.
 
TO QUALIFY
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.
 
Minimum qualifications: 
Bachelor’s degree in the assigned program area or a related field and
Three years leading or supervising people and
Two years project management experience in area of responsibility or
We will consider any combination of education and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.
Supervisory experience is defined as hiring, firing, discipling, coaching, developing and leading teams of people. 

Required:
Within 1 year of employment, Crowd Management Certification and CPR/First Aid 
Within 3 years of employment, CVP and CMP Certification 
Work Location & Schedule: 

Work Location: This position is hybrid with 50% remote and 50% on site. This position is given a designated office if mostly or only onsite work is preferred.  
Schedule: The base schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, daytime hours. This position will be required to work weekends and holidays as needed for event coverage support. Please anticipate working 20-30 shifts throughout the year that can either fall on the weekends, holidays or at night. 
 
Like to have qualifications:
You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.
Ungerboeck experience 
AutoCAD experience 
CMP or CVP certifications 
Over 5 years of experience working in event management or in a leadership position within a large venue, convention center, arena, expo center, or large conference/convention center hotel. 

COMPENSATION AND REPRESENTATION
Based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements, Metro’s internal equity review process, and the candidates’ qualifications, the appointment will typically be made between $97,124.00 to $115,000. The full-salary range for this position is $97,124.00  to $137,945.00  annually.
 
This position is not eligible for overtime and is non-represented. It is classified as a Manager I (Download PDF reader).  Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions.
 
SCREENING AND EVALUATION
The application packet: The application packet consists of the following documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.
Resume AND 
Complete responses to the supplemental questions 

The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.
Initial review of minimum qualifications
In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
Consideration of top candidates/interviews
Testing/assessments (if applicable)
Reference check 
Background, driving records check for finalist candidate (if applicable)
Questions?
 
Recruiter: Lamarkus Gilliard
Email: [email protected]