Director of Events| Palm Beach County Convention Center - Oak View Group

Oak View Group:

Oak View Group is the global leader in venue development, management, and premium hospitality services for the live event industry. Offering an unmatched, 360-degree solution set for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster that includes the most influential, highest attended arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions on the planet. 

 

More information at OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. 

Overview:

The Director of Event Services plans and directs all aspects in the servicing of facility events by performing the following duties, personally or through subordinate supervisors.  The Director of Event Services directly supervises the Event Management staff and works collaboratively with operational departments such as Engineering, Setup & Housekeeping, Public Safety, Guest Services, Parking, and Information Technology, and carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with OVG’s policies and applicable laws. Other responsibilities include overseeing the interviewing and hiring of fulltime employees; planning, assigning, budgeting, directing work; performance appraisals; disciplining employees in conjunction with Human Resources; addressing event related issues and resolving problems.

 

This role will pay an annual salary between $85,000 to $100,000, eligibility for the OVG Leadership incentive program.

 

For FT roles: Benefits: Health, Dental and Vision insurance, 401(k) savings plan, 401(k) matching, and paid time off (vacation days, sick days, and 12 holidays).

 

Job posting expires on June 14, 2024

About the Venue:

The Palm Beach County Convention Center opened its doors in 2004. This beautiful 350,000 square-foot center has established itself as the premier boutique’ meeting destination in South Florida and one of the top convention centers in the country; hosting a diverse array of conventions, trade shows/consumer shows, conferences, social events, and meetings located in the Heart of Downtown West Palm Beach. The convention center is an architectural masterpiece designed located in the heart of West Palm Beach.  It features a 100,000 square-foot exhibit hall, a 22,000 sq. ft. ballroom and 21,000 sq. ft. of flexible breakout space divisible into 19 rooms with various room size options and endless set-up possibilities, the Palm Beach County Convention Center is the ideal event and meeting destination.  A connected 400 room Hilton Hotel was opened in 2016 and a new 2,600 spot parking garage was added in 2017.  A second 400 room convention center hotel was just recently approved to move forward with the ground break expected in 2025.

Responsibilities:

• 5-7 years of related experience
• Manage and participate in the development and implementation of budgets, goals, objectives, policies, procedures and priorities of assigned programs & functions to ensure an unmatched ‘Client Experience’ for all events.
• Assume day-to-day as well as long term management responsibility for all services and activities involved in the servicing of facility events.
• Assure the highest quality service to all clients, both internal and external, by establishing and maintaining goals, supervising employees, generating accountability, and solving problems in a team atmosphere.
• Select, train, motivate and evaluate management and staff; provide or coordinate staff training and safety programs; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline and termination procedures.
• Plan, direct, coordinate, and review the operating plan for providing event services; assign work activities, projects and programs; monitor work flow and reporting relationships; inspect work product of subordinates to ensure accuracy and timeliness of completion; meet with staff to review and evaluate work products, methods, and procedures; identify and resolve challenges.
• Help develop, implement and maintain standard operating procedures for each area of responsibility, including a best in class customer service program as well as crowd management & event staffing plans.
• Collaborate with the Sales Dept on client communication and subsequently in the research and preparation of cost estimates, diagrams, & logistics for future event planning based on specific event needs.
• Develop relationships and maintain communication with clients, internal departments, 3^rd party service providers, hoteliers, government officials and local Fire & Police over long term to aid in proper & proactive event planning.  Identify potential challenges ahead of time and work to render successful solutions.
• Assign & delegate event planning responsibilities to appropriate staff to ensure optimal success.
• Personally oversee Event Manager duties for various high profile / complex facility events.
• Act as Senior Manager on Duty for entire facility when applicable.
• Conduct internal planning meetings to ensure smooth coordination between ALL facility staff in servicing event needs.
• Ensure facility is in “show ready” condition each day and all rooms set according to plan for a safe event.  Ensure proper labor is deployed to correct posts with proper instructions.
• Monitor & supervise events in progress to ensure service levels are optimal and issues are solved timely.
• Monitor and ensure compliance of all facility lease agreements.  Review & approve post event invoicing to ensure accuracy in computing charges for services & equipment utilized.  Ensure all funds due collected, both pre-event and post-event.
• Oversee Exhibitor Service functions to provide high level of service to utilizing clients.
• Assist with administering service contracts (i.e. Food & Beverage, AV, IT, Valet Parking, Rigging, etc.) with vendors. 
• Ensures event related facility safety precautions and emergency procedures are followed to mitigate Risk Management needs.
• Prepare and administer departmental annual budget and participate in forecasting throughout the year.
• Supervise the disbursement of departmental funds (incl payroll); establish and maintain controls to ensure budget appropriations are not exceeded; forecast additional fund needs for labor, equipment, materials, & supplies; implement adjustments as necessary; track all expense allocations towards specific events.
• Perform all other duties as assigned and/or required.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree and five to seven years of progressive experience within the hospitality/convention meeting industry, with three years in a supervisory capacity coordinating major, complex events, trade shows, public events and meetings in a convention center, hotel/convention center or similar private or public venues.
• A combination of education and experience may substitute for degree.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

 

• Must be an energetic, forward-thinking and a creative individual with high ethical standards and an appropriate professional image; a strong manager with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment and strong event related focus.
• A self-directed individual who can lead teams, is articulate and can relate to people at all levels of an organization and possesses excellent communication skills.
• A good educator who is willing to share information and serve as a mentor.
• Decision-making skills as well as the ability to multi-task are essential.
• Excellent organizational, planning and problem-solving skills. 
• An incredible collaborator both with clients and staff to achieve common goals.
• Comfortable working in and leading during intense event related activity. 
• The work schedule for this position typically fluctuates based upon the needs of a particular event or project, which would require the ability to work a flexible schedule including late nights, early mornings, long days, weekends and holidays. 
• Ability to travel as required.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS SharePoint and MS Outlook).
• Knowledge of Momentus (Ungerboeck), AutoCAD, CVENT (Social Tables) or related event management and design software programs.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) Certification or Certified in Exhibition Management Certification (CEM) preferred, but not required.

Strengthened by our Differences. United to Make a Difference.:

At OVG, we understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry, we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence. Our success is rooted in creating environments that reflect and celebrate the diverse communities in which we operate and serve, and this is the reason we are committed to amplifying voices from all different backgrounds.

EEO:

Oak View Group is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis ("protected class") including, but not limited to veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.