Description:
Department Overview:
The Venue Administration department is collectively responsible for venue sales, rental event operations and production for all of the venues within Benaroya Hall. This Department serves to maximize earned revenue generating opportunities for Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall through external client bookings while providing superior and comprehensive venue and event management services across the organization.
Position Overview:
The Director of Venue Sales and Events leads a team of venue sales, event operations and concert production staff to fulfill the department mission and annual goals. This position will further develop existing and establish new client relationships and product lines for rental events and series, collaborating closely with Seattle Symphony to optimize calendar utilization and align programming mix, leveraging both of these areas to maximize overall net revenue for the organization. This position sets the annual department budget and implements strategies to meet or exceed revenue targets across multiple categories. Additionally, this position serves as a key collaborator with other department leaders across the organization as well as with building vendors and a multitude of external clients to ensure that all of the events that take place in the Benaroya Hall are scheduled and managed effectively.
Essential Job Functions:
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Serve as lead venue sales representative which includes cultivating external rental client relationships, fielding rental inquiries, conducting site visits, generating estimates, contracts, etc. In coordination with COO determines rental rates for venue, equipment, and labor.
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Serve as a key collaborator and leader in the external rental event operations of Benaroya Hall. Effectively communicate with stakeholders including Seattle Symphony staff, union stage crew staff, food & beverage staff, ticket office staff, parking garage staff, event clients, event guests and third-party event production vendors. Ensure that excellent client experience is consistently held as a top priority throughout all touch points of the organization.
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Lead the team that books and manages external client events at Benaroya Hall. Manage the master event calendar for Benaroya Hall. Conduct site-visits with clients for potential new event business. Produce detailed cost estimates, contracts, invoices & settlements for external client events taking place at Benaroya Hall.
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Set and manage the budget for the Venue Administration Department. Track & forecast financial data relating to all revenue streams of the department budget. Track and optimize space utilization.
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Work with marketing staff to manage marketing and advertising initiatives to increase event business at Benaroya Hall. Develop relationships with concert and event promoters, performing arts organizations, corporate event planners, convention planners, destination management companies and local vendors to drive business to Benaroya Hall.
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Manage ticketing house builds and reporting for external rental clients.
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Work closely with Seattle Symphony programming staff to align with Seattle Symphony’s popular and presentation programming to maximize hall utilization and revenue generation, and to jointly develop cohesive and wide-ranging offerings in Benaroya Hall.
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Work with stakeholders to align systems, processes, and financials with Benaroya Hall and Seattle Symphony.
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Supervise and lead the following staff: Two (2) Event Operations Managers, and one (1) Venue Operations Assistant.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree and/or 5+ years of venue management experience required
- Demonstrated experience creating and managing revenue budgets in excess of $3M
- Experience booking a wide range of concerts and other programming
- Ability to communicate effectively and professionally
- Supervisory experience required
- Excellent customer service skills
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Technical experience in audio, video, lighting and rigging recommended
- Willingness to take on extra tasks as needed
Requirements:
Physical Requirements:
The physical requirements described here must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The functions of this position are performed primarily in an office environment
- Regular activities include frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching and bending
- This position may require occasional pulling, lifting and climbing stairs
- Ability to speak, hear and communicate clearly while handling staff inquiries, telephone calls and customer requests
- Specific vision abilities require close visual acuity for viewing a computer screen and reading, preparing, entering and/or analyzing data
- This position requires repetitive motions of the wrists, hands and fingers for typing at a standard keyboard and regular pinching, picking up and holding pencils and other desk tools
- Must have the ability to lift 30 pounds as needed
Benefits:
- Excellent Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance (PPO, low deductible)
- Employer paid Long-Term Disability, AD&D and Life Insurance
- Employer paid ORCA pass for Metro, Sound Transit, the WA State ferries, or other public transport system or onsite parking
- 403b retirement savings plan with employer matching at 1 year
- 10 days Vacation Time, 10 days Sick Time
- 2 personal days
- 11 paid holidays per year
- Your birthday off!
- Employee Assistance Program
The Seattle Symphony values diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace. Individuals who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives are encouraged to apply. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity (EOE) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Seattle Symphony will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.
