Assistant Director for Event Operations
Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
Assistant Director For Event Operations
The Armstrong Student Center is a 242,000 square foot building and the site for approximately 3000 meetings and events per year. The center manages event production, building operations, student organization office space, and recreational amenities to create the "living room of campus." This position is designed to support student and professional staff in ensuring continuity of services, maintaining a student-centered approach to our work and adhering to our core values of collaboration, stewardship, inclusion, learning and caring. This position provides significant support to event production and student staff development for our large team, which operates the Student Center, and manages event operations for approximately 3000 events a year. A primary responsibility of this position is overseeing the selection, training, supervision, and scheduling of the Operations Team. The Operations Team consists of about 50 student employees including 10 Building and Events Managers, 10 Assistant Building and Events Managers and about 30 Event Services Specialists. The individual will work in collaboration with the professional staff regarding the day-to-day operation of the student center. The individual in this role will also take on strategic planning projects related to their skills and interests. Student Staff Supervision, Development, Management and Training
Supervise, hire, train and retain approximately 50 operations student staff, and oversee minimum of twice a semester individual check-ins including advising and mentoring students, providing feedback throughout the year, and end of semester evaluations. Conducting interviews for all 50 positions. Evaluating current staff for decisions on promotions to higher positions. Planning all monthly Operations staff meeting agendas. Building up student confidence and leadership skills. Holding student staff accountable to staffing expectations through feedback and our discipline process. Manage student staff responsible for building operations, event space/equipment set-up, staffing, AV/ technical support, opening/closing and peer-to-peer supervision. Create and implement onboarding program for all new Operations Team student employees. Take a major role in leading student staff training and development initiatives that support student learning outcomes. Train and develop a team of Building and Event Managers who manage daily operations of the facility and events. Work alongside Armstrong Student Center staff to train and support student staff working in areas outside of Building Operations, including the Information Center, Commuter Center and Student Engagement Team. Serve as a member of the ASC Supervisor Team, and work alongside colleagues to develop and coordinate ongoing staff recognition activities. Manage personnel scheduling for the Operations Team. Duties include scheduling staff to cover student center operations, manage time off requests, serve as the primary contact for shift trades and coverage adjustments to ensure adequate staffing levels and operational continuity, oversee staff call-offs, and coordinate coverage to ensure staff for events and event setups. Manage evaluation and feedback processes for all 50 students on the Operations Team creating and managing a system for evaluating student performance and areas for improvement, on paper and in person, mid semester technical knowledge check ins, end of semester job evaluations, end of year job evaluations. Event Management and Execution
Oversee the execution of events within the student center, ensuring seamless implementation, logistical coordination, and high-quality service delivery. Ensure student staff are properly trained and equipped to execute events, while facilitating smooth event operations. Manage event set-up accuracy and readiness, promptly addressing any event production or technology issues as they arise. Work alongside scheduling and event planning staff, providing both insight and advice regarding event setups, logistics and support. Serve as the professional staff liaison for Audio Visual support during events and lead event setups, particularly for large-scale venue transitions or full building flips, on an as-needed basis. Manage event shift tasks in the daily Ops Report and 25Live. Works with Facilities Operations Manager/Assistant Director to maintain, update and manage operations team manual, technology guides and any "how to" instructions tied to space, equipment or AV usage. Assist in distribution of daily Operations Reports to student staff and partners. Ensure issues with events and clients are handled in a timely and professional manner. Communicates information on billing changes to Associate Director for Community Engagement based on day of event changes/client requests. Other Departmental and Divisional Opportunities
Participate in departmental, student life, and university committees as needed, contributing expertise and support organizational initiatives. Prepare reports on event outcomes, staff performance, and operational efficiency. Work alongside the Associate Director of Events and Operations on the development and management of budgets for operations and staffing. Respond promptly to emergencies, providing critical support to the student Building and Events Managers and Operations Team, ensuring effective emergency response and resolution in alignment with university protocols. Other duties and projects as assigned. Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree and two years of professional experience in an educational setting, event management, theater, or equivalent work experience. Preferred Qualifications
Master's Degree in Student Affairs/Higher Education, theater, management, or related fields. Required Skills and Abilities
Ability to provide developmental supervision. Strong organizational skills. Event equipment and setup. Experience providing excellent customer service. Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills. Must be willing and able to work some evenings and weekends as needed to support events and activities. Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Experience with event planning/execution. Experience and familiarity with sound, light and A/V equipment. Experience in building and facility operations. Experience in a higher education student union environment.
The Armstrong Student Center is a 242,000 square foot building and the site for approximately 3000 meetings and events per year. The center manages event production, building operations, student organization office space, and recreational amenities to create the "living room of campus." This position is designed to support student and professional staff in ensuring continuity of services, maintaining a student-centered approach to our work and adhering to our core values of collaboration, stewardship, inclusion, learning and caring. This position provides significant support to event production and student staff development for our large team, which operates the Student Center, and manages event operations for approximately 3000 events a year. A primary responsibility of this position is overseeing the selection, training, supervision, and scheduling of the Operations Team. The Operations Team consists of about 50 student employees including 10 Building and Events Managers, 10 Assistant Building and Events Managers and about 30 Event Services Specialists. The individual will work in collaboration with the professional staff regarding the day-to-day operation of the student center. The individual in this role will also take on strategic planning projects related to their skills and interests. Student Staff Supervision, Development, Management and Training
Supervise, hire, train and retain approximately 50 operations student staff, and oversee minimum of twice a semester individual check-ins including advising and mentoring students, providing feedback throughout the year, and end of semester evaluations. Conducting interviews for all 50 positions. Evaluating current staff for decisions on promotions to higher positions. Planning all monthly Operations staff meeting agendas. Building up student confidence and leadership skills. Holding student staff accountable to staffing expectations through feedback and our discipline process. Manage student staff responsible for building operations, event space/equipment set-up, staffing, AV/ technical support, opening/closing and peer-to-peer supervision. Create and implement onboarding program for all new Operations Team student employees. Take a major role in leading student staff training and development initiatives that support student learning outcomes. Train and develop a team of Building and Event Managers who manage daily operations of the facility and events. Work alongside Armstrong Student Center staff to train and support student staff working in areas outside of Building Operations, including the Information Center, Commuter Center and Student Engagement Team. Serve as a member of the ASC Supervisor Team, and work alongside colleagues to develop and coordinate ongoing staff recognition activities. Manage personnel scheduling for the Operations Team. Duties include scheduling staff to cover student center operations, manage time off requests, serve as the primary contact for shift trades and coverage adjustments to ensure adequate staffing levels and operational continuity, oversee staff call-offs, and coordinate coverage to ensure staff for events and event setups. Manage evaluation and feedback processes for all 50 students on the Operations Team creating and managing a system for evaluating student performance and areas for improvement, on paper and in person, mid semester technical knowledge check ins, end of semester job evaluations, end of year job evaluations. Event Management and Execution
Oversee the execution of events within the student center, ensuring seamless implementation, logistical coordination, and high-quality service delivery. Ensure student staff are properly trained and equipped to execute events, while facilitating smooth event operations. Manage event set-up accuracy and readiness, promptly addressing any event production or technology issues as they arise. Work alongside scheduling and event planning staff, providing both insight and advice regarding event setups, logistics and support. Serve as the professional staff liaison for Audio Visual support during events and lead event setups, particularly for large-scale venue transitions or full building flips, on an as-needed basis. Manage event shift tasks in the daily Ops Report and 25Live. Works with Facilities Operations Manager/Assistant Director to maintain, update and manage operations team manual, technology guides and any "how to" instructions tied to space, equipment or AV usage. Assist in distribution of daily Operations Reports to student staff and partners. Ensure issues with events and clients are handled in a timely and professional manner. Communicates information on billing changes to Associate Director for Community Engagement based on day of event changes/client requests. Other Departmental and Divisional Opportunities
Participate in departmental, student life, and university committees as needed, contributing expertise and support organizational initiatives. Prepare reports on event outcomes, staff performance, and operational efficiency. Work alongside the Associate Director of Events and Operations on the development and management of budgets for operations and staffing. Respond promptly to emergencies, providing critical support to the student Building and Events Managers and Operations Team, ensuring effective emergency response and resolution in alignment with university protocols. Other duties and projects as assigned. Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree and two years of professional experience in an educational setting, event management, theater, or equivalent work experience. Preferred Qualifications
Master's Degree in Student Affairs/Higher Education, theater, management, or related fields. Required Skills and Abilities
Ability to provide developmental supervision. Strong organizational skills. Event equipment and setup. Experience providing excellent customer service. Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills. Must be willing and able to work some evenings and weekends as needed to support events and activities. Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Experience with event planning/execution. Experience and familiarity with sound, light and A/V equipment. Experience in building and facility operations. Experience in a higher education student union environment.