Senior Event Manager

Position Description

The Tacoma Venue & Events Department is seeking to hire a full-time Manager, Venues & Events Services at the Tacoma Dome, Greater Tacoma Convention Center and Special Events. At TVE, we believe safety comes first, inclusivity matters, legendary experiences belong to everyone, and an engaged and collaborative crew make possibilities into reality with creativity and innovation every day.
 
The ideal candidate takes pride in providing welcoming spaces for our over 800,000 guests annually. They enjoy collaboration and take personal initiative to deliver outstanding experiences. They value inclusivity, are inspired by the community, enjoy working with a variety of people and viewpoints, and want to enrich lives every day.
 
Under the direction of the Tacoma Venues and Events Deputy Director for Events, this leadership position oversees the management of events for the Tacoma Dome and Greater Tacoma Convention Center and leads a team of Event Coordinators for both venues.  This position serves as a TVE liaison with event promoters and organizers, city and regional emergency departments, local transportation entities, and event service partners to ensure that promoter/client requirements are met for each event.  
 
Showcasing a flexible configuration that provides a full capacity of 23,000 as well as a flat floor capacity up to 15,000, the iconic Tacoma Dome is a high-demand venue for the largest names in the entertainment industry. The Greater Tacoma Convention Center is an award-winning venue with over 117,000 sq. ft. of flexible event space. Under TVE direction, the City owned historic theaters: the recently renovated Pantages, the Rialto, and Theater on the Square, are managed by ASM Global and feature a wide variety of arts and entertainment events.  Cheney Stadium, home to the AAA Tacoma Rainiers and Tacoma Defiance football club, is managed by the Tacoma Rainiers.
 
The essential duties of this position include:

• Supervise a staff of four Event Coordinators responsible for coordination of events in their assigned facilities
• Responsible for the training, scheduling, and delegating events to the Event Coordinators
• Prepare floor plans and room diagrams using AutoCAD program for events in accordance with applicable city codes, keeping the safety and security of all attendees in mind.
• Prepare event manifest detailing requirements for each assigned event at the Tacoma Dome and Exhibition Hall.  Communicate changes to the all departments before and during the events to ensure a successful event.
• Support Special Events Office-produced events (such as City of Destiny Awards, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration), as needed.
• Direct weekly production meetings by previewing and  reviewing events and operations to ensure event details are clearly communicated to all building staff and contractors.  Attend and participate in other meetings as necessary.
• Regularly meet and confer with clients and prospective clients; providing assistance in determining operational requirements including event staffing levels and costs associated therewith; function as liaison between operations and other divisions to ensure that promoter’s requirements are met for a given event.
• Communicate with clients before, during, and after their event to accommodate last minute requests, and monitor events in case of emergency or needs that may arise while event is taking place.
• Develop and distribute monthly staffing requests for Tacoma Police Department (TPD), TPD traffic, and Emergency Management Services.  Develop and distribute monthly event schedule for outside agencies, including Washington State Department of Transportation, City of Tacoma departments, Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, LeMay Museum, REEF Parking, Pierce Transit, Sound Transit, and Tacoma Dome contractors.
• Coordinate front of house activities which include: traffic, parking, guest services, concessions, catering, ticketing, marketing, maintenance, police, medics, and fire marshal.
• Coordinate back of house activities which include shipping and receiving, technical production, rigging verification, audio/visual, and facility set-up.
• When needed, serve as Event Manager on Duty in support of events prepared by Event Coordinators at the Convention Center.
• Participate in industry organizations and attend applicable conferences to represent TVE & City of Tacoma and remain current on industry changes, trends, and challenges
• Assist Finance Manager in coordinating pre-event estimates and post-event cost invoices for settlement
• Plan, develop, and implement venue policies and procedures in accordance with Federal, State, County, and City mandates, the TVE mission, and industry best practices
• Serve as Manager on Duty at events

City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Tacoma’s diversity is its greatest asset. Tacoma embraces its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character. Communities of color and immigrant communities are fundamental to Tacoma’s entrepreneurial spirit, workforce, and long-term success. In Tacoma, equity and empowerment are top priorities, meaning that all Tacoma residents must have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential and share in the benefits of community progress. One of our goals is for the City of Tacoma workforce to reflect the community it serves. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets and experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and play.

Benefits
The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision benefits for the whole family; paid holidays and personal time off; participation in Tacoma’s Public Employees’ Retirement System and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities. For more information on the City of Tacoma’s benefit package feel free to explore City of Tacoma Benefits.

Qualifications

Minimum Education*
Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, sports management/administration, business or public administration or directly related field

Minimum Experience*
5 years of event and meeting planning experience including 1 year prior lead/supervisory. Public sector experience preferred.

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements
Valid Washington State Driver’s License within 30 days of permanent residence in the state of Washington State and maintenance thereafter. 

*Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education 

Work Hours
Non-traditional work hours are required for this position. This position requires non-traditional hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
 
Occasional travel is required (up to 5%) 

Knowledge & Skills 

• Knowledge of event management best practices in the entertainment industry
• Experience working with production and operations teams in a dynamic, fluid working environment
• Basic knowledge of principles and practices of event and venue marketing, sales, event ticketing, security, concessions, and terminology of the live entertainment industry
• Effective time management skills with ability to take initiative and manage multiple projects to meet tight deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, tact, and ability to interact with all levels of internal and external stakeholders
• Detail oriented with quick problem-solving capabilities in high-energy environments
• Basic computer programs. Knowledge of AutoCad and VenueOps preferred 

Selection Process & Supplemental Information 

Interested individuals must apply online and attach a current resume and cover letter outlining the specific qualifications that make you the best candidate for this position. NOTE: Applications received without the required resume and cover letter may not progress in the selection process.
 
Applicants who have the strongest backgrounds related to the responsibilities of this position will be invited to participate in the interview process. Appointment is subject to passing a background check.
 
The Community
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city that sits along the Puget Sound with a population of nearly 210,000. The third largest city in the state of Washington, it is a diverse, progressive international gateway to the Pacific Rim.
Tacoma boasts the state’s highest density of art and history museums, and is home to a flourishing creative community of writers, artists, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, chefs, entrepreneurs, and small business owners who each add their unique flair to the city’s vibrant commercial landscape.

A magnet for families looking for affordable housing options in the Puget Sound area, Tacoma also draws those who prefer to live in an urban downtown setting with competitively priced condos and apartments that feature panoramic mountain and water views. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!

Communication from the City of Tacoma

NOTE:  For questions regarding this specific recruitment contact Kat Flores, HR Analyst. 
We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from cityoftacoma.org and/or governmentjobs.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.
 
The online application system requires you to enter a substantial amount of information. Be prepared to spend at least an hour entering information. In order for your application materials to be considered, all information must be submitted by the closing date and time listed on this job announcement.
 
For assistance with the NeoGov application process, or questions regarding this job announcement, please contact the Human Resources office at 253-591-5400 by 4:00pm of the closing date of the job announcement. This will allow time to assist you before the job announcement closes. (For technical difficulties using the NeoGov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00am and 5:00pm Pacific Time.)