Event Center Director

Minnesota Humanities Center

The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) is Minnesota’s exclusive affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Founded in 1971 as one of the nation’s first state affiliates, MHC is committed to promoting the humanities (such as literature, history, civics, jurisprudence, and philosophy) and facilitating storytelling across communities to create a just society that is curious, connected, and compassionate. With support from the State of Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Fund, created by a vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008, MHC also supports and facilitates efforts by communities across the state to preserve, share, and deeply listen to one another’s unique stories, and thereby build their capacity to think, talk, and work across differences to identify and pursue shared goals.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Event Center Director is responsible for Event Center management, including client relations, staff, and building management in accordance with MHC’s strategic plan. The position reports to the COO.

Sales, Marketing & Client Relations for Event Center

• Develop the MHC’s Event Center’s objectives tied to the Humanities Center’s Strategic Plan.
• Maintain business relations with internal and external clients at MHC.
• Lead business and sales development to achieve Event Centers’ objectives.
• Analyze sales statistics to determine business growth.
• Book and schedule events at MHC.
• Manage operational excellence in the MHC’s process for Event Center activities, including sales, marketing, operations, and events management.
• Builds and sustains Event Center’s reputation for quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction.

Event Center Management

• Implement MHC’s Event Center’s objective to create excellence in its operational activities, including building management with the COO, events, and catering management.
• Provide leadership to the Event Center staff, including the Kitchen Manager, Facilities Maintenance Technician, and six additional supporting staff.
• Maintain the day-to-day activities of the event center.
• Manage Event Center’s financials with the COO.

Requirements:

• BA degree, three to five years of related work experience, proven organization skills.
• Minimum of 5 years in senior leadership positions, including staff supervision and oversight
• Experience in business and/or strategic planning
• Ability to organize time, set priorities, and work in an effective manner
• Ability to deal effectively with people in difficult situations (conflict resolution)
• Strong computer skills, including experience using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Excel), and Enterprise software.

Behavioral expectations:

• Exhibits passion and excitement about the organization’s work.  Has a positive attitude.

• Provide a high level of customer service through listening and responding to the needs and requests of others, internally and externally, with a high degree of urgency
• Skilled at building relationships and acts respectfully when working with colleagues and partners to earn and build consensus
• Adjust quickly to changing priorities and conditions and thrive in an environment of complexity, change, and ambiguity.  
• Acts in advance to deal with an expected or unexpected situation, quickly generating alternative solutions/ideas.
• Professional attitude and appearance
• Able to produce significant output with a strong work ethic and high-quality standards.

General Expectations:

• Self-motivated, flexible, and optimistic individual with excellent interpersonal and sales skills
• Ability to handle multiple concurrent projects.
• Culturally competent and can build strong relationships, find common ground, build consensus, and strengthen collaboration among diverse stakeholders
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, mentoring, and relationship management experience
• Strong demonstrated success managing internal and external relationships
• Comprehensive working knowledge of project planning, organizational structure, budgeting, and administrative operations
• Impeccable integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed with demonstrated passion for MHC’s mission and ability to work collaboratively with other senior leaders
• Can conduct strategic planning and see it through implementation
• Enhance, flesh out, and implement organizational vision as established in the Humanities Center’s Strategic Framework

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, multi-functional copiers/printers, and filing cabinets.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to effectively communicate, use a telephonic device, and/or use a computer. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. This is a sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets, and bend or stand, as necessary. While performing the duties of the job, the noise level in the office work environment is usually moderate. Stress levels may become high during certain times of the year.

Expect to work a flexible and varied schedule that may include working evenings, weekends, and some holidays. Must be available to respond in the event of a crisis as needed. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability status, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected class under law.

Apply

Interested candidates should email their cover letter (including salary requirements) and resume to jobs@mnhum.org. We are unable to accept telephone calls.