SENIOR EVENT MANAGER| MCCORMICK PLACE CONVENTION CENTER

$90,000 - $110,000/Yr

Oak View Group - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Senior

Chicago, IL

0

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Senior Event Manager at McCormick Place Convention Center plays a pivotal role in providing professional client services support for the planning, organization, and management of events. This position is responsible for leading and supporting Event Managers while developing, coordinating, and supervising all event-related activities, particularly for complex wide events. The Senior Event Manager will work closely with the Director and Assistant Director of Event Management to assist in the recruitment, training, and development of full-time event managers, ensuring that the team is well-equipped to deliver exceptional service to clients. In this role, the Senior Event Manager serves as the central resource for the full-time Event Manager staff, providing guidance and expertise throughout the event planning process. They supervise staff and oversee all aspects of operational support related to large-scale events, including the scheduling of both union and non-union staff. The Senior Event Manager meets with client groups to plan and organize assigned meetings and events, ensuring clear communication between all parties involved to facilitate the efficient and superior delivery of services. Additionally, the Senior Event Manager is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of event financials, preparing pre-show financial estimates, and completing post-show financial settlements based on contractual requirements. They lead site visits and meetings with clients, create detailed event resumes for client approval, and coordinate activities with various service contractors. The role requires a proactive approach to troubleshooting during event preparation and execution, maintaining communication with the events team to ensure a flawless event experience. The Senior Event Manager must also ensure compliance with all necessary insurance certificates, licenses, and permits, while fostering superior interpersonal relations with clients, employees, management, contractors, and union employees.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the central resource for the FT Event Manager staff once they begin their event planning process and subject matter expert for all event execution, supports with training and help as needed.
• Supervises staff and oversees all aspects of event operational support related to large scale events (including scheduling of union and non-union staff).
• Meets with client groups to plan and organize assigned meetings and/or events, ensuring clear communication between all customers and their event contractors and all internal parties to ensure the efficient and superior delivery of all services for assigned events.
• Partner with HR to support hiring initiatives, engagement activities and community outreach.
• Assist in ensuring accuracy of event financials: post-event billing of services and equipment charges.
• Prepare pre-show event financial estimates and complete post-show financial settlements based on contractual requirements.
• Ensure timely and accurate event information is delivered to the Finance Department for settlement/invoicing purposes.
• Assist sales managers in preparation of pre-booking cost estimates.
• Lead site visits and meetings with clients for all assigned events.
• Detail event for client approval and internal communication by creating Event Resume in Ungerboeck Software.
• Coordinates activities with the various service contractors for assigned meetings and/or events.
• Guides clients in preparation of events by interpreting and explaining contract provisions, policies and procedures.
• Keeps clients informed as to status of deadline schedules, including but not limited to floor plan submissions, meeting room set-up specifications, insurance requirements and other relevant details.
• Assist in the management, development, and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities of event related programs.
• Exercises discretion and utilizes independent decision-making during events that will best represent McCormick Place, the MPEA and the client.
• Ensure that all event insurance certificates, licenses and permits required are obtained in a timely manner.
• Educate customer and vendors on labor jurisdictions.
• Conduct pre and post inspections of event space.
• Advance and communicates all event information to appropriate departments and staff.
• Troubleshoot during event preparation and during event to ensure that all event setups are correct including making decisions about policy, procedures, billing and staffing.
• Oversee all production, setup, event staff, event-related contract services.
• Maintain communication with events team to ensure a flawless event.
• Communicates in a timely fashion any/all problems and proposed solutions to the AGM and/or Director of Events.
• Prepares events reports noting attendance, times, significant problems, etc.
• Coordinates effectively with appropriate in-house operations and partners.
• Maintain superior interpersonal relations with clients, employees, management, contractors, and union employees.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality, Management, Business, or related field.
• Seven or more years of event management experience in convention centers or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• Five or more years of employee supervision experience, union knowledge preferred.
• Proficient in use of Microsoft Office programs in a Windows format; experience with AutoCAD preferred.
• Knowledge of operational characteristics of events, including crowd management and control techniques; fire and public safety regulations, food service practices, A/V equipment and relevant federal, state, and local regulations.
• Understanding of set up, audio, video, lighting, and rigging preferred.
• Self-motivated with excellent interpersonal and communications skills and the ability to function and make management decisions in a fast-paced high-pressure environment.
• Ability to work independently and also as part of a team.
• Must be available to work a flexible schedule, including long shifts, early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays as required.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects.
• Ability to demonstrate problem-solving and communication skills.
• Work effectively under pressure and/or stringent schedule and produce accurate results.
• Must be able to stand or walk for the duration of the shift and must be able to carry and lift according to industry standards.
• Professional presentation and appearance during events.

Nice-to-haves

• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) preferred, but not required.
• Experience in event management software (Ungerboeck) preferred, but not required.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) savings plan
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off (vacation days, sick days, and 12 holidays)