Title: Director of Event Services
Reports to: Vice President of Operations
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Type: Full-time, salary, exempt. Evening and weekend hours will be required.
Pay Range: $80k – $90K annually
Organization Background
The Charleston Gaillard Center is entering a new phase of focus, with the development of local and national partnerships and the producing and commissioning of work, taking a greater role alongside our continued commitment to presenting high quality touring artists.
A leader in the performing arts in the Southeast, The Charleston Gaillard Center commissions, supports, and presents ambitious, multidisciplinary cultural programming and provides access to the best local, national, and global artists and companies on its stage. Deeply rooted in the community, the Gaillard Center is committed to elevating local and regional voices and partnering with Charleston institutions to reflect the city’s diversity, both on stage and off. Through programming on its public campus and extensive arts education initiatives, the Gaillard Center serves as a platform to participate in community building and essential dialogue.
Located in the heart of the Inspiration Corridor, Charleston’s cultural hub, the Gaillard Center was established as a non-profit in 2015. It’s campus includes the world-class 1,818-seat Martha and John M. Rivers Performance Hall, a 16,000 square-foot Grand Ballroom, and a park space that is increasingly being activated for artistic presentations.
The Charleston Gaillard Management Corporation (GMC), doing business as The Charleston Gaillard Center, is a non-profit 501c3 organization responsible for managing the facility. For more information about the Charleston Gaillard Center, please visit https://www.gaillardcenter.org.
Position Summary
The Director of Event Services (DES) is charged with the supervision, scheduling and training of full-time event management and administrative staff, part-time front of house and event setup teams, the volunteer usher corps, and various contracted staff. This position is responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, control, and evaluation of events for Performance Hall, Exhibition Hall, and full facility events. The DES works closely with the executive and senior management teams, as well as the City of Charleston to enhance and support the overall mission of the organization, and to ensure high quality event execution while also maintaining the safety and maintenance of the facility.
Responsibilities
Required Qualifications
The successful candidate will have a proven and measurable track record of at least 6 years of experience in the planning, execution, and management of performances, exhibitions, and events in both performing arts and ballroom/conference environments. This position requires a good knowledge of administrative processes, business communication, and facility policy creation and structure. Candidates should have experience in budget administration, especially with respect to event execution and settlement.
Candidates should be proficient in MS Word and Excel, have superior organizational skills, and written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated leadership of full-time, part-time, and volunteer teams, as well as the ability to think strategically, work well under pressure, and manage details of several concurrent projects is required. The successful candidate will have a professional business demeanor and the ability to work a flexible, event driven schedule. Good communication and relationship building skills with internal staff and external partners is a priority.
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred qualifications include experience working in a non-profit organization. Knowledge of the Charleston area is a plus. Experience with specific facility management software, event execution software and task management software are desirable.
Physical Requirements
Benefits
The Gaillard Center provides a competitive benefit package that includes:
The Charleston Gaillard Center is an equal opportunity employer. Advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Gaillard is critical to our mission. To be a leading performing arts center in the Southeast, we need to have a highly diverse staff, a workplace where individuals are encouraged to retain their uniqueness and can feel a sense of belonging. For us, equity means that our staff members, our patrons, and our clients can experience the transformative power of the arts, no matter their starting place.