Job Description

Responsible for ensuring a world-class visitor experience for EAA and third-party hosted events and hospitality activities, including direct management of Events and Food & Beverage teams. Work closely with assigned clients to ensure high quality events and experiences. Build and manage the overall budget and KPI reporting. Develop strategies to identify and capture event-related growth opportunities. Provide ongoing leadership, support, and feedback to foster a collaborative and professional team environment.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Oversee the booking, planning, and execution of 1,000+ internal & external events hosted at different locations on EAA grounds annually.
2. Oversee EAA’s food catering operations include AirVenture food catering, special event and meeting catering, and on-site food preparation with service.
3. Coordinate with assigned clients to determine event specifications. Serve as point of contact to each customer to determine all logistical, food, beverage, audio visual, and event needs.
4. Serve as the main point of contact with outside shows and work closely with show managers to ensure the success of each event.
5. Lead contract negotiations, assist with payment collections, resolve issues, and monitor health code compliance.
6. Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders internally and externally, to market EAA’s event and hospitality capabilities, drive new business and improve service delivery.
7. Provide leadership and direction for the day-to-day operations of Events Coordinators and Food & Beverage team.
8. Build, train, and motivate team to deliver an exceptional visitor experience reflecting a commitment to professionalism and guest satisfaction for all EAA events and hospitality activities.
9. Establish annual operating plans and budgets for the Events and Hospitality team, including the development of strategies to identify and capture event-related growth opportunities.
10. Oversee the AirVenture hotel booking request program by serving as the point of contact with contracted hotels, manage the eShow request platform, and ensure EAA-approved personnel receive a room for the event.
11. Manage operating results and performance, making adjustments when necessary to accomplish business goals and objectives. Identify and report on relevant key performance indicators.
12. Lead, organize and coordinate staffing, catering, supplies entertainment, transportation and equipment (sound and video) for events.
13. Coordinate event details with supporting EAA departments when applicable.
14. Ensure efficient administrative support for Events and Hospitality operations, including procurement of requirements for materials, equipment and supplies.
15. Other duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Business Administration, or a related field and/or proven experience in event marketing, planning, and execution
• Strong leadership and team management skills including hiring, training, and supervising.
• Establish collaborative business and community relationships as well as relationships with event peers.
• Ability to accurately establish and work within annual operational plans and related budget.
• Hold or willing to obtain a Bartender license.
• Possibility of travel to meet with clients.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and event management software.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years’ experience managing special events, conference centers, or similar large-scale, revenue-generating venue.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Typical office setting. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Preparation for AirVenture or other events may require lifting up to 50 lbs occasionally, standing and walking for extended periods of time while bending, squatting, kneeling, twisting, and push and pull motions.

EEO STATEMENT

EAA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.