Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Convocation Center Oversight – 35%
  • Day to day oversight of the Convocation Center to include supervisory oversight of four full-time professional staff positions.
  • Conducts regular meetings with each direct report, assesses and monitor progress, and creates a cohesive team that effectively administers the department’s operations and initiatives. This includes an evaluation of the organization’s efficiencies and effectiveness and making organizational changes for improvement.
  • Conducts regularly scheduled staff meetings.
  • Provides mentorship, training, and annual evaluations accordingly.
  • Directs oversight of all students/extra help employment to ensure training for customer service and risk management at all events.
  • Supervises the coordination of Media Services for video shoots during the sports season.
• Leadership, Representation, & General Administration – 20%
  • Serves as a Department Head within Intercollegiate Athletics attending Department Head meetings, presenting at Athletics Town Hall upon request, and providing recommendations to upper management accordingly.
  • Participates on University committees as requested/required.
  • Provides leadership, developing strategic and operational short and long-term plans to effectively administer the day-to-day oversight of the Convocation Cener. This includes the development and implementation of department and administrative policies and procedures.
  • Ensures safety of all Convocation Center patrons to include policy review/updates, working with Senior Administration to minimize risk management at all events held within the Center.
  • Monitors business procedures for compliance with University and Department policies and procedures; Ensures cash handling operations are consistent with Internal Auditor’s recommendations.
• Budget & Event Responsibilities – 15%
  • Conducts facility tours with clients.
  • Consults with finance department to review billing for events and assists in the collection of final payments.
  • Serves as a liaison between client and director regarding contracts and event services.
  • Regularly reviews fees and conducts market analysis.
  • Obtains or monitors the acquisition of necessary permits, licenses, and insurance to conduct events and meetings.
• Revenue Generation & Strategic Plan – 15%
  • Oversees Convocation Center revenue generation initiatives to include partnership with NIU Athletics Development unit, reviewing and implementing new revenue generation ideas as determined appropriate and in consultation with senior administration.
  • Coordinates and implements NIU Athletics Strategic Plan pillars accordingly and as required/requested by senior administration.
  • Oversees all marketing initiatives within Convocation Center to ensure promotion of events and reviews contracts accordingly to ensure ROI is positive for all events, whether financial or community awareness based.
  • Determines and authorizes costs for event related services.
• Policies & Procedures – 10%
  • Develops, updates, and implements instructions and maintains policies and procedures for handling emergency situations involving the safety of large crowds of people and physical facilities.
  • Serves as liaison for any medical or police needs.
  • Coordinates Emergency plans in all security areas which included physical security surveys as well as lighting surveys.
  • Creates and maintains four athletic team operational facility manuals.
• Other Related Duties – 5%
  • Performs other related duties assigned.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• High School graduation or equivalent.
• Any combination totaling four (4) years (48 months) from the following categories:
  • Progressively more professional work experience in event coordination.
  • College course work in any discipline, as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:
    • 60 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
    • 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)
    • 120 semester hours equals three (3) years (36 months)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of arena entertainment management or athletic management.
• Knowledge of crowd control, food service or ticket control.
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership techniques, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Skill in coordinating assignments and schedules within a large University environment.
• Skill in considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Skill in material resources management through obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
• Ability to work collaboratively and building strategic relations with colleagues, coworkers, constituents, and volunteers.
• Ability to effectively plan, delegate, and supervise the work of others.
• Ability to interact/communicate in a positive matter with a diverse clientele.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Ability to identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions.
• General office requirements.
• This position requires flexible availability; Includes days, nights, and weekends as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Sports Management, Facility Management, or a related field.

About Northern Illinois University

Chartered in 1895, NIU is a comprehensive teaching and research institution with a student enrollment of approximately 17,000. Located in one of the most dynamic regions of the country, DeKalb is 65 miles west of Chicago, Illinois. NIU is included in the Doctoral/Research Universities-Extensive category of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is a member of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. NIU has a diverse student population with 735 international students representing 118 nations. Approximately 3,500 students live on campus in residence halls and apartments. Northern Illinois University is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran. The Constitution and Bylaws of Northern Illinois University afford equal treatment regardless of political views or affiliation, and sexual orientation. NIU recognizes Dual Career issues.

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