Position Description
The Tacoma Venues & Events Department (TVE) is seeking to hire a full-time Director of Operations. Under the direction of the Tacoma Venues and Events Director, the position leads operational strategy and planning, as well as daily operations, for the Tacoma Dome and the Greater Tacoma Convention Center. Also responsible for operational elements and capital maintenance of third party managed properties including Cheney Stadium and City-owned theaters. This key member of the Tacoma Venues & Events management team provides senior leadership in operations, engineering, event conversion, facility maintenance, safety, and project management, including managing labor relations and third-party vendors. The scope of this position encompasses over 300 events annually in two directly managed venues.

The Director of Operations assists in the development of and oversees biennial operational and short and long term capital budgets, including financial analysis and budget proposals; develops and directs event-related programs and tasks including safety plans, conversions and housekeeping, determines and implements safety and security policies and procedures, and coordinates the flow of related information within TVE, with other City Departments, and externally with contractors and vendors; provides daily supervision of 31 FTEs across multiple work groups within TVE Operations.

Essential duties include:
Provide direct supervision and leadership for Operations staff, vendors and contractors ensuring industry best practices for sports, entertainment and meeting venues are met or exceeded for maintenance, systems operations, facility upkeep and capital improvements, and parking. Manage physical plants and related building systems.
Plan, develop and implement facility policies in accordance with City mandates, department mission and industry best practices including health, safety and security. Coordinate with internal City departments, external agencies and vendors to ensure policies are maintained.
Coordinate construction, renovation, preventive maintenance, energy conservation, and environmental issues including pandemic response plans.
Analyze financial and operating reports and initiate action to improve performance. Develop and maintain ongoing operational plans to include biennial operational and capital budgets. Coordinate procurement and purchasing. Collaborate with TVE managers to develop, execute and support strategic plans and programs, including Racial Equity Action Plans.
Schedule and direct represented and non-represented labor; serve as a member of the management team to collaborate with HR and Legal departments in the development and management of labor policies and procedures, negotiations and dispute resolution.
Manage maintenance systems, training of users, and tracking and reporting of facility maintenance records.
Manage the safety, security and risk of operations through awareness of legal issues, staff training, and internal controls and processes. Liaise with City Safety, Risk Management, Emergency Management, City Clerk’s Office and Legal Departments on policies, procedures and claims against the City arising from TVE facilities.
Represent the TVE Director and the department on various committees, meetings, and presentations.
Represent TVE in all applicable industry/trade associations.
Benefits
The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision benefits for the whole family; paid holidays and personal time off; participation in Tacoma’s Public Employees’ Retirement System and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities. For more information on the City of Tacoma’s benefit package feel free to explore City of Tacoma Benefits.
City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Tacoma’s diversity is its greatest asset. Tacoma embraces its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character. Communities of color and immigrant communities are fundamental to Tacoma’s entrepreneurial spirit, workforce, and long-term success. In Tacoma, equity and empowerment are top priorities, meaning that all Tacoma residents must have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential and share in the benefits of community progress. The City of Tacoma’s workforce goal is to reflect our community. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets and experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and play.
Qualifications
An equivalent combination to: bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, facilities management or a related field including five years increasingly responsible administrative experience in the management, and supervision of a public assembly facility.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience with managing multiple venue types (arena, stadium, convention center, etc.); four-year degree in Sports Administration or equivalent work experience; five years of operations experience with increasing level of supervisory and management responsibility in the sport, entertainment and meetings venue industry, preferably within a union environment.

Knowledge & Skills
KNOWLEDGE OF:
Modern principles and practices of management and operation of multi-purpose, sports, entertainment and convention center facilities.
Modern principles of organization theory, management and public administration.
Modern principles and practices of business administration as applied to management of multi-purpose, sports, entertainment and convention center facilities.
Oral and written communications skills.
Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.
Principles and practices of administration, supervision and training.
Applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures.
Basic research methods.
City organization, operations, policies and objectives.
SKILLS:
Plan, organize, control and direct public assembly facility activities.
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with employees, public, vendors, tenants and City officials.
Read, interpret, apply and explain codes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
Meet schedules and time lines.
Plan and organize work.
Hire, train, supervise and evaluate personnel.
Assign and review the work of others.
Participate in negotiations and provide leadership.
Selection Process & Supplemental Information
Interested individuals must apply online and attach a current resume and cover letter outlining the specific qualifications that make you the best candidate for this position. NOTE: Applications received without the required resume and cover letter may not progress in the selection process.

Applicants who have the strongest backgrounds related to the responsibilities of this position will be invited to participate in the interview process. Appointment is subject to passing a background check.

The Community
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city that sits along the Puget Sound with a population of nearly 210,000. The third largest city in the state of Washington, it is a diverse, progressive international gateway to the Pacific Rim.

The 23,000 capacity iconic Tacoma Dome is a high-demand venue for the largest names in the entertainment industry. The Greater Tacoma Convention Center is an award-winning venue with over 117,000 sq. ft. of flexible event space. The City owns two historic theaters, the recently renovated Pantages and the Rialto, and Theater on the Square, and Cheney Stadium, home to the AAA Tacoma Rainiers, and OL Reign and Tacoma Defiance football clubs.

A magnet for families looking for affordable housing options in the Puget Sound area, Tacoma also draws those who prefer to live in an urban downtown setting with competitively priced condos and apartments that feature panoramic mountain and water views. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!

Communication from the City of Tacoma
We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from cityoftacoma.org and/or governmentjobs.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

The online application system requires you to enter a substantial amount of information. Be prepared to spend at least an hour entering information. In order for your application materials to be considered, all information must be submitted by the closing date and time listed on this job announcement.

For assistance with the NEOGOV application process, questions regarding this job announcement, or if you are experiencing complications while applying, please contact the Human Resources office at 253-591-5400 by 4:00 pm of the closing date of the job announcement. This will allow time to assist you before the job announcement closes. (For technical difficulties using the NeoGov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time.)