The Associate Director for Events and Facility Operations is a full-time professional staff position which is part of the Office of University Centers within the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL). In conjunction with the Director of University Centers, the Associate Director is responsible for managing all areas of events and facility operations of the University Centers department, supervises and provides leadership in the University Reservations and Event Support Services area and is responsible for managing facility and equipment reservations along with coordinating all support activities required for events. The Associate Director provides for the daily management of the Student Union. This person is responsible for the supervision and support of the Events Services staff, the Custodial staff within the Student Union and Whitney Dining Center, as well as student employees within the areas of oversight. The Associate Director will serve as a member of the University Centers central leadership team and will provide guidance on the long-term strategic plans for the areas of oversight.

Responsibilities:

Responsible for the overall direction and administration of events in the Student Union including Reservations, Event Support and policies related to campus events:

• Supervise the event reservation process for the Student Union, Whitney Dining Center, Graff Main Hall, Wimberly Hall, Cowley Hall, Centennial Hall, Cleary Center, and UW-La Crosse grounds.
• Hire, train, supervise, support and evaluate full-time staff in Reservations, Event Support, and Custodial services as well as student staff who support these areas. This position supervises three (3) full-time direct reports, 16 additional full-time staff, and approximately 30-40 student staff.
• Oversee work orders for all operational aspects and equipment of both the Student Union and Whitney Dining Center.
• Serve as the event liaison for major functions (conferences, Board of Regents visits, special events, etc.)
• Convene meetings and communicate with Custodial Supervisor, Catering Manager, Information Counter Staff, Building Managers, Technical Service Staff, and other necessary UW-La Crosse employees to coordinate and finalize event setup, technical services, and catering arrangements.
• Assist with building/event coverage when necessary

Administrative Duties:

• Oversee the quote/billing process for events including technology/production, room rental, custodial services, catering, and external vendors.
• Oversee the preparation, review, negotiation, and execution of space use contracts.
• Prepare budgets requested for financial reports for Scheduling, Event Support Services, and Custodial Services.
• Prepare year-end program reports to be included in the University Centers Annual Report.
• Develop, implement and maintain University Reservations and Event Support Services policies and pricing structure.
• Serve as the unit contact to the University Calendar.
• Serve as the liaison to summer camps for facility use.
• Coordinate University Reservations and Event Support Services website maintenance.
• Oversee key management and access control for the department.
• Coordinate operational aspects of the facilities: flooring, paint, furniture, equipment, work orders, storage, etc.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, hospitality management, operations management, or related field from a regionally accredited institution plus three (3) years of relevant professional experience – OR – a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, operations, or related field plus five (5) years of relevant professional experience is required.
• Experience working with event and/or facility operations in a large-scale operation.
• Experience supervising full-time professional and student staff members.
• Ability to prioritize and multitask while exhibiting good judgement and poise in a fast-paced environment.
• Possess exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, strong organizational skills, the ability to manage multiple priorities, and the willingness to work and communicate in a highly collaborative environment.
• Possess a commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience preparing, reviewing, negotiating, and executing space use contracts.
• Experience overseeing the facility operations of a large building that is LEED Certified.
• Experience working with event management software (such as EMS or Mazevo)
• Experience working with budget analysis, development, implementation, and reporting.
• Experience working in a higher education setting, preferably at a public institution.
• Understanding of the importance of collaboration within the unit and the university.
• Ability to problem solve and readily adapt to change.
• Ability to use and adapt to current technology and new technology and software.
• Ability to interact effectively with faculty, staff, students, and external groups.

About University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW–La Crosse) provides a challenging, dynamic, and diverse learning environment in which the entire university community is fully engaged in supporting student success. Grounded in the liberal arts, UW-La Crosse fosters curiosity and life-long learning through collaboration, innovation, and the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge. Acknowledging and respecting the contributions of all, UW-La Crosse is a regional academic and cultural center that prepares students to take their place in a constantly changing world community. For more than a decade UW-La Crosse has been named one of Kiplinger’s 100 Best Values in Public Universities and has appeared prominently on the U.S. News & World Report list of “America’s Best Colleges” for more than 15 years, and is ranked #4 on its list of the Best Regional Public Universities in the Midwest. UW-La Crosse ranks 6th nationally among the Top LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges for 2018-19 by AffordableCollegesOnline.org (ACO). With a student population of roughly 10,500, the university offers 91 undergraduate programs, 21 graduate programs, and 2 doctoral programs through the following three colleges, the Co...llege of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities, the College of Business Administration, and the College of Science and Health, as well as the School of Education. There are over 600 full-time faculty and instructional academic staff, 75 percent of whom hold terminal degrees. UW-La Crosse boasts a retention rate (freshmen returning as sophomores) of 84 percent, graduation rate (degree within six years) of 70 percent, and is among only 12 institutions cited nationally by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for its success in linking campus culture and university leadership to outstanding graduation rates. UW-La Crosse’s strategic plan Sustaining Excellence continues to move our community forward through its four pillars: increasing community engagement, achieving excellence through equity and diversity, investing in our people, and advancing transformational education. More information about the ongoing work of Sustaining Excellence is available at www.uwlax.edu/info/strategic-plan. The UW-La Crosse campus is in southwestern Wisconsin, nestled in a residential area of the City of La Crosse and positioned as part of a larger metro area with a population close to 140,000. The area, known as the 7 Rivers Region, is famous for its exceptional natural beauty which includes the Mississippi River on one side, majestic bluffs on the other, and views of rolling farmland and forested valleys in between. Abundant water, woodlands and varying terrain provide ample opportunities for year-round outdoor recreation. Only a couple of hours from Minneapolis or Madison, La Crosse enjoys the affordability and charm of small town living with larger city benefits. Three colleges, two world-class medical institutions, the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, a restored nineteenth century downtown business district, and a number of galleries and art centers have made La Crosse a regional center for culture, entertainment, medical care, shopping, sports and recreation. More information about the La Crosse metro area can be found here: Choose La Crosse. Learn more about UW-La Crosse here: https://www.uwlax.edu/human-resources/services/talent-acquisition-and-employment/finalist-welcome/

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