Senior Conference Center and Events Manager

Job Description

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Senior Conference Center and Events Manager

Position Details

• Pay Rate: $48.57/hour on W-2
• Initial Location: 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
• Work Arrangement: 100% onsite, five days per week
• Standard Hours: 10:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
• Schedule Flexibility: Required to cover conference center hours, events, alternate shifts, and other Midtown locations.
• Interview Process: Two rounds
• Extension Potential: Yes
• Conversion Potential: Possible conversion to full-time employment

Position Overview

This is a higher-level management position overseeing event planning and conference center operations across a three-floor Midtown Manhattan location. The selected candidate will initially be based at 270 Park Avenue.

The Senior Conference Center and Events Manager will oversee approximately 25 team members, including two Event Planners currently working onsite. This individual will lead the planning team, manage daily conference center operations, coordinate multiple events, resolve escalations, optimize meeting-space utilization, and maintain exceptional service standards.

The ideal candidate will have a luxury hotel, five-star hospitality, corporate conference center, or high-end event-management background. Strong knowledge of audio-visual systems, food and beverage operations, catering, scheduling, and supply ordering is essential.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, mentor, and manage a conference center organization of approximately 25 team members.
• Directly oversee the event-planning function, including two Event Planners currently onsite.
• Assign events based on planners’ skills, experience, workload, and availability.
• Develop schedules and ensure adequate operational coverage across three floors.
• Manage local and remote team members when applicable.
• Conduct midyear and annual performance reviews.
• Identify training needs and professional-development opportunities.
• Support the onboarding and development of new team members.
• Promote accountability, collaboration, service excellence, and consistent performance.

Event Planning and Execution

• Oversee multiple meetings and events of varying size and complexity.
• Define, conceptualize, coordinate, and execute successful events.
• Manage scheduling, room assignments, space requirements, and event calendars.
• Coordinate the ordering of supplies, equipment, food and beverage, and other event-related items.
• Ensure all meeting requirements—including space, technology, audio-visual equipment, catering, and guest services—are delivered accurately.
• Conduct pre- and post-conference calls with clients and internal partners.
• Document requirements, updates, and outcomes within the Event Management System.
• Monitor events from initial planning through execution and post-event review.
• Address and resolve operational challenges, service issues, and escalations.
• Provide reception-desk or hands-on operational support when required.

Client Service and Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage regularly with senior management, line-of-business representatives, clients, and internal service teams.
• Partner with catering, technology, audio-visual, facilities, security, and operations teams.
• Build trusted relationships with executives, clients, colleagues, vendors, and guests.
• Deliver a professional, warm, and high-touch customer experience.
• Manage guest experiences and expectations using tact, diplomacy, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Serve as a consultant regarding meeting strategy, logistics, service delivery, and event execution.
• Provide timely updates and maintain clear communication throughout the event lifecycle.

Operational Excellence and Space Optimization

• Oversee daily conference center operations across a three-floor Midtown location.
• Enforce established operating procedures, service standards, and best practices.
• Develop team schedules and coordinate coverage across conference center hours and locations.
• Manage ordering and inventory of operational and event-related items.
• Analyze meeting-room demand and optimize space utilization.
• Participate in daily operations meetings and weekly business reviews.
• Monitor operational metrics and prepare reports for management.
• Identify trends, service gaps, and opportunities to enhance efficiency and the client experience.
• Support the opening of new locations and onboarding of new teams when required.

Continuous Improvement, Risk, and Compliance

• Lead projects and initiatives designed to improve facilities, planner performance, daily operations, and the overall client experience.
• Maintain a strong understanding of operational risk and compliance requirements.
• Implement controls and procedures to mitigate service and operational risks.
• Ensure adherence to policies, procedures, standards, and best practices.
• Track operational performance and recommend corrective actions when appropriate.
• Promote continuous improvement throughout conference center operations.

Budget, Metrics, and Reporting

• Develop and manage event schedules, plans, budgets, and supporting documentation.
• Track event-related expenses and ensure the effective use of resources.
• Prepare operational metrics and management reports.
• Evaluate event results and complete post-event reporting.
• Use performance data to improve future event planning and service delivery.
• Partner with stakeholders on event strategy, execution, resource allocation, and budget management.

Required Qualifications

• At least six years of hospitality-industry experience, including experience with five-star hotels, luxury hospitality, corporate conference centers, event planning, or food and beverage operations.
• Proven experience leading, managing, and developing teams.
• Strong understanding of the complete meeting-planning process and customer experience.
• Extensive knowledge of audio-visual systems.
• Strong knowledge of food and beverage and catering operations.
• Experience managing scheduling, supply ordering, event logistics, and space utilization.
• Ability to manage multiple meetings and events simultaneously.
• Excellent project-management, planning, coordination, and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to interact professionally and warmly with senior executives, clients, guests, and colleagues.
• Ability to resolve escalations and manage expectations using tact and diplomacy.
• Strong customer-service orientation and commitment to high-touch service.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Willingness and ability to work onsite five days per week.
• Ability to work the standard 10:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. schedule while remaining flexible for alternate shifts, extended hours, and event coverage.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree; directly relevant experience is more important.
• Luxury or five-star hotel management experience that can transfer effectively to a corporate setting.
• Experience managing a large event-planning, conference center, or hospitality team.
• Experience opening a new location or conference center.
• Experience onboarding and developing a new team.
• Experience preparing operational metrics and performance reports.
• Knowledge of the Event Management System or a comparable event-booking platform.
• Experience supporting senior executives in a corporate or financial-services environment.
• Familiarity with space-utilization analysis, risk management, and compliance.

Disqualifiers

• Fewer than five years of hospitality-industry experience.
• No meaningful team-management experience.
• Insufficient knowledge of audio-visual systems or food and beverage/catering services.
• Inability or unwillingness to work flexible shifts.
• Inability to work onsite five days per week in Midtown Manhattan.