Senior Director, Hospitality & Experiences

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Hospitality & Experiences leads the UVA Alumni Association's venue rental and external events program at Aggarwal Hall, the Association's new 50,000-square-foot flagship facility opening March 2027. This role owns the strategy, revenue targets, and operational structure of the venue rental program, establishing Aggarwal Hall as a premier event destination in the Charlottesville community and beyond. The Senior Director is responsible for building and managing external client relationships, developing competitive pricing and event packages, and ensuring venue rental activity generates revenue aligned with organizational goals. This position sets the standard for how Aggarwal Hall is positioned, marketed, and experienced as a venue — and directly supervises the team responsible for its day-to-day hospitality and event operations.

Key Responsibilities

Venue Revenue Strategy & Program Ownership

• Develop and own the annual venue rental revenue plan, including pricing structures, package tiers, and performance targets.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of external clients and community partners, including corporate, nonprofit, University, and institutional accounts.
• Negotiate and execute rental agreements, contracts, and service terms in alignment with organizational policies and legal standards.
• Establish and maintain Aggarwal Hall's market positioning as a premier venue in the Charlottesville region.
• Monitor revenue performance against targets and adjust strategy in response to market conditions and organizational priorities.

Sales & Client Relationship Management

• Lead prospecting, outreach, and relationship development with potential external clients; convert inquiries into confirmed bookings.
• Serve as primary relationship owner for anchor and repeat clients, ensuring satisfaction and long-term account retention.
• Coordinate with Event Manager to ensure client-facing proposals, tours, and communications reflect brand standards and venue capabilities.
• Maintain venue CRM and pipeline tracking to support forecasting, reporting, and Senior Leadership visibility into revenue activity.

Venue Standards & Guest Experience

• Define and maintain service and hospitality standards for all events hosted at Aggarwal Hall, whether external clients or internal Alumni Association programs.
• Oversee development of event packages, amenities, and add-on services that support revenue goals and differentiate the venue.
• Ensure all physical environments — lobby, event spaces, exterior — consistently reflect Aggarwal Hall's brand and quality standards.
• Coordinate with the Facilities Manager to align operational readiness with client event requirements and building presentation standards.

Team Leadership & Supervision

• Directly supervise Event Manager, Event Coordinator; set clear performance expectations and provide ongoing coaching.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and support professional development for all direct reports.
• Model and reinforce a hospitality-forward service culture across the Aggarwal Hall team.
• Manage departmental operating budgets and resource allocation in support of venue operations and revenue goals.

Reporting & Organizational Coordination

• Prepare and present venue revenue and operational performance reports for senior leadership and board audiences.
• Coordinate with Alumni Programs, Development, and Communications staff to manage scheduling priorities across internal and external event activity.
• Lead pre-opening planning for Aggarwal Hall, including systems implementation, vendor credentialing, team onboarding, and market launch activities.

Performance Expectations

• Venue rental revenue targets met or exceeded annually (targets to be established in Year 1).
• External client pipeline maintained with documented activity and conversion metrics.
• All venue rental agreements executed in compliance with organizational contract standards.
• Client satisfaction maintained at high levels, measured through post-event feedback mechanisms.
• Team performance goals met and direct report retention sustained.
• Pre-opening readiness milestones achieved on schedule for March 2027 launch.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 7+ years of experience in venue sales, hospitality management, event revenue strategy, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated track record of managing an event sales portfolio or venue rental program with direct revenue accountability.
• Experience supervising a team and managing cross-functional operations in a hospitality or venue setting.
• Strong negotiation, contract management, and senior client relationship skills required.

Competencies

• Revenue strategy and pipeline ownership
• Sales and client relationship management
• Venue brand and guest experience stewardship
• Team leadership and performance development
• Organizational coordination and executive communication
• Pre-opening and operational planning

Working Environment

• On-site presence at Aggarwal Hall is central to this role; significant in-building time expected during events and client-facing activity.
• Schedule will include evenings and weekends during high-volume event periods.
• Hybrid work flexibility available during non-event periods, subject to organizational policy and operational priorities.