HOUSING & EVENT OPERATIONS MANAGER

The University of Denver (DU) is a private institution renowned for empowering students who aspire to make a meaningful difference in their community and beyond. Nestled in Denver, Colorado, DU fosters a vibrant academic environment that emphasizes inclusive engagement, innovation, and community partnership. The university's Conferencing and Event Services (CES) division plays a vital role in supporting the university's mission by providing high-quality service, extensive resources, and operational support for a wide range of events hosted on campus. Serving both internal university functions and external clients, CES helps generate significant auxiliary revenue streams through conferences, camps, corporate meetings, and signature events, contributing to the university's strategic priorities such as academic innovation, facilities enhancement, student services, and overall financial sustainability.

CES functions as a strategic business operation that upholds the university’s values by building partnerships across various campus departments and external organizations. Events hosted through this service not only support revenue objectives but also advance key institutional goals, including student recruitment and enrollment growth, community engagement, alumni relations, and the enhancement of brand visibility and leadership positioning within the academic and regional community.

The Housing & Event Operations Manager is a crucial year-round leadership position within CES focused on two main operational areas: summer residential housing for conferences and camps, and event operations throughout the academic year. This dual role demands sophisticated coordination and leadership skills to ensure smooth transitions and high-quality service delivery. During the summer months, the manager oversees the planning and execution of residential housing operations across campus residence halls, ensuring facility readiness, staff supervision, risk management, and optimization of housing revenue. This includes maintaining close coordination with services like custodial, maintenance, and linen to ensure an excellent residential experience for guests.

Throughout the academic year, the manager transitions to overseeing comprehensive event operations, which involves coordinating logistics such as room setups, audio-visual equipment, dining, custodial, and safety services. This role requires collaboration with multiple campus partners to guarantee that all events run seamlessly and in alignment with contractual agreements, thereby minimizing risk and enhancing client satisfaction. The manager serves as a key point of contact during events, resolving complex logistical challenges and leading evaluations to improve future services.

The position demands flexibility with work hours, including availability for evenings, weekends, and participation in an on-call rotation, especially during busy summer periods and significant campus events. Success in this role is measured by effective collaboration, smooth operational execution, high client satisfaction levels, repeat business, timely issue resolution, and prudent cost management.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience managing residential operations, conference housing, or large-scale event logistics. They must possess strong relationship management skills, the ability to train and supervise seasonal staff, financial acumen related to occupancy and cost control, and knowledge of safety and risk mitigation standards, including youth protection when applicable. Professional communication skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure are essential attributes for thriving in this dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Employed full-time with a salary range between $58,000 and $65,000 per year, this role offers a hybrid work schedule during the academic year, balancing in-office and remote work. The University of Denver provides excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefits, and an ECO pass, showcasing its commitment to employee well-being and professional growth. The Housing & Event Operations Manager position directly contributes to the strategic financial health of the university and the delivery of exceptional event experiences that align with the university's mission and values.