Director of Marketing & Events

This full-time position is part of a 16-member team that manages the McNamara Alumni Center , an award-winning event center and office building located on the University of Minnesota Minneapolis campus. Team members are employees of University Gateway Corporation (UGC) , a private nonprofit organization founded by the University of Minnesota Foundation and the University of Minnesota Alumni Association.

• Participate in hiring event staff, ensuring thorough and effective training. Provide input on individuals and teams, offering guidance and motivation in their responsibilities.
• Supervise & support the Sales Manager and the Event Manager
• Ensure high customer service standards and consistent branding are delivered through all touchpoints with clients—from inquiries, tours, coordination through event completion and follow-up.
• Continually analyze the operation for efficiencies and effectiveness, modifying or setting policies and procedures. Assess and initiate opportunities for change and improvement. Include team members as appropriate, challenging them to think outside-the-box and rewarding innovative thinking.
• Ensure ongoing training of emergency preparedness planning/crisis management/ security requests
• Lead inspiring weekly staff meeting of sales and operations teams.
• Plan and lead an annual retreat of event staff including onsite catering staff if desired. Hold teammates accountable for goals and proposed initiatives.
• Identify areas for professional growth in managers and all event staff; provide opportunities for learning new skills and enrichment.
• Conduct performance reviews, requesting 360 degree input and providing meaningful, thoughtful feedback.

• Work with the Sales Manager to brainstorm marketing initiatives, strategies, advertising campaigns and promotions for the event business. Target markets include planners of conferences, corporate meetings, non-profit galas, and weddings.
• Work with freelance writers, graphic designers and videographers to produce web, digital and print advertising, client e-news, direct marketing mailers, sales materials, trade show displays.
• Give direction to McNamara’s web developer; be knowledgeable of Word Press to help manage the McNamara Alumni Center website www.mac-events.org. Edit content, supply files, provide strategy.
• Give direction to McNamara’s Google Ads consultant; evaluate and monitor MAC’s Google ad performance. Write or edit content.
• Give direction to McNamara’s Sales & Marketing Coordinator who updates McNamara’s online listings, manages social media, compiles McNamara’s photo library and assists with misc. marketing projects.
• Attend ILEA, MPI, MN Bride, Meet Minneapolis and other industry events and meetings, exploring memberships as appropriate.

• Initiate and foster relationships with representatives of UMPD, Parking and Transportation, Athletics, General Counsel, University Real Estate, Student Activities Office, University Relations, Graduate Minneapolis Hotel, other campus venues etc.
• Negotiate issues related to our events business, leveraging UGC’s contributions to the University and exposure through McNamara’s events. Past negotiations have included parking ramp access and rates for MAC events; property lines and uses; security costs; university event contract terms; plaza booking procedures, etc.
• In collaboration with Sales Manager, negotiate trades and long-term agreements with UMAA, Minnesota…