Director, Slover

The City of Norfolk is seeking an innovative, visionary, and collaborative leader to serve as Director of The Slover, the City's premier mixed-use event, meeting, and community destination that welcomes over 150,000 visitors a year. The Director provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for one of Norfolk's signature public facilities, integrating hospitality, event experiences, arts and culture, entrepreneurship, education, and public services into a vibrant destination that serves residents, businesses, visitors, and community partners.

The Director is responsible for ensuring operational excellence, exceptional customer experiences, financial sustainability, and strong community partnerships. Through innovative leadership and collaboration, the Director maximizes facility utilization, expands community impact, and positions The Slover as a center for civic engagement and learning as well as a regional destination where people gather to celebrate, collaborate and experience arts and culture.

The Slover is home to five integrated operating areas:

• Venue Rentals & Guest Experiences
  : including meetings, conferences, weddings, special events, and the 235 Speakeasy at The Slover
• Downtown Branch at Slover:An anchor-branch sized library in the Norfolk Public Library System
• Creative Studios:Digital Media, Sound Studio, and Maker Studio
• Hendrix Business Center:A resource for entrepreneurs who are starting or growing business or non-profit organizations
• Café Space:Operated through a lease agreement

The Director ensures these operating areas work together as a cohesive destination while recognizing the unique mission and purpose of each. The Downtown Branch at Slover is an integral component of the Norfolk Public Library System. The Director of The Slover provides administrative oversight for the Downtown Branch while ensuring library operations support the strategic direction, policies, service standards, and initiatives established by the Director of Libraries.

The Director serves as the primary representative for The Slover and works collaboratively with City leadership, the Slover Library Foundation, Norfolk Public Library System, community organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit partners, and private businesses to strengthen community engagement, increase earned and contributed revenue, expand strategic partnerships, and enhance The Slover's regional visibility and impact.

• Provides strategic vision and executive leadership for The Slover.
• Establishes measurable organizational goals and performance metrics.
• Promotes a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and exceptional customer service.
• Leads organizational change initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness and customer experience.

• Oversees The Slover as a premier event venue and multi-use destination.
• Maximizes facility utilization through a balanced mix of public services, community programming, and revenue-generating activities.
• Provides leadership for venue rentals, meetings, conferences, weddings, special events, and hospitality operations, including the 235 Speakeasy and café lease agreement.
• Ensures outstanding customer experience across all operating areas.
• Ability to develop new opportunities for community events, lectures, art shows and civic gatherings as well as develop synergistic partnerships with other attractions both in the city and in the region.

• Provides administrative oversight for the Downtown Branch at Slover.
• Collaborates with the Director of Libraries to ensure library operations, collections, programming, and services remain aligned with the Norfolk Public Library System's strategic plan, policies, and service standards.

• Oversees programs, partnerships, and services supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, workforce development, and lifelong learning.
• Expands opportunities for economic development through strategic partnerships and community collaboration.

• Provides leadership for the Creative Studios by expanding access to innovative technologies, creative resources, and educational opportunities.
• Supports programming that encourages creativity, digital literacy, and community engagement.

• Develops and administers departmental operating and capital budgets.
• Identifies opportunities to diversify revenue through venue rentals, commissions, grants, philanthropy, and…