General Manager | Full-Time | Navy Pier Events Facility

General Manager | Full-Time | Navy Pier Events Facility

Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents.

Position Summary

The General Manager will be responsible for overall management, promotion, and operation of the facilities, including contracting, purchasing, booking, marketing, finance, human resources, event management/operations, food and beverage (3rd party), box office, capital project planning, advertising, security, production, maintenance, and related operations by performing the following duties personally or through subordinates. The General Manager is accountable for the development of policies, procedures, and programs for achieving the goals set by Navy Pier, Inc. (NPI) and OVG. The position reports directly to the Regional Vice President.

This role pays an annual salary of $185,000-$210,000 and is bonus eligible.

Benefits for Full-Time roles: Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, 401(k) Savings Plan, 401(k) matching, and Paid Time Off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays)

This position will remain open until September 4, 2025.

About the Venue

The Navy Pier has always been the "People's Pier". Build in 1916 as part of Daniel Burnham's famed plan of Chicago, today Navy Pier boasts versatile, multipurpose event spaces and high-quality amenities against one of the most unique and spectacular lakefront settings in the Midwest. Navy Pier showcases more than 50 acres of parks, restaurants, attractions, retail shops, sightseeing and dining cruise boats, exposition facilities, and more all available to guests of on-site events. Navy Pier offers two exhibit halls, 34 meeting rooms, the historic Aon Grand Ballroom and Lakeview Terrace that overlook the lakefront. These dramatic and diverse spaces are ideal for trade and consumer shows, conferences, business meetings, and special events of any size.

Responsibilities

• Maintains active contact with the Client/Contract Administrator. Monitors OVG's compliance with all provisions of the management contract.
• Aggressively promotes the use of the facilities to maximize their utilization.
• Responsible for maximizing the number of events and revenue opportunities at the facilities and will work in unison with NPI, Choose Chicago, local hotels, food and beverage provider (Levy), promoters, and community stakeholders to maximize the amount of business that occurs annually at Navy Pier.
• Negotiates lease agreements as determined necessary and in the best interests of the facilities.
• Negotiates contracts and agreements with event organizers, meeting planners, promoters, and agents for all managed spaces.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with Client/Contract Administrator, tenants, government departments and agencies, entertainment/convention industry, community and civic organizations to encourage continual and regular use of the facility.
• Coordinates facility involvement with Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as other appropriate destination marketing agencies.
• Assures the coordination, implementation, and administration of specific plans and programs prescribed by corporate directives, to include matters of training and development, quality assurance, energy efficiency, safety/emergency procedures, crowd control, and crisis management procedures, or other areas if needed.
• Develops and implements facility goals in accordance with the management contract, the client's objectives, corporate policy, and good business practice.
• Prepares and maintains required and necessary reports/records for the Client/Contract Administrator and corporate office.
• Plans, organizes, coordinates, and directs all activities and personnel engaged in maintaining and operating the facilities.
• Coordinates the development of the annual operating plan, which includes goals, strategies, activity schedules, capital planning, staffing, and forecasts for revenue, expenses, and attendance.
• Conducts weekly staff meetings for sales, events, operations and leadership.
• Provides for control of day-to-day operations; assuring the coordination of plan, programs and events; conducts post-event operational financial and customer service reviews and analysis.
• Provides final approval of all contracts and agreements with suppliers, promoters, and tenants for necessary events, activities and services at the facilities.
• Provides or coordinates for timely and effective response to directives and requests received from internal and external organizations, agencies, departments, and individuals; assures and maintains the integrity of the facility, client, and OVG in all forms of communication and personal conduct.
• Oversees and advises Human Resources on any necessary revisions/modifications to the staffing plans, including number and types of employees, essential functions, salaries, and benefits.
• Assures the administration of personnel and the operation of the facilities are conducted in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
• Evaluates facility practices and recommends improvements to better reflect the needs of the client and the facilities and/or to improve the efficiency and safety of operation, in compliance with OVG policies and procedures.
• Responsible for recruiting, training, supervising, and evaluating administrative and supervisory staff.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with clients, tenants, employees, subcontractors, facility partners, union representatives, and the general public.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree (BA) from a four-year accredited college or university with major course work in business or public administration or related fields.
• Minimum 5-7+ years of progressively responsible experience as a convention center GM in a 1st or 2nd tier destination or an AGM in a major convention center or GM or a major convention hotel. Or, an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in contract negotiation.
• Experience in supervising personnel.
• Experience in and/or detailed knowledge of the convention, meetings, exhibition, tradeshow, and arena industries.
• A dynamic leader with visionary abilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and organizational ability.
• Ability to work with and maintain highly confidential information is required.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays as required by the event schedule.
• Ability to work simultaneously with a broad variety of vested interest groups and to foster a cooperative environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles and practices used in the successful management of convention and arena facilities.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Considerable knowledge of safety regulations and other federal, state, or local laws and regulations.
• Strong orientation towards hospitality/customer service for the meeting, convention, and entertainment industry.
• Strong knowledge of budgeting, sales/marketing, event management, facility operating standards, building maintenance, custodial, personnel and office management.
• Ability to deal effectively with human resource and personnel problems; to deal constructively with conflict; to motivate, provide counsel, and execute applicable solutions.

Strengthened by our Differences. United to Make a Difference

At OVG, we understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry, we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence. Our success is rooted in creating environments that reflect and celebrate the diverse communities in which we operate and serve, and this is the reason we are committed to amplifying voices from all different backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Oak View Group is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis ("protected class") including, but not limited to veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.