Shape how exceptional events come to life. The Vancouver Convention Centre is excited to share that we are hiring a Senior Manager, Event Operations. As Senior Manager, Event Operations, you'll lead teams, improve processes, and create outstanding experiences from planning through execution. We are seeking someone with proven 10+ years experience leading large, complex teams.
The Senior Manager, Event Operations is responsible for leading the delivery of events, ensuring seamless execution and exceptional experiences for clients and guests. The role provides strategic direction and operational oversight across the event lifecycle, while overseeing the development and management of operational resources and client-facing tools that simplify processes, enhance the client experience, and ensure our venue remains innovative and easy to do business with.
The Senior Manager leads the Event Operations team, establishing priorities, setting clear expectations, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, hospitality, and continuous improvement. This role supports team performance and development while encouraging critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving to achieve outstanding event outcomes.
In partnership with the Senior Manager, Events, this role helps advance the organization's client-centric event delivery approach, ensuring alignment between hospitality, operational readiness, and business objectives. By leveraging client feedback and operational insights, the Senior Manager drives continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen service delivery and operational effectiveness. As a member of the Vancouver Convention Centre Leadership Team, this role works closely with the Director to support the strategic direction, performance, and evolution of the Event Operations function.
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
- Provide strategic, people-centered leadership for the Event Operations Team, fostering a culture of clarity, collaboration, trust, accountability, empowerment, and hospitality
- Partner with the Director to shape long-term operational strategies, tools, processes, workforce planning approaches, and service delivery models that support organizational objectives
- Collaborate with Workforce Optimization to develop balanced, people-first schedules and resourcing
- Serve as event operations subject matter expert, supporting Business Development and Event Planning teams with guidance on venue capabilities and execution strategies
- Act as primary liaison between Event Operations and internal departments, ensuring operational requirements, client expectations, and service commitments are clearly aligned and communicated
- Partner with the Senior Manager, Events to ensure seamless transitions from event planning to delivery
- Build and maintain strong relationships with event stakeholders including oversight of the relationship with the City of Vancouver Special Events Office
- Serve as senior escalation point for complex operational challenges balancing client and event needs, operational capabilities, and organizational priorities to achieve successful outcomes
- Oversee the development and maintenance of operational resources and client-facing materials that simplify processes and make us easy to do business with
- Analyze operational performance, feedback, and lessons learned to identify opportunities for continuous improvement to tools, workflows, training, communication, and collaboration
- Ensure operations practices advance accessibility, inclusion, sustainability, safety, operational excellence, and hospitality
- Represent the Convention Centre within industry networks, professional associations, and external stakeholder groups
WHAT YOU WILL BRING:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, Hospitality, Tourism, Event Management, or a related field preferred.
- An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
- 10-13 years of progressive leadership experience, with a proven track record of developing and leading high-performing teams across junior to senior levels.
- Extensive experience managing diverse, complex events within convention centres, hospitality, or other event-driven environments.
- Demonstrated ability to lead operational excellence in fast-paced, customer-focused settings while balancing multiple priorities and stakeholders.
- A people-first leadership style, including coaching, talent development, succession planning, and fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability.
- Strong proficiency with Microsoft 365; comfortable with digital collaboration tools
- Knowledge of Momentus and Dayforce.
- Ability to interpret CAD floorplans; AutoCAD experience an asset.
- Exceptional relationship-building abilities, fostering trust and collaboration across teams, departments, clients, and external partners.
- Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to effectively engage stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
- Demonstrated conflict resolution and problem-solving abilities, addressing challenges with professionalism, empathy, and sound judgment.
- Strong organizational and strategic thinking skills, balancing operational priorities while maintaining focus on long-term business objectives.
- A collaborative approach that promotes accountability, continuous improvement, and shared success.
