Job Summary

The Manager of Events and Group Sales is responsible for group sales, facility rentals, birthday party sales, and special event ticketing. This role reports to the Chief Financial Officer and oversees a team of event hosts and event support staff. This position ensures timely responses to rental inquiries, coordinates client sales with the Academy’s external caterer, negotiates and executes rental agreements, and manages invoicing for rental clients.

The Manager of Events and Group Sales works cross-departmentally to manage the Academy-wide logistics calendar and leads processes such as weekly facility planning meetings to ensure efficient resource deployment, coordinated planning, and fulfillment of client expectations.

Essential Functions

• Oversee the relationship with the Academy’s preferred caterer, including contract management, facilitating quarterly meetings, monthly commissions reports, coordination of event activities, and fulfillment of client inquiries.
• Support relationship with the Academy’s gift shop vendor, Event Network, including coordination of after hours program needs. 
• Implement processes for tracking inquiries, yield, and progress towards revenue goals. 
• Manage events budgets and pay invoices.
• Work with Marketing Team to develop advertising strategies and campaigns to solicit inquiries, special event ticket sales and group visits.
• Partner with programming team to develop marketable group experiences, event add-ons and other ticketed programs. 
• Act as point person on site as needed for all rental events, particularly weddings and other high-profile rentals, ensuring compliance to building use restrictions and rental agreement stipulations. 
• Schedule and facilitate walkthroughs with potential clients. 
• Book facility rentals in Altru. 
• Manage Events Calendar. 
• Help create and manage internal diagramming tool. 
• Uphold and convey a shared understanding of event processes across departments. 
• Train, schedule and oversee a team of event hosts and event support staff. 
• Balance departmental annual budget; monitor monthly status of budget; assist in planning long and short-term purchases for the Academy as they relate to birthday parties and facility rentals. 
• Work closely with Floor Operations Manager to ensure onsite team has the necessary information. 
• Attend weekly operations meetings to ensure operations team is briefed on weekly bookings. 
• Develop and implement follow-up strategies to encourage repeat business including distribution of follow-up emails and surveys.
• Assist in the implementation and training of customer service standards. 
• Increase sales through engaging with new audiences, targeting businesses, organizations, associations, and event planners. 
• Attend networking events to build relationships with individuals and corporations to drive sales and increase revenue. 
• Work closely with the Exhibits team to review required event support and confirm set up needs for all events with appropriate staff. 
• As needed, assist security in resolving any emergencies, including fire alarms and other building emergencies, first aid, and lost children when working onsite events. 
• Assist with all other ANS activities and priorities as needed. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree or the equivalent combination of education and work experience. (Please review the Equivalency Chart for additional information.)
• Minimum of 2-4 years of group sales or event planning experience
• Knowledge of general office practices; ability to handle confidential information required.
• Experience with Microsoft Office required.
• Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends required.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills required.
• Excellent organizational, project management and administrative skills required.
• Leadership skills required.
• Ability to work collaboratively with vendors and individuals across departments.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Altru or comparable database software preferred.

Physical Demands

• Typically sitting at a desk/table
• Typically standing, walking
• Lifting demands ≤ 25lbs

Location

• Center City - Philadelphia, PA

Additional Information
This position is classified as Exempt, grade J. Compensation for this grade ranges from $47,490.00 - $71,230.00 per year. Please note that the offered rate for this position typically aligns with the minimum to midrange of this grade, but it can vary based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review.

Applicants are encouraged to explore the Professional Staff salary structure and Compensation Guidelines & Policies for more details on Drexel’s compensation framework. For information about benefits, please review Drexel’s Benefits Brochure.

Special Instructions to the Applicant
Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.

A review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.