Director of Events & Catering | Full-Time | Grand River Conference Center

Oak View Group is the global leader in venue development management and premium hospitality services for the live event industry. Offering an unmatched 360-degree solution set for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster that includes the most influential highest attended arenas convention centers music festivals performing arts centers and cultural institutions on the planet.

The Director of Events & Catering oversees all event management operations at the Grand River Center including Front of House services as well as Food & Beverage operations at the Five Flags Center. This position ensures all functions align with OVG policies and objectives to deliver exceptional guest experiences maximize profitability and maintain a positive productive and compliant work environment.

The Director of Events & Catering is responsible for the effective management of the event services department; Front of House catering; beverage service; and concessions across both the Grand River Center and Five Flags Civic Center. Key responsibilities include event planning and scheduling coordinating with culinary teams on food cost control ensuring compliance with food safety and sanitation standards overseeing cleaning and kitchen safety practices and hiring scheduling training and supervising all catering concession and support staff. This role provides high-level operational and personnel oversight to ensure seamless execution of all events and food service outlets.

Excellent attendance and the ability to work a flexible event-driven scheduleincluding evenings and weekendsare essential. Professional presentation strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently are required.

This role pays an annual salary of $70000-$80000 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 March 13 2026.

The Grand River Conference Center is a full-service meeting and event facility located in the heart of downtown Dubuque Iowa. Newly renovated in 2020 featuring over 80000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space for events up to 2000. The Five Flags Civic Center is located in downtown Dubuque. The arena has a capacity of 4500 guests and has the ability to transform for an occasion from concerts and sports tournaments to banquets and general sessions. The theater is a National Historic Landmark that seats 711 guests and Bijou Room is a black box theater with a capacity of 135 guests.

• Oversee event management activities at the Grand River Center including front of house management for Grand River Center and Food & Beverage operations at Five Flags Center
• Direct coordinate and oversee the activities of employees engaged in providing event coordination food & beverage event security fire regulation compliance exhibitor services parking and overall client satisfaction during events at Grand River Center
• Supervise recruit interview select train motivate and evaluate Event Managers at the Grand River Center & the Food & Beverage Manager at Five Flags Civic Center.
• Recruit interview select train schedule motivate and evaluate front of house employees inclusive of servers concessionaires and bartenders at the Grand River Center; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline and termination procedures
• Create service plan timelines and daily activity list of part time service staff
• Review of BEOs and Event Resumes before distribution
• Hold weekly event department meeting
• Lead weekly BEO Meeting to ensure department continuity
• Manages the control of beverage and labor costs through proper scheduling and purchasing
• Conducts regular inspections to assure cleanliness and maintenance meet company standards
• Oversee and manages monthly beverage inventory
• Responsible of Front of House staff in providing high quality fresh food products in a timely manner for delivery to guests
• Coordinates the storage maintenance and repair of front of house equipment to ensure operational readiness
• Maintains sanitation health and safety standards and training in work areas
• Prepare departmental annual budget; recommend capital improvements; control and monitor departmental expenditures; assist in preparation of estimated revenues for facility budget
• Support Event Managers as needed in planning BEO/Event Resume creation menu selection set-up and execution of events
• Develop crowd management and event staffing plans and supervise event staff during events when needed
• Review and approve final billing to facility users prior to settlement or release of invoice
• Work closely with the general public by monitoring services provided and addressing concerns in a timely manner
• Demonstrate continuous effort to improve operations decrease turnaround times streamline work processes and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service
• Conduct a variety of industry operational studies; recommend modifications to service delivery methods and operational policies and procedures as appropriate
• Interpret and apply all relevant federal state and local regulations
• Review and prepare bi-weekly payroll.
• Serve as Event Manager in the absence of team members
• Routinely serve as Manager on Duty
• Additional duties as assigned

• Minimum of 5-7 years of increasingly responsible experience in event management in an arena stadium convention center or other multi-purpose public assembly facility
• Experience across a range of food and beverage operations including volume feeding à la carte service fine dining catering as well as purchasing storage and handling.
• Maintains a current Food Handlers card and alcohol service permit if required by state or local government
• Supervisory experience required
• Bachelors degree or better from an accredited college or university
• Possession of or ability to obtain a valid state drivers license
• Knowledge of customer service practices
• Ability to prepare track control and analyze budgets
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in the English language both orally and in writing
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule including; early mornings evenings weekends holidays and extended number of consecutive days.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office programs & ability to quickly learn other venue appropriate software.

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 ourpeople improves ourservice and raises ourexcellence. 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.

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.