Executive Director

About the role

VenuWorks Inc. is an employee-owned private management company doing business in the vibrant city of Davenport, Iowa. Davenport is one of several communities that are collectively called the “Quad Cities,” encompassing Northwest Illinois and Eastern Iowa tied together seamlessly across the Mississippi River utilizing 4 bridges. The region offers close access to major markets like Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Des Moines, Omaha, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Indianapolis. Quad Cities International Airport (MLI) carries 11 nonstop flights across the country. The region is home to dozens of venues for live music, theater, dance and visual arts. There are more than 127 sculptures, murals, and galleries included on the QC Public Art Trail, which is a growing self-guided experience to enjoy across the Quad Cities. The Quad Cities is fortunate to have breathtaking natural amenities from the riverfront trails to the serene beauty of gardens and parks. Hundreds of miles of trail systems make for countless experiences as a bicyclist or hiker. The Quad Cities is also one of the best places in the United States for bald eagle watching as each winter these amazing birds of prey migrate to key spots along the Mississippi and Rock River. Continual investment in the sporting scene has introduced many options for courts and courses to play casual or competitive games of golf, pickleball, tennis, disc golf and more. There are always celebrations and special events going on in the QC including live music festivals and concerts, markets, and holiday parades, exhibits, cultural events, and amazing races.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with the City contract administrator(s), Adler Theatre Foundation, Visit Quad Cities CVB, facility clients, community stakeholders, live event industry decision makers, and community and civic organizations.
• Provide cohesive and positive leadership and direction to all departments and VenuWorks staff.
• Aggressively promote the use of the facility with agents, promoters, meeting planners, national governing bodies, and community groups to maximize the number of annual events in each venue. Negotiate lease agreements with meeting planners, third-party organizations, event organizers, and promoters.
• Serve as the primary fiscal oversight officer including budget development, overview of financial and accounting reporting, financial projections and controls, and personnel management.
• Provide oversight and administration for each of the operating units ensuring safe operation, properly maintained and clean properties including financial management, sales & marketing, operations, programming, and community relations.

Qualifications

• Show demonstrated experience and success in booking talent in a commercial theater, and in creating a robust pipeline of meetings, sporting events, conventions and banquets in a multi-purpose conference center.
• Seek out community involvement opportunities including speaking engagements, media interviews and other public appearances. Represent VenuWorks in a positive manner to the community, convention and hospitality industries, colleges and universities, and other agencies.
• Monitor VenuWorks' compliance with all provisions of the management contract.
• Negotiate contractual agreements as determined necessary and in the best interests of the venue.
• Complete annual reporting and communicate successes to stakeholders and clients.
• Research, develop, and maintain relationships with artist agents, artist management as well as local, regional and national promoters. Initiate and oversee programming for all venues, securing contracts for concerts, sporting tournaments, conventions and events, receptions and exhibitions.
• Recruit, train, supervise and evaluate administrative and supervisory staff.
• Complete continuous performance appraisals for staff and make annual salary/bonus recommendations.
• Provide goals and direction to event and banquet sales staff to maximize occupancy in the convention spaces, and continuously grow the pipeline with local, regional and national prospects.
• Provide guidance and direction on marketing and ticket operations to maximize ticket sales for every event.
• Oversee the development and implementation of marketing and SEO campaigns designed to attract community members to bring banquets, weddings and meetings to the RiverCenter.
• Provide guidance and direction for maximizing revenues related to sponsorships, grants, donations, naming rights and vendor trade.
• Provide oversight and management of food and beverage operations and staff including full-service catering and concessions.
• Plan, organize, coordinate and direct all activities and staff engaged in maintaining and operating the venues.
• Cultivate leadership and staff meetings on a consistent basis.
• Direct the development and administer the execution of facility operating budgets.
• Oversee and advise on any necessary revisions/modification to the staffing plans, in conjunction with the facility's management team.