What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Manager-Performing Arts Venues position at Birmingham Jefferson Co?
ABOUT THE BJCC
For over 50 years, the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) has served as a premier entertainment destination attracting a broad array of events across a diverse collection of venues. Centrally located in the heart of Birmingham, Alabama’s Uptown Entertainment District, the BJCC campus includes Legacy Arena at the BJCC, the Coca Cola Amphitheater, Protective Stadium, BJCC Concert Hall, over 220,000 square feet of meeting & exhibition space, and City Walk BHAM, a 31-acre public outdoor space with a dog park, pickleball courts, skate park and much more. For more information visit www.bjcc.org.
Summary/Objective
The Senior Manager for the Performing Arts Venues supports the strategic and day-to-day management of the BJCC Concert Hall and Theater operations, overseeing both front-of-house and back-of-house functions. This role ensures seamless event execution, exceptional guest experiences, revenue maximization, and efficient production operations, while also ensuring the venues are properly maintained, presentation-ready, and operating at the highest standards.
The role partners closely with venue leadership, production teams, and external clients to deliver high-quality performances and events while maintaining operational excellence, safety, and fiscal responsibility.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities
Demonstrates understanding and full performance ability in each of the following:
Operations Management
- Serve as manager on duty for events.
- Support the Director in overseeing all venue operations, including front-of-house (guest services, ticketing, ushers) and back-of-house (production, stage, and technical operations).
- Ensure smooth, efficient execution of events from load-in through load-out.
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve operational policies, procedures, and service standards.
- Monitor daily operations to ensure alignment with organizational goals and service expectations.
- Initiates, directs and participates in pre-event planning meetings with clients operating departments, reviews event history file information.
- Expertly monitors event requirements as they relate to other scheduled events, activities, and requirements to coordinate with operating department to avoid event conflicts.
- Engage with food service partners to exceed BJCC standards of service and to maximize revenue opportunities.
- Coordinate with production team, stage managers, and technical teams to ensure all event requirements are executed to specification including reviewing contracts to address critical event needs.
- Review event riders, operation plan, floor plans, production schedules, and staffing plans to ensure feasibility and readiness. Make change recommendations to the client as determined in the best interest of the client and facility or in accordance with BJCC policy and procedures.
- Serve as a key operational contact for promoters, clients, and touring productions.
- Troubleshoot and resolve real-time operational or production challenges.
- Conducts post-event meetings with the client and operating departments and reviews venue surveys for improvement opportunities.
- Monitor event progress in accordance with the approved event operation plan, including floor plans, to ensure compliance.
- Directs last-minute adjustments in room or equipment set-ups at the request of the client or to assure compliance with safety measures; prepare accurate statement of additional charges.
Guest Experience & Front-of-House Leadership
- Oversee front-of-house operations to ensure welcoming, safe, and high-quality guest experience.
- Establish and maintain service standards for ushers, food & beverage, ticketing staff, guest services and etc. personnel.
- Respond to and resolve guest concerns with professionalism and urgency.
- Analyze guest feedback and implement enhancements to improve overall satisfaction.
Staff Leadership & Development
- Supervise, recruit, coach, and develop front-of-house and operations staff, including stage, technical, and event coordinator team members.
- Ensure appropriate staffing levels for all events and operations
Financial & Administrative Oversight
- Assist in budget development and management for venue operations.
- Monitor labor and operational expenses to ensure alignment with financial targets.
- Review payroll, staffing allocations, and event-related costs for accuracy and efficiency.
- Support revenue-generating initiatives, including premium services, food service and operational efficiencies.
- Produces event financial estimates, ensures fee deposit schedules are met, and prepares accurate post-event financial settlements in accordance with contractual terms, including all supporting documentation for events held in the Concert Hall and Theatre.
- Ensures all invoicing information pertaining to assigned event is accurate and complete and provides such information to the billing office.
Event Safety and Compliance Management
- Ensure compliance with all safety regulations, fire codes, ADA requirements, and organizational policies.
- In partnership with Public Safety and Leadership, assist in crowd management planning and emergency preparedness procedures.
- In conjunction with Public Safety and Leadership, assists in crowd management of the event related to patron safety and emergency plans as liaison to event promoters in emergency and critical incidents.
- In partnership with Public Safety and Leadership manage crowd flow using techniques that mitigate risk, control traffic flow, and safety handle emergency evacuations.
- Coordinate with security and risk management teams to maintain a safe environment for guests, staff, and performers.
- In coordination with the Birmingham Fire Prevention Office, ensure all event floor plans adhere to applicable fire and occupancy codes.
- Ensure proper documentation and reporting of incidents.
Facility & Vendor Coordination
- Conduct regularly scheduled venue inspections to ensure they are properly maintained and safe for events.
- Make suggestions for venues’ capital improvements as appropriate.
- Collaborate with facilities, maintenance, and custodial teams to ensure venue readiness and upkeep.
- In partnership with leadership, manage relationships with third-party vendors, contractors, and service providers.
- Ensure all spaces meet operational, aesthetic, and safety standards prior to events.
- Performs other duties assigned.
Work Environment
This position may have a moderate to extensive stress level associated with dealing with crowds of public visitors. The environment is mainly indoors, however position may be required to work outdoors and exposed to the elements (heat, rain, etc.).
Physical Demands
Position requires lifting, climbing, carrying, bending, stooping, squatting, and kneeling for extended periods of time. Extensive walking and standing. Ability to lift items weighing 30lbs with or without assistance, while maintaining good balance. Must be flexible enough to reach above shoulder level and be able to push and pull for brief periods of time. Visual acuity, speech recognition, and speech clarity.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time position; hours of work must be flexible and varied to meet the demands of the events of the facility. Must be able to work extended and/or irregular hours including day, nights, weekends, and holidays, as needed.
Required Education and Experience
- Minimum of five (5) years related knowledge, experience, and skills in the hospitality industry, preferably as a meeting planner or event manager with at least three (3) years in a supervisory capacity preferred. Experience within a performing arts venue or public arena is strongly preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with emphasis in hospitality management, business management, public administration, or a related field.
- Industry certification(s) strongly preferred: Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP), Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP), Certification in Meeting Management (CMM), Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM), Certified Event Planning Specialist (CEPS) or equal certification.
- Valid State of Alabama Driver License.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications
- Knowledgeable of established safety practices and applicable fire codes pertaining to public facilities.
- Ability to coordinate, analyze, work independently, observe, make decisions, and meet deadlines in a detail-oriented manner.
- Ability to demonstrate critical thinking, time management, and deductive reasoning skills.
- Anticipates problems and implements corrective actions.
- Maintains effective relationships with public, promoters, management, BJCC partners and employees in a courteous and diplomatic manner.
- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business documents, governmental regulations, read and understand blueprints and schematic designs, floor plans, etc.
- Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and percentages.
- Ability to understand oral and written instructions in English.
- Excellent oral communication, written communication, fluency in English, public speaking, active listening.
- Strong conflict resolution skills required.
- Exceptional attention to detail and observational skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office software, to include Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Teams, and Publisher.