Manager, Special Events (55767)

TEAM OVERVIEW:

The Springfield Cardinals are the Double-A affiliate of the 11-time World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals and are owned by Diamond Baseball Holdings. Based in Springfield, Missouri, the club competes in the Texas League and proudly captured the 2025 Texas League Championship. The organization is committed to excellence on and off the field, delivering championship-level experiences for fans, partners, and the community at Hammons Field while building a dynamic, collaborative, and growth-oriented workplace.

Position Overview: 

The Springfield Cardinals are seeking an enthusiastic candidate to drive the development and management of the marketing, sales and execution of events and special events at Hammons Field. This role will encompass the planning, execution and completion of events with a variety of associated accountabilities.  This position has a strong emphasis in relationship building skills and requires personal drive, determination, and hard work in a fun, fast-paced environment. 

Essential Job Duties & Responsibilities:

• Act as the primary on-site contact for all non-baseball events at Hammons Field.
• Identify, pursue, and close new special event business through outbound prospecting, networking, site tours, partnerships, and creative deal structuring to maximize use of Hammons Field year-round.
• Work with all events from beginning to end including prospecting, walkthroughs, rate and contract negotiations, pre-event planning, food and beverage planning, staffing, load-in/out, event execution and post-event settlement. 
• Create clear, detailed event notes outlining client programming and share them with internal teams and external partners to ensure smooth execution.
• Lead internal and external meetings as required, including but not limited to walkthroughs and tours of event spaces for clients and vendors, menu reviews, department meetings, staff meetings, pre-shift meetings, etc. 
• Organize and schedule internal staffing and working with 3rd party vendors for set-up, tear down and execution of events. 
• Cultivate a strong working relationship with all team departments, including, but not limited to, operations, grounds, food & beverage, marketing and sales.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with the local Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission (as applicable) to support business development and event success.
• Proactively solicit new business by making sales calls/presentations, attending trade shows, and engaging in other client prospecting, with the expectation of exceeding monthly and yearly revenue targets. 
• Work with other departments to create and market new business opportunities to existing client base; research, analyze and develop special event profit generating opportunities for both outside events and events around existing sports properties. 
• Work with the marketing department to create “events within events” to drive fan engagement, revenue and new business opportunities for baseball games. 
• Create leads and develop long term relationships in the event planning, production and promotion communities to enhance events.   
• Implement marketing plan and strategy for stadium outside events, including updating and maintaining all information on facility website, social media, and marketing materials with regards to rentals/events. 
• Design and develop customized client presentations and proposals using Digideck to align with specific program objectives and brand standards.
• Work with the creative team to create compelling marketing materials for use in print, digital and trade shows to showcase the facility and its multitude of events we are capable of hosting. 
• Create demand for the ballpark as an event destination by developing targeted outreach campaigns, packages, and partnerships that consistently grow event volume and revenue.
• Properly compile and distribute all pertinent event information in an effective and timely manner. 
• Provide superior customer service to clients before, during and after event. 
• Always demonstrate and promote a professional and positive attitude. 
• Create post event notes upon completion of every event. 
• Create, prepare and provide required reports to the General Manager including proformas, special event revenue reports, profit and loss statements and departmental projections for events. 
• Ensure all event payments are received and track all invoices pertaining to the event. 
• Work with stadium concessionaire on menu creation, menu customization, and execution of catering and staff needs for all events. 
• Complete other duties as assigned including tarp pulls and game duties. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills as well as the ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple tasks. 
• Outstanding computer skills including MS Office products are necessary  
• Must be able to work holidays, evenings, and weekends.  
• 2 - 4 years of related experience with a working knowledge of local and/or regional markets, event or venue operations, sales or marketing in the event industry is required. 
• Bachelor's degree in business, facility/hospitality/sport management or similar. 
• Ability to learn all video board and sound related equipment and basic functions.