Job detail for Senior Associate Director, Venues

The George Washington University was founded in 1821 in response to a vision that the nation’s foremost founder spelled out in his last will and testament. He dreamed of a university that would educate the citizen leaders of the new nation he had done so much to create. Today the university that bears his name is different in many ways from what George Washington could have imagined. He could not have imagined the sheer size of its enrollment, now 26,000 students, including women as well as men from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Nor could he have envisioned a university with multiple campuses and 14 schools; with more than 120 departments and 95 centers and institutes; with a half-million-square foot science and engineering building; with a school of public health, located on a circle that bears his name; or with a museum housing a world-class collection of textiles and the history of the great capital city he had only begun to plan.

GW Venues (a department in the Division of Safety and Operations) produces and manages events in specialty venues on the Foggy Bottom Campus. We provide services to a broad spectrum of clients both in the community and outside of the community. We provide spaces for our students, faculty, staff and guests to host events, meetings and gatherings. We highlight university traditions, produce memorable guest speaker events and coordinate many other activities unique to our campus with local, national and international acclaim. Our record of excellence, support and cooperation is one that we are proud of.

Reporting to the Director, Venues, the Sr. Associate Director, Venues assists with supporting the GW Venues Team that manages the logistics for events and activities booked on campus by an Event Hosts. These events provide support for both internal and external partners who require logistical assistance in specialty event venues, outdoor spaces and other emerging partner campus venues. This position serves as the strategic lead for sponsored and external events booked at the University Student Center (USC). The Sr. Associate Director manages two Venue Managers as direct reports to manage the events at USC and other emerging partner venues on campus.

include:

• Serves as the lead Venue Manager for sponsored and external events at USC and other specialty venues on campus overseeing assigned events from the planning stage through live execution.
• Partner with leadership to strategically market the unique abilities and resources of the USC, actively engaging with high-value prospective clients to pitch capabilities, overcome objections, and successfully bring in new clients.
• Manages two Venue Managers as direct reports.
• Partners with event hosts to plan and execute campus events while actively enforcing all university compliance policies, safety guidelines, accessibility standards, and operational excellence expectations.
• Assists in the development, enforcement, and updating of venue usage policies, event safety procedures, scheduling protocols, operational guidelines, and SOPs for new venues.
• Contributes to weekly team meeting agendas and participates actively in cross-functional coordination meetings to align on upcoming event requirements and coordinating with USC operational staff.
• Ensures spaces are utilized at optimal capacity during events.
• Works with event hosts on logistical planning, direction, and execution, including but not limited to consulting on vendor selection, script review, and budgeting.
• Serves as the primary liaison between clients, contractors, caterers, administrators, and university partners to manage all logistical aspects of events.
• Conducts pre-event walk-throughs with clients, vendors, and security to familiarize them with the venue.
• Supervises event onsite, acting as the primary point of contact for troubleshooting and last-minute adjustments.
• Conduct post-event walkthroughs with clients to ensure the venue, furniture, and equipment are returned in their original condition, documenting any discrepancies or maintenance issues that require resolution.
• Coordinates and cultivates relationships with shared services and partner departments across campus (e.g., Facilities, Campus Safety, GWPD, AV, Housekeeping, USC staff, etc.) to execute event logistics, including room setup, vendor/attendee access, staffing, and crowd management to ensure all operational needs are addressed efficiently.
• Works with clients to determine room setups and create/update diagrams for each event.
• Provides guidance to clients regarding third-party vendors for additional services (e.g., décor, entertainment, rentals) and work along with the Production Team to provide guidance on vendors for additional AV services.
• Assists with interviewing candidates, training, and supervising venue staff.
• Assists with the development and management of trainings and templates for venue staff.
• Creates detailed event orders—including comprehensive timelines, setup logistics, furniture and equipment needs, and labor requirements—to clearly communicate operational expectations and final costs to the client.
• Consults with the scheduling department to assess availability for requested events and staffing needs at venues on campus.
• Maintains accurate records of event details, incidents, and client feedback for continuous improvement, assisting with the development, distribution, and analysis of post-event evaluation surveys.
• Creates and sends all appropriate reports in a timely manner.
• Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position. The position is based at GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus in Washington, DC.