Manager, Operations and Business Development – Events

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Student Affairs is at the very heart of the student experience at the University of Ottawa. We recruit the very best future students, support them throughout their university years and leave them well-prepared for fulfilling careers and future studies. Our team of more than 600 dedicated staff provides the services that keep students happy, well and thriving as they pursue their ambitions. We help them apply and enrol for courses, we oversee 11 residences and an award-winning Dining Hall, we organize fun events, we provide extensive recreation program opportunities and varsity sports activities, we run an innovative career development and experiential learning program and much more!

There’s nothing more rewarding than helping future generations reach their full potential at a world-class university. With our wide variety of career opportunities and professional development pathways, we’re sure that you’ll enjoy the experience as much as our students do.

Position Purpose :

To ensure the integrated management (planning, organization, direction, and control) of all in-house and outsourced services related to hosting multi-facetted events/activities for the campus community, summer operations/hoteling and technical services to sustain a high level of user satisfaction and loyalty in manner that reflects positively on the University of Ottawa’s reputation. Provides transversal leadership to the team to mobilize and seize all opportunities that achieve optimal performance in an auto-financed framework. Demonstrates business acumen in making and adjusting the business planning in response to fluctuating external conditions, market demand and effective management of all internal and external resources.

The role focuses on building supplier relationships, monitoring client satisfaction through key metrics, and developing policies to optimize space usage and operational efficiency. It contributes to business growth by leveraging networking skills, leading participation in major industry events, and forming strategic organizational partnerships to boost campus revenue and enhance the University's external reputation. Additionally, the role involves negotiating and managing agreements with stakeholders, regularly reviewing processes, and establishing financial terms for space rentals to ensure efficient operations, timely payment processing, and optimal use of campus spaces.

In this role, your responsibilities will include :

• Establishes the vision, goals, and target markets for events and summer hoteling services, developing performance metrics and aligning with departmental strategies. Leads business development initiatives by identifying revenue opportunities through targeted markets, sales strategies, and industry partnerships (e.g., with Ottawa Tourism). Continuously evaluates and adapts plans based on market trends to enhance visibility, financial viability, and the institution’s reputation.
• Builds and nurtures strong relationships with stakeholders, including students, staff, external clients, suppliers, and merchants, to foster collaboration and ensure a client-centric approach. Uses metrics, surveys, and feedback to monitor and enhance service quality, adjusting action plans to meet evolving client expectations and maintain high satisfaction levels.
• Provides strategic guidance and logistical support to operational teams, adapting team structures to accommodate departmental growth. Manages human resources, including within unionized settings, fostering a productive workplace and ensuring alignment with departmental goals. Stays current on best practices, offering insights to improve departmental effectiveness and maintain high standards in quality, deadlines, and budgets.
• enhance operational efficiency. Oversees the development and upkeep of IT platforms (e.g., booking systems) in collaboration with Housing Services and IT, ensuring they meet departmental needs, reduce errors, and improve productivity.

What You Will Bring:

• Bachelor`s degree in event management, hotel management, a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• At least 10 years related experience in hotel and/or restaurant industry, event management or other related experiences. At least 8 years in a team management role.
• Bilingualism: French and English (spoken and written), to be considered for this position, candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.
• Experience in managing a multifaceted ‘events’ sector and sales team
• Strong understanding of the sales process from prospecting to close.
• Knowledge of budget management principles and practices.
• Knowledge of liquor licence laws (AGCO),FIPPA privacy legislation, city event permits and laws, hoteling rates.
• Motivated and driven to finding and developing new opportunities and business relationships.
• Ability to initiate and complete activities, projects, changes, policies without direct supervision.
• Strong organizational skills to set priorities and meet strict deadlines, and the ability to manage the stress associated with conflicting priorities.
• Proven ability to work with information systems for data analysis and reporting are considered an asset.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills to interact with various clients and team members, to promote sector services and to manage expectations while achieving client satisfaction.
• Proactive, autonomous, and able to work with limited supervision.
• Some travel or work outside regular business hours or on weekends may be required for employer meetings, to attend networking events or conferences, etc.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business materials, technical procedures or governmental regulations and apply these to the sector

Key Competencies at uOttawa:

Here are the required competencies for all or our employees at uOttawa:

Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realize an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.

Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever it is possible.

Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.

Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.

The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes. Applicants with disabilities may contact [email protected] communicate the accommodation need. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Note: if this is a union position: The hiring process will be governed by the current collective agreement related to the union affiliation noted above; you can click here to find out more.

If this is a front-line position with responsibilities to interact with students, selected candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 - Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.