Manager, Special Events

Job Title: Manager, Special Events
Reports to: General Manager
Hours: Mon-Fri as required, holidays and weekends as needed
Contract type: Permanent, full-time
Location: Wichita, KS

About the Wichita Wind Surge:
The Wichita Wind Surge, Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, bring competitive baseball and vibrant community engagement to Riverfront Stadium. As a cornerstone of Wichita sports, the Wind Surge create memorable experiences for fans of all ages. The Wichita Wind Surge are a proud member club of Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH). DBH was formed in 2021 to support, promote, and enhance Minor League Baseball through best practices, professional management, innovation, and investment.

Position Overview:
The Wichita Wind Surge are seeking an enthusiastic candidate to drive the development and management of the marketing, sales and execution of events and special events at Riverfront Stadium. 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 Riverfront Stadium.
• Work with all events from beginning to end including walk throughs, rate and contract negotiations, pre-event planning, food and beverage planning, staffing, load-in/out, event execution and post-event settlement.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 to 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.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.

Job Questions:

1. Where are you currently located? If not in the Wichita area, are you willing to relocate for this role?
2. What are your salary expectations for this role? Please provide a range.
3. Do you have at least 2 years of experience in hospitality or event services management?
4. Have you worked with event documentation like Banquet Event Orders or invoices?
5. Are you comfortable working in fast-paced environments with changing requirements?