Director, Hospitality Events

**Overview**:
The Toronto Blue Jays are building a new hospitality business focused on hosting private events in Rogers Centre’s one-of-a-kind spaces. The Director, Hospitality Events will be an experienced events professional capable of building and leading a hospitality events business (e.g., meetings, corporate events, holiday parties, etc.). They will have the ability to craft innovative event concepts, a passion for executing memorable experiences, and be excited about building a new venture from the ground up.

**Key Responsibilities**:
**Hospitality Event Business Planning and Development**
- Research industry trends, competitor offerings, and client preferences to inform the development of unique event packages and services.
- Develop a go-to-market strategy including target audiences and marketing and sales plans.
- Develop relationships with vendors and establish price and service agreements to enhance the event experience.
- Work cross-functionally with internal stakeholders to design operating processes, including event booking, event set-up (e.g., catering coordination, IT/AV set-up), and event clean-up.
- Establish and manage operational procedures and protocols for hosting hospitality events within the stadium, ensuring adherence to safety, security, and regulatory standards.
- Build a hospitality events team as the business scales.

**Sales and Marketing**
- Build relationships with tourism organizations (e.g., Destination Toronto), convention and conference hosting organizations (e.g., Metro Toronto Convention Centre), and destination management companies to create a sustainable pipeline of leads.
- Attend trade shows, conventions, and events to promote Rogers Centre hospitality events.

**Event Planning and Execution**
- Work with prospective clients to understand objectives and requirements for events, ideate solutions, and schedule events.
- Work with clients, vendors, and internal stakeholders to plan events and coordinate logistics.
- Oversee all aspects from initial concept to event execution to deliver memorable client experiences.

**Business Oversight**
- Oversee budget planning and financial performance for the hospitality events business area, monitoring expenses and revenue generation to achieve profitability goals.

**Skills and Qualifications**
- Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, Business Administration, Marketing, or related field.
- Event management experience: minimum of seven years of experience in event management, including both planning and execution, preferably in a stadium or large venue setting.
- Relationship building: ability to proactively engage with industry stakeholders to build strategic relationships, leverage connections to gather feedback on event offerings, and create a sales lead pipeline
- Strategic thinking: ability to frame problems, analyze solutions, and make well reasoned decisions.
- Project management: ability to organize and manage a diverse range of assignments and projects with high efficiency and meticulous attention to detail.
- Entrepreneurial spirit: desire to build a business from the ground up, ability to flex cross-functionally, and a willingness to tackle tough challenges.
- Collaboration: willingness and ability to partner with internal stakeholders, external vendors, and clients to create memorable experiences.
- Flexible Scheduling: availability for a flexible schedule to accommodate after-hours and weekend events and meetings.
- Budget management: experience in budget planning and financial management, with a focus on achieving revenue targets and controlling expenses.
- Strong leader that coaches and develops their team in a meaningful way
- Legally able to work in Canada.