Lead Event Specialist

The University of Ottawa—A crossroads of cultures and ideas

The University of Ottawa is home to a dynamic community of over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroad of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We believe in the power of representation, and that increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff supports this objective. Our goal is to provide students with the best possible learning experience, in an environment that reflects the diversity of its people, their ideas, and their identities.

We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. Our employees come together around the shared purpose of constant improvement, personal development, service excellence, teamwork and a passion for learning with a desire to make uOttawa and the world a better place. Everyone's contributions are valued, we all play a part in making uOttawa a world-class institution. Most importantly, we make it possible for you to achieve your full potential. Because at uOttawa, you belong

**Position purpose**:
Reporting to the Manager, Events and Sports Information Services:
Responsible for providing leadership and guidance to the Events sector, overseeing all varsity athletic events. The individual will ensure events are a major contributor to the student experience on campus, both for the general student population and student-athletes on our various teams. The incumbent will also strive for events to promote the university brand at the local, provincial, national and international level, elevating the reputation of the institution while creating significant sources of revenue generation for the student affairs department and the university.

**In this role, your responsibilities will include**:
Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Events sector, leading the planning and delivery of all varsity events and special events throughout the academic year. Excellent fan experience and student experience are at the core of all decision-making.

Plan events in respective facility (assigned by Manager) in collaboration with other sectors within the service, as well as other departments within the university and occasionally external partners.

Plan special events, whether on
- or off-campus, for some or all varsity teams. Work with key stakeholders to ensure the special events meets the objectives of the team or service. These types of events typically act as recognition or fundraising events, all requiring careful planning as they elevate the Gee-Gees and uOttawa brands.

Develop and manage relevant budgets, including providing quotes (e.g., staffing, equipment, fees) and tracking expenses. Continuously reassessing current practices and opportunities to increase revenue generation.

Manage all logístical components of an event, including contract negotiations, bookings, facility needs, registrations and ticket purchases, set-up and tear down, food and beverage, merchandise, etc. Outline every element of each event and assign tasks, timelines, and deadlines for each component of the plan.

Oversee the annual staffing strategy for the department. Hire, train and supervise student and non-student event staff.

**What you will bring**:
Advanced knowledge of sport or event management principles normally acquired through postsecondary studies in a related discipline or an equivalent combination of education and work experience
Minimum 3 years’ experience working in the field of sport and recreation (event hosting is considered an asset).
Experience problem-solving in high-stress, fast-paced environments.
Experience in the supervision and management of employees.
Experience in strategic annual planning, establishing objectives, and capturing and analyzing data.
Strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy and tact.
Ability to produce high quality work under pressure while meeting strict deadlines.

**Advanced organizational skills**: ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Ability to work as part of a team.
Strong sense of autonomy and self-motivation.
Familiarity working with OUA/RSEQ/U SPORTS event hosting requirements is an asset.
Familiarity with Microsoft suite, as well as other event planning software and event related technology (e.g. ticket scanners, POS machines, etc.).
Ability to work predominantly non-traditional hours during peak periods of the competitive season (August to April).
Ability to communicate in both official languages is required (written, oral).

**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 realise an obj