Event Operations Manager

Date Posted: 11/07/2025

Req ID: 45937

Faculty/Division: VP & Provost

Department: Hart House

Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Position Number:

About Us – Hart House:

Hart House is a centre for experiential education outside the classroom at the University of Toronto. Since it opened in 1919, Hart House functions as a place where students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the broader community connect with each other and the world. Through an array of co-curricular programming in the arts, dialogue and wellness, Hart House works with local and international partners to foster community and to create innovative learning opportunities for students. Hart House operates from a historic facility on the St. George campus, as well as a 150-acre farm in Caledon, Ontario, offering a wide range of services through a social enterprise model that generates revenue to support its student-focused programming on all three University of Toronto campuses.

About Us – Hospitality Services:

For over 100 years, Hart House has been delivering exceptional experiences and lasting memories, and our Hospitality Services team supports each meaningful exchange and encounter. Whether our clients are hosting a multi-day hybrid conference, enjoying lunch at Gallery Grill restaurant, or saying "I do" in the Great Hall, we pride ourselves on delivering superlative customer service through thoughtful planning, delectable menus, beautifully appointed spaces, and technological expertise. Our team of hospitality professionals is unified around a common goal: to deliver unforgettable experiences that exceed client expectations and contribute to the vibrant community that Hart House welcomes and supports.

Your opportunity:

Under the general direction of the Director, Hospitality Services, the Event Operations Manager is a champion of customer service at Hart House, ensuring that all event services are successfully delivered and executed to the complete satisfaction of our clients and guests. The Event Operations Manager is responsible for managing the Event Operations Team, which delivers exceptional service through precise room set ups, creative staging, polished food and beverage delivery, and superlative customer service.

The Event Operations Manager maximizes revenue opportunities by exceeding client expectations to ensure repeat business and maximizes profit by effectively managing costs. This includes ensuring proper staffing for each event as well as maintaining, ordering, and purchasing all small wares, furnishings, and supplies to meet demand. The Event Operations Manager hires, trains, schedules and instructs all Event Operations staff.

The Event Operations Manager is a key member of the Hospitality Services leadership team and must set standards of professionalism, inclusivity, and superlative customer service for staff while operating successfully in a high volume and demanding environment.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing day-to-day operational needs of the unit
• Ensuring staff are scheduled according to program and/or service requirements
• Liaising with staff and vendors to ensure logistics are carried out according to the event plan
• Planning front-of-house operational workflows and procedures for service team
• Analyzing customer service procedures and making recommendations for improvements
• Assessing and determining service benchmarks and metrics
• Determining food presentation and delivery logistics with food preparation team
• Ensuring others adhere to established service delivery standards

Essential Qualifications:

• College Diploma (2 years) from an accredited College in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Business Administration, or related program, or acceptable combination of equivalent education and experience in the Hospitality industry.
• Smart Serve Certification and Food Handler Certification is required.
• Minimum five (5) years of progressive related client-facing experience in a larger catering operation and/or event venue with a minimum of three (3) years of the five (5) supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to superlative customer service.
• Experience establishing and managing staffing levels to maximize profitability while maintaining high service standards.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in all work responsibilities and in collaborative workplace practices.
• Takes initiative to continuously improve delivery of service.
• Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail. Ability to manage and organize numerous and competing tasks in a high-volume environment.
• Knowledge of trends in food and beverage as well as their presentation.
• Knowledge of safety guidelines and fire code.
• Strong technical competency and experience in database management is essential.
• Strong knowledge of service standards, and different service types.
• Excellent communication skills (interpersonal, written, verbal).
• Ability to exercise tact, judgment and discretion.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and conflict management skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

Assets (Nonessential):

• Previous experience supervising staff in a unionized environment.
• Previous experience using UTime, Accruent EMS or other event management system, and/ or Microsoft 365 an asset.
• First aid certification an asset.
• Fire safety and workplace safety certifications an asset.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Achievement oriented
• Organized
• Possess a positive attitude
• Proactive
• Problem solver
• Resourceful

Notes:

• Hours of work: Dependent on event and operational demand, including evening and weekends, and occasional overtime.
• A cover letter is required to accompany your application.

Closing Date: 11/18/2025, 11:59PM ET

Employee Group: USW

Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing

Schedule: Full-Time. Hours of work are dependent on event and operational demand, including evening and weekends, and occasional overtime.

Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:

USW Pay Band 11 - $76,577. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $97,928. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.

Job Category: Hospitality

Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.