Summary

The Assistant Venue Director is the management position responsible for venue sales, event production, operations and special projects for the Arts Complex. The position reports to the Venue Director of the Denver Performing Arts Complex for the City and County of Denver.

Description

Assistant Venue Director

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

What We Offer

The City and County of Denver offers competitive pay commensurate with education and experience. New hires are typically brought into the organization between $98,682.00 and $130,754.00. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
457B Retirement Plan
140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

The City and County of Denver has announced furlough days, or unpaid days off, for most employees to meet a budget shortfall in 2025. There are two fixed furlough days for all limited (temporary positions with an end date) and unlimited (permanent) employees on August 29th, the Friday before Labor Day, and November 28th, the day after Thanksgiving. If you receive an offer for this position, your annual pay will determine whether you are required to take additional furlough days. Details will be discussed during the offer process for selected candidate(s).

Location & Schedule

In this position you can expect to work on site at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

Who We Are & What You’ll Do

So that all may thrive, Denver Arts & Venues enriches and advances Denver’s quality of life and economic vitality through premier public venues, arts, cultural and entertainment opportunities. DAV is also responsible for operating some of the region’s most renowned facilities including Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Colorado Convention Center, Denver Coliseum and McNichols Civic Center Building. Arts & Venues also oversees numerous cultural investments and grant programs such as Denver’s Public Art Program.

Denver Arts and Venues is deeply committed to an equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) practice that closes access gaps in arts and culture with urgency and accountability. We believe long term impact requires changing traditional processes, creating new systems, and developing authentic relationships to transformative work. Our works stands at the intersection of arts, culture and community.

The Denver Performing Arts Complex houses ten performance spaces on its 12-acre site, including the historic Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, and Boettcher Concert Hall. The Arts Complex is home to four resident companies: Colorado Ballet, Colorado Symphony, Opera Colorado, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts which offers Broadway shows, Tony award winning theatre, cabaret, and experimental productions. The Arts Complex is also home to Dazzle Jazz and features two full-service restaurants and the expansive Sculpture Park, which hosts a variety of outdoor events. The annual budget for the Arts Complex is $20 million.

The position oversees three main functional areas:

Venue Sales, Booking & Client Relations
Patrons Services and Front of House Operations
Production and Back of House Operations

Specifically, as the Assistant Venue Director you will:

Oversee event booking processes, strategies, policies and procedures, from initial contact to event settlement. Ensuring that yearly financial goals are met.
Ability to manage and negotiate user and service agreements including familiarity with terms and conditions and other elements related to business law legal principals.
Maintain and update booking software (FASTbook) and the venue calendar in collaboration with resident companies, internal stakeholders, and production teams.
Lead site tours for prospective clients.
Act as the operational lead on high-profile and complex events, ensuring the seamless execution of all client and organizational requirements.
Attends training through trade organizations and stays up to date on the latest booking trends and technology.
Resolves escalated client and citizen complaints.
Contribute to internal culture building by fostering collaboration, accountability, and a shared commitment to excellence across departments.
Proficiency in financial management for venue operations, including the ability to read and comprehend financial statements, budgets, and governmental funding policies and processes.
Assist with operational budgeting, forecasting, and vendor management.
Provides recommendations for capital expenditure.
Support operational and finance staff in the settlement phase as necessary.
Familiarity with the elements of theatrical production, including familiarity with lighting and sound systems as well as stagecraft and rigging.
Deep understanding of labor relations, personnel management, human resources, and ADA requirements.
Familiarity with all aspects of Food and Beverage operations, including concessions, catering, and restaurant operations and contract administration for outside providers.
Understanding of ticketing and box office operations, including working with resident companies and in-house ticketing solutions.
Understanding of marketing fundamentals, including event and venue marketing principals and best practices.
Support the recruitment, onboarding, and training of new team members
Provide leadership and mentorship to operations and events staff, modeling a service-forward, detail-oriented, and inclusive approach to venue management. Ensuring operational consistency and alignment with Denver Arts & Venues value.
Prepares policies and procedures related to all booking and operations including but not limited to safety and security, front of house and back of house event operations, contracting, catering, vendors, etc.
Monitor daily operations to ensure all processes, policies and procedures are followed.
Represent the Denver Performing Arts Complex with other city entities and agencies. Serves as a city representative on various committees. Fosters collaborative relationships that benefit the organization.
Works regular business hours; occasionally observes evening and weekend events to maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of the facilities

What You’ll Bring

We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level.

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:

Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Performing Arts Administration, Business, or related field—or equivalent professional experience.
Minimum of 7-10 years in venue operations, facility sales, and event management, with at least 4 years in a supervisory or client-facing leadership role.
Proven ability to manage event and theatrical operations, bookings, client relationships, and contract execution in a complex venue or public-facing institution.
Experience balancing public mission and earned revenue strategies within a civic or cultural setting.
Familiarity with venue scheduling software, CRM platforms, and event management tools.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to navigate diverse stakeholder relationships with clarity, diplomacy, and tact.
Availability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays as dictated by event schedules.

Required Minimum Qualifications

Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in a related field based on a specific position(s).
Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of experience at the type and level of functional or operational management, which must have included management of professional individual contributors.
Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education.
Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
Licensure: Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.