Summary

The Venue Director is the senior management position responsible for the management and operation of the Arts Complex. The position reports to the Executive Director of Arts & Venues for the City and County of Denver.

Description

About Our Job

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 a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. 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 + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday and 1 volunteer day per year
Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

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.

A core responsibility for the position is to guide the Arts Complex in maintaining strong, cooperative relationships with the four resident companies. The position is responsible for ongoing communication and active engagement with the leadership of these institutions to ensure successful operations and management of resources. This culture of cooperation should be reflected at all levels with all employees under the direct supervision of the Venue Director.

Other key leadership qualities include:

Ability to lead a team toward vision of Arts Complex that aligns with Agency goals and mission. Communicate vision and guidance to all team members.
Provide leadership, vision, and coordination of programming initiatives, including budget development and program goals. Engage in collaborative programming opportunities to activate the Arts Complex.
Provide leadership and management of capital improvement projects.
Work with Arts & Venues Marketing to advance facility and program marketing goals.

Work with a variety of contracted services (custodial, F&B, event services, facility security) to ensure seamless interaction between staff and contract personnel. Collaborate, initiate and/or lead various Agency initiatives including diversity, equity and inclusiveness programs and patron accessibility.

The position oversees four main functional areas:

Event Production and Operations.
Responsibilities include oversight of all FOH and BOH operations for the Arts Complex.
Key responsibilities include:

Proficiency in event booking processes, strategies, policies and procedures, from initial contact to event settlement.
Proficiency in understanding and managing booking agreements, including familiarity with terms and conditions and other elements related to business law legal principals.
Proficiency in financial management for venue operations, including the ability to read and comprehend financial statements, budgets, and governmental funding policies and processes.
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.
Ability to manage and negotiate property leases, user agreements, and other contracts.
Ability to manage and negotiate agreements for a variety of contracted services, including F&B, custodial, facility security, event security, parking, and stagehand services.

Supervision of this functional area includes an Assistant Venue Director as direct report, and a team that includes a Patron Services Manager, Production Coordinators, House Management, Ushers, Event Security, Production staff and stage crew. The team also includes F&B management and staff, including restaurant operations.

Facility Maintenance and Capital Projects
Responsibilities include management and oversight of all facility maintenance and custodial services. Responsible as owner’s representative for capital projects, working in partnership with DAV’s Director of Capital and Sustainability. Key responsibilities include:

Broad understanding of a wide variety of facility operating systems and infrastructure, such as HVAC systems, mechanical and electrical systems, vertical transportation, plumbing, and other systems.
Broad understanding of the best means and methods for custodial practices, including best practices in sustainability and safety.
Ability to comprehend architectural designs, construction documents, and other elements of construction management.
Ability to act as owner’s representative to make cost effective and time sensitive decisions around project management during construction.
Ability to work with various stakeholders to build consensus around capital project goals.

Supervision of this functional area includes a Facilities Superintendent as direct report, and a team of engineers and other trades, as well as utility workers, custodians and porters.

Safety, Security, and Garage Operations.
Responsibilities include management and oversight of safety and security operations. Responsible for oversight of Garage Operations at the Arts Complex.

Proficiency in the ability to articulate and create practices, policies and procedures that balance the public interest with safe and secure operations.
Understanding of best practices in emergency management, emergency response, and communication with internal and external stakeholders. Ability to speak as a representative and spokesperson for the Arts Complex when needed.
Understanding of the principals of risk management, risk assessment, and best practices in venue security and safety.
Understanding of the principals of crowd management, situational awareness, and other safety training principals.
Understanding of fire safety and other building codes.
General understanding of garage operations, including automated entry/exit systems, staffing, maintenance, and traffic management.
General understanding of the best means and methods for creating efficiencies around vehicular and pedestrian circulation at a large performing arts center.

Supervision of this functional area includes a Safety, Security and Parking Manager, with a team of parking and transportation staff, facility and property security staff, and public communications specialist.

Programming and Activation
Responsible for the oversight and management of a variety of programming and activation initiatives at the Arts Complex, with an emphasis on creating opportunities for artists in the community to present works in the Galleria, Sculpture Park, and the Studio Loft.

Understanding of business principals around nonprofit organizations, for profit promoters, and artist presenting models.
Understanding of programming and presenting trends in the performing arts.
Broad understanding of the various disciplines in the performing arts, including ballet and contemporary dance, opera and symphonic music, jazz, world music and dance, and immersive arts performances.
Able to demonstrate deep connections with industry thought leaders around performing arts disciplines, including presenters, producers, artist agents and representatives.

Supervision of this functional area includes a Senior Program Administrator.

McNichols Civic Center Building, Champa Arts Building
In addition to the responsibilities outlined above, the position oversees two additional special event spaces, as part of an overall portfolio of downtown venues.

The McNichols Civic Center Building is a former Carnegie Library building, originally constructed in 1909. In 2012 the venue was renovated and reopened as a contemporary hub for arts and culture for the people of Denver. The venue hosts a wide variety of special events and features 20,000 square feet of space over three floors. In 2024 the Agency began the process of envisioning a future for the McNichols Building that will create greater opportunities for engagement with downtown visitors. The conceptual plan envisions food and beverage operations on the first floor with access to Civic Center Park, and a partnership with a museum operator on the 2nd floor with a focus on Denver civic life. The 3rd floor will continue with special event operations and curated art exhibits.

The Champa Arts Building is located within the site of the Arts Complex, directly adjacent to the Buell and Boettcher theaters. The facility was originally built in May of 1940 as the administration building for the Denver Police Department. Denver Arts and Venues currently manages the facility as an office building, with a studio on the 3rd floor that is used primarily for rehearsal space for visiting Broadway shows and an event space on the 1st floor. The Agency is in the process of expanding the use of the 1st and 2nd floors to meet the needs of the cultural community.

The position oversees all event operations for these venues and is responsible for oversight of facility maintenance and capital improvements.

Able to participate in future visioning of how these two venues will enrich and enliven the City of Denver to the benefit of its citizens and the cultural community, in line with Agency and mayoral initiatives to create a vibrant and active downtown.
Broad understanding of event operations, including planning and managing special events.
Understanding of a wide variety of food and beverage operations.
General understanding of the operations and functional needs of an exhibit museum.

Supervision of this functional team includes a Venue Manager and support team including a Business & Events Operations Administrator, an Events Coordinator, and Building Engineer.

Minimum Qualifications:

We realize your time is valuable so please do not apply if you do not have at least the following required minimum qualifications:

Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in a related field based on a specific position(s).
Experience Requirement: Five (5) years of experience at the type and level of functional or operational management, which must have included management of subordinate supervisors.
License/Certifications: By position, requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.

***By position, must obtain Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) clearance within the probationary period.
Education/Experience Equivalency: Two (2) years 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.