How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.
Job Summary
Center for Campus Involvement Overview
The Center for Campus Involvement (CCI) is a dynamic, student-focused department that serves all undergraduate and graduate students through programs, student organization administration, and learning and development. Through meaningful involvement, CCI creates transformative experiences, a vibrant community, and lifelong memories for University of Michigan students. CCI recognizes and supports over 1,600 student organizations through education, advising, advocacy and services. CCI also implements over 300 social, educational, and cultural programs each year, focused on building community within and beyond University Unions' facilities.
University Unions Overview
University Unions (UU) drives community building and belonging through the integration of its three student unions (Michigan Union, Michigan League, Pierpont Commons), Center for Campus Involvement, Campus Information, academic meeting and dining facility (Palmer Commons), and close partnership with Conference & Event Services and Michigan Dining to provide student-focused and customer-oriented service to the campus community. Total budget volume for University Unions approximated $20 million. University Unions directly employs over 50 regular staff and 250 student staff.
Job Summary
The Lead Manager provides operational leadership for major events and ticketing in the Center for Campus Involvement, a department within University Unions, to ensure well-considered campus production services for student organizations, departments, and non-University clients, such as local performance venues with ticketed events. The Lead Manager is accountable to the CCI Director/Associate Director for organizing business processes, setting a direction for success, supervising 2 full-time staff members - the Major Events Manager and Michigan Union Ticket Office (MUTO) Manager, managing Central Campus Diag and North Campus Grove event reservations, representing CCI with clients and stakeholders to address issues and needs that arise, achieving financial expectations, and ensuring timely deliverables.
Responsibilities*
Leadership of Functional Area (35%)
- Provide forward-thinking leadership for the Major Events and Michigan Union Ticket Office staff within the Center for Campus Involvement.
- Assess current workflow, identifying opportunities and solutions to maximize efficient operations.
- Hire, train, and supervise full-time staff and temporary student employees who work collaboratively to serve clients and build community at the University of Michigan.
- Work collaboratively with CCI and UU staff to provide a well-considered plan for building an inclusive community through organizations and programs across campus.
- Assess student and staff needs to ensure organizational goals and learning outcomes are met.
- Build strategic partnerships with University Productions; School of Music, Theatre & Dance; University Musical Society; University and Development Events; Facilities & Operations; Michigan Athletics; Student Life Budget & Finance; The Ark in Ann Arbor; and, other partners.
Program Management (35%)
- Manage major events in campus performance venues, including Hill Auditorium (3500 seats), the Power Center for the Performing Arts (1300 seats), Rackham Auditorium (1000 seats), and Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre (620 seats), hosted by student organizations, U-M departments, and non-University clients.
- Manage event reservations and support activities on the Central Campus Diag and North Campus Gerstacker Grove, the two primary outdoor community spaces at the University of Michigan.
- Plan and manage all technical and physical production aspects, including the production schedule and all staff associated with the show (i.e., technical supervisor, ushers, IATSE stagehands).
- Negotiate the physical layout of production; supervise IATSE stagehands and exercise judgment in implementing safety laws (i.e., OSEH procedure) and building and public safety codes while maintaining responsibility for the facility.
- Ensure productive use of Tessitura (ticketing software) to meet clients' needs.
- Plan, manage, and coordinate Ticket Office operations by facilitating ticketing agreements, meeting with clients, setting up events in the ticketing system, maintaining contact and communication through event fruition, preparing staff to sell event tickets (in advance and at the event), attend events (as needed) to facilitate box office operations.
Financial Management (20%)
- Develop budgets, prepare reports, and achieve financial expectations, identifying cost efficiencies for short and long-term success.
- Pursue opportunities to increase business to create revenue, balancing auxiliary revenue needs with a focus on the student experience.
- Serve as the Student Life's contact for professional speaker and performer contracts and signature authority for agreements up to $1,000.
- Coordinate the review and negotiation of performance contracts with booking agencies and promoters, including contract riders, about all technical aspects of the show and ensure all contracts comply with all laws, University policy, and music industry standards.
- Approve staff payroll, including 2 direct reports and 20 MUTO student employee ticketing agents (as needed).
University Unions and Student Life Service (10%)
- As a member of the CCI/UU and Student Life, serve on committees and work teams such as the UU Management Team.
- Serve on the Student Life Activism Planning and Response Team.
- Participate in staff training and professional development opportunities.
- Other Duties as Assigned
Required Qualifications*
- Bachelor's degree
- 2-4 years of event production experience
- 1-3 years of supervision experience
Desired Qualifications*
- Master's degree in Performing Arts, Arts Administration, Business, Higher Education Administration, or relevant field
- 5 or more years of event production experience
Additional Information
Position Criteria
- Experience delivering excellent and inclusive customer service to a variety of audiences for production and ticketing needs
- Passion for working with college students
- Experience developing partnerships to enhance the student experience
- Ability to excel in a fast-paced environment, requiring strong organizational skills
- Ability to anticipate needs and develop creative solutions
- Ability to work evenings and weekends
Financial/Budgetary Responsibility
- Manage auxiliary budgets exceeding $400,000, ensuring high levels of financial integrity from staff and monthly budget reporting. Identify cost efficiencies for short and long term success.
- Serve as the Division of Student Life resource for professional speaker and performer contracts, and signature authority for agreements up to $1000.
Working conditions
- Some evenings, weekends, and long hours required throughout the academic year.
Direct reports
- 1 Major Events Manager
- 1 Ticketing Manager
Additional Information
Selected candidates whose start date is after 4/1/2024 or before 8/31/2024 will not be eligible for the university FY 24-25 salary/merit plan unless otherwise notified.
This role may have reporting obligations under Title IX and Clery.
Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment and applicants for this position will not be sponsored for work visas.
Salary may vary depending on qualifications, experience, and education of the selected candidate.
#studentlife
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.