Field Event Manager

Responsibilities

• Manages day-to-day field event staffing, coordination and scheduling, and resource distribution across field teams to ensure operational success across a portfolio of Harvard community events, including evenings and weekends.
• Oversees onboarding, training, and professional development for the field events team; assigns work, ensures quality control, and plans in conjunction with ESS leadership.
• Participates in the hiring process, including interviewing candidates; approves time and absences for direct reports.
• Serves as a trusted advisor to ESS leadership, troubleshooting operational issues on the ground.
• Determines, with input from the coordinators, Field Production Managers, and Manager of Media Production, capacity to support event requests and refers clients to outside resources as required.
• Coordinates with the Integrated AV Services team to ensure design updates and maintenance of event venue equipment that effectively support event needs, should those differ from standard designs.
• With other managers and ESS leadership, develops and maintains an operations dashboard, aggregating real-time information from workflow platforms and other inputs (including ITSM platforms and HART) to support data-driven decision-making by ESS leadership.
• Cultivates new business and maintains positive relationships with existing clients; coordinates/supervises the invoicing and billing process to ensure accuracy and timeliness and explores opportunities to improve workflows and optimize revenue generation.
• Actively participates in the Events budget planning process, provides data, and advises leadership regarding staffing and operational needs; contributes to developing a book of business to ensure this service line has a sustainable financial model.
• Organizes the review and purchase of non-capital equipment in support of field events, ensuring operational needs are met and that purchase requests are reviewed and approved to maximize ESS support strategies and efficiencies.
• Abides by and follows HUIT technical standards, policies, and Code of Conduct.
• Builds strong relationships with AV teams, Teaching & Learning colleagues, clients, and vendors to successfully execute non-class events and achieve a high level of client satisfaction.

Requirements

• Minimum of two years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience

Nice to have

• Advanced knowledge of event production and audiovisual best practices and systems, including projection, live video production and streaming, and audio reinforcement.
• Experience or training in customer service, particularly field operations, and a strong ability to deliver high-level solutions in a timely and dependable manner.
• Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills; ability to identify and resolve the root cause of systemic technical or process issues.
• Previous working experience with ServiceNow, SharePoint, Panopto, Zoom, Farmer’s Wife/Cirkus, and Filemaker desirable. Working knowledge of ITIL and ITSM (IT Service Management) best practices and tools desirable.
• Ability to serve as a change agent and manage a team through periods of rapid change.
• Can easily present technical concepts to clients in non-technical language.
• Management experience, including financial planning, budget oversight, and staff supervision.
• Previous experience managing in a union environment and working with faculty in higher education is a plus.
• Familiarity with HR practices (evaluation, hiring, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects through completion.
• Demonstrated team performance skills, a service-mindset approach, and the ability to act as a trusted advisor.
• Certification in IT or AV field desirable.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks