Reservations & Event Manager - University Center

Job Category: Academic Staff

Employment Type: Regular

Job Profile: Customer Service Manager

Job Duties:

The Reservations & Events Manager oversees the University Center (UC) Reservationists that support the daily operations of the UC, including the implementation of operational procedures and proper staffing to ensure outstanding customer service and achievement of overall unit goals and objectives.

Job Responsibilities:

• Coordinates non-academic scheduling for the University Center, UC Mall area, Esker & Drumlin dining hall complexes, academic rooms, lecture halls, and other spaces campus wide. Requires prioritization of multiple requests as well as knowledge of campus policies, facilities, room set ups, audio-visual, and catering.
• Serves as the primary informational source of reservations/event policies and guidelines for the campus and general public and applies policies consistently.
• Advises sponsors with special event planning and large-scale campus, campus recruitment events, opening activities, and community events.
• Supervises and trains student staff to support daily operations and ensures customer service objectives are met as follows:
  • Hire, train, schedule, supervise and evaluate UC Reservationists (8-16)
  • Provide emergency response training for all UC Staff
  • Train student staff on workflow of the event management process including making reservations, creating detailed event documentation and providing reports
  • Conduct weekly staff meetings and training for UC Reservationists
  • Assist with events sponsored by the UC, including facilitation of fall, spring, and summer trainings, for student employees
  • Participate in ongoing professional development
• Implements operational procedures, methods, and policies to achieve established goals, meet policy compliance requirements, and ensure outstanding customer service:
  • Assist with UC facility general quality control (spot check setups, signage, cleanliness, postings, and other items as needed)
  • Provides event advising
  • Assists with movable equipment inventory
  • Responsible for ongoing emergency training and communication with UC staff, as well as ensuring safe working and event conditions
  • Assist with event support when reservation volume indicates additional staffing or expertise is needed
• Evaluates, designs, and implements operations to align with strategic direction for the UC Building Operations units:
  • Be proficient and participate in ongoing trainings for 25 Live room scheduling system and serve as a backup reservationist when student staff are unavailable and an emergency backup to the Operations & Events Manager as needed
  • Coordinates the campus-wide special event and series reservation processes and creates/updates all forms used for these processes and maintains thorough records
  • Collaborates with stakeholders to identify room reservation reporting needs. Prepares and generates reports for daily operations as requested by the Assistant Director of Operations
  • Duties include lifting room setup equipment, working at heights, and driving university vehicles
• Participates as a member of the University Center Staff:
  • Facilitates weekly Building Use meetings, attends UC Staff, and other meetings as assigned
  • Serve on committees and events as assigned, i.e.: UC Building Use, UC Staff, UC Programming, Warhawk Welcome, etc.
• Assists the University Center Assistant Director of Operations with implementation and monitoring related portions of related annual budgets in line with goals and objectives.
• Responsible for generating invoices and collecting revenue for room rentals and guest services.
• This position may require the responsibility to work nights and weekends as directed.
• Completes other duties as assigned

Supervision Received:

• General supervision is received from the Assistant Director of Operations of the James R. Connor University Center.

Supervision Exercised:

• Direct Supervision is exercised over student staff of UC Reservationists

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Directs and audits customer services and/or retail program operations to ensure customer service objectives are met
• May create and monitor the unit operating budget and approve expenditures
• Develops and schedules unit operational work plans
• Identifies, develops, and facilitates staff training opportunities
• Implements operational procedures, methods, and policies to achieve established goals, meet compliance requirements, and ensure effective service
• Provides operational and strategic guidance to all unit staff

Department: University Center

Compensation:

Well-qualified candidates can expect a starting annual salary within the range of $48,000 - $53,000 commensurate with the candidate's education, related experience, and qualifications. UW System employees receive an excellent benefit package. To learn more about the UW System's comprehensive benefit package, review the UW System Employee Benefits Brochure.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Hospitality Management, Operations, Communications, Arts Management, Safety Studies, Audio Engineering, or related field. OR 4+ years of event or production management, maintenance, and operation experience
• A Driver’s License from Wisconsin or a neighboring state; or the ability to obtain one upon the start of employment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in advising, and implementing purposeful safe events
• Experience in a higher education work environment
• Experience supervising student employees
• Training/Teaching experience
• Excellent communication skills sufficient to express ideas and agreements concisely and persuasively, both orally and in writing, to a variety of constituencies
• Experience working with multicultural, and first-generation, those with varying socio-economic backgrounds, and/or underrepresented populations
• Experience with 25Live or other event management software applications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge/awareness of Universal Design principles and best practices
• Ability to interact respectfully with people with diverse socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds
• Willingness and ability to be an active participant in following applicable safety rules and regulations including necessary training and drills

How to Apply:

Only complete application packages will be considered. This includes online submission of the following documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Name and contact information for three professional references

Contact Information:

If you have questions regarding this recruitment or if you are unable to complete the application online due to a disability or system problem, please contact us at (262) 472-1024 or hr@uww.edu.

For questions regarding this position, please contact: JoEllen Shelton at sheltonj@uww.edu.

To Ensure Consideration:

Applications received by September 28th, 2025, are ensured full consideration. Applications received after that date may be given consideration at the discretion of the search committee. The most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.