Description
Job Summary
The Director of Events oversees the Museum’s signature events, community events, and site rentals by outside individuals or organizations. This role is responsible for leading staff across a variety of departments in planning and executing successful events as well as continually evaluating events’ ROI. The Director of Events serves as the point of contact for site rentals and is tasked with growing the site rental/community events program year over year. This position will be supported by additional paid positions and volunteers.
Duties and Responsibilities
Signature Events
Oversee the Museum’s 4-5 Signature Events through all phases including planning, execution, and event evaluation
Coordinate outside vendors
Ensure SBM and vendors are following all city regulations, licensing during events, especially for things like: food service, liquor, tents, bonfires, etc.
Spearhead all event planning and debrief meetings leading up and to after each event
Vet and secure arts performers for special events
Coordinate with other SBM Departments to assign individuals to specific roles, schedule, and train Special Events volunteers and staff
Design and oversee event design for each museum event including: working with the Facilities Department to install, maintain, remove, and store inventory of supplies
Budget for each event, maintain records for all financial transactions, and compile Event Evaluation reports for the President, and Board of Trustees
Collaborate with the Marketing and Development Departments to ensure ticket sales, sponsorships, and grant funding
Perform consistent internal and external event evaluation, creating systems for continual improvement
Develop an annual budget of income and expenses for signature events.
Coordinate with the SBM Retail Team to provide profitable and relevant concessions
at Signature Events
Site Rentals
Promote SBM as a unique and premier rental location on the Seacoast
Develop and implement a sales strategy and work with the Director of Marketing to
coordinate marketing efforts
Achieve annual revenue target and regularly report on status
Respond to rental inquiries in a timely, effective and proactive manner
Administer venue visits with potential clients and proactively facilitate follow-up
conversations
Schedule all event rentals (including coordinating the interdepartmental SBM calendar),
negotiate, and document contracts
Invoice, receive, deposit, and allocate all money from facility rentals and monitor
accounts receivable in cooperation with the Finance Department
Update the internal master events calendar and communicate with SBM staff about
needs for set-up and clean-up
Work directly with clients, caterers and vendors to handle all logistics related to event
rentals
Be present at rental functions or ensure adequate SBM staff coverage
Coordinate rental efforts with the Corporate Sponsorship Program
Resolve customer complaints
Ensure rental partners are in compliance with insurance, legal, health and safety
regulations (Dig Safe, etc.), all laws and rules pertaining to alcohol on premises, and
obtain any required permits and licenses.
Develop an annual budget of income and expenses for site rentals.
Community Engagement
Work with SBM’s Volunteer Coordinator for recruitment and management of event
volunteers
Ensure a positive experience for Community events that take place at Strawbery Banke
Additional Duties
Participate in all trainings and workshops required of Strawbery Banke Museum staff
Serve as a member of the Safety Committee and attend, at a minimum, quarterly meetings
Other duties as assigned
Requirements
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree preferred.
3 or more years of event management experience
Attention to detail and highly organized
Collaborative spirit; enjoys working with a wide variety of people and departments within
and outside of the museum while also able to work proactively and independently
Inclusive, transparent, communicative, and flexible
Works evenings and weekends around for museum events with the
expectation that the Director of Events also sets up systems for event
management that allows for the Director to have several event nights
off.Calm under pressure and ability to maintain a positive demeanor
Requirements of all Strawbery Banke Museum Staff:
SBM is committed to fostering a workplace that is truly equitable, inclusive, and accessible for a
diverse group of staff, volunteers, and visitors. As such, it is an essential requirement that every
SBM staff member:
1. Exhibit a positive, collegial attitude and ability to work cooperatively with others at all levels
of the organization including direct reports, colleagues, supervisor, volunteers, and visitors
of all ages, abilities, and cultural backgrounds;
2. Exhibit a positive, collegial attitude and ability to work cooperatively with others at all levels
of the organization including direct reports, colleagues, supervisor, volunteers, and visitors
of all ages, abilities, and cultural backgrounds;
3. Foster inclusive and engaging interactions, accommodate safety and comfort needs and
requests, and to provide the best visitor experience possible. Staff members equally share the
responsibility of immediately addressing a deficiency, and/or, notifying the appropriate
department or supervisor to address any situations.
Strawbery Banke Museum Staff Norms:
SBM is committed to fostering a supportive and safe work culture. Through a series of training sessions,
the following norms were established:
1. We will set and acknowledge boundaries that foster a healthy work/life balance
2. We will help and support each other to create psychological safety and trust
3. We will welcome different viewpoints, values, and ideas in solving organizational problems
4. We will proactively, honestly, and constructively create clear expectations regarding
communication with all potential stakeholders
5. We will hold ourselves and each other accountable in executing mutually agreed upon decisions
Working Conditions
A minimum of 15 annual events including evenings and weekends (see above for details), with the bulk
of events taking place from September – December; weekly schedule is adjusted accordingly to
accommodate weekend and evening events.
Physical Requirements:
Walking around the 10 acre campus, outdoors in all weather conditions
Lifting moderate weight boxes
Some ladder work
Setting up tables and chairs for events as needed
About Strawbery Banke Museum
Strawbery Banke Museum is a living history museum located in the heart of historic Portsmouth, New
Hampshire. Dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history and culture of the Puddle Dock
neighborhood, the museum showcases a diverse collection of restored buildings, exhibits, and landscapes
spanning more than four centuries. As one of the oldest and best-preserved neighborhoods in the United
States, we are frequently lauded as one of the most important open air history museums in the country.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Strawbery Banke Museum is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to
complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all
other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is free of
harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of age, race, color, marital status, national origin,
ancestry, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity or
expression), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), physical or
mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), crime victim status,
veteran status, uniformed service member status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local
laws. SBM is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including
but not limited to recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, and other
compensation, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.
Job descriptions are subject to change over time; Strawbery Banke Museum reserves the right to modify
the above job description as necessary to accommodate the evolving needs of the organization.
