Senior Event and Production Manager

George Mason University

Arlington, VA

Apply

JOB DETAILS

SKILLS

Audiovisual, Background Investigation, Benchmarking, Best Practices, Budget Management, Budgeting, Communication Skills, Computer Certifications, Conferences, Conflict Resolution, Continuous Improvement, Cross-Functional, Customer Experience, Customer Satisfaction, Customer Support/Service, Diversity, Ecosystems, Emergency Response, Emerging Technology, Environmental Health, Equipment Replacement, Establish Priorities, Event Management, Event Strategy Development, Forecasting, High School Diploma, Higher Education, Industry/Trade Analysis, Inventory Management, Knowledge Repositories, Kronos Workforce Scheduler, Leadership, Logistics, Maintain Compliance, Manufacturing Equipment Maintenance, Marketing, Mentoring, Multitasking, Onboarding, Operational Improvement, Operational Strategy, Operational Support, Operations Processes, People Management, Performance Goal Setting, Performance Metrics, Performance Reviews, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Production Control, Production Management, Production Planning, Project Tracking, Public/Media/Press/Analyst Relations, Recruiting Strategy, Regulations, Regulatory Compliance, Rentals, Resource Management, Retirement Plan, Safety/Work Safety, Schedule Development, Service Delivery, Set Goals, Staff Development, Staff Requirements, Strategic Planning, Streaming Technology, Talent Management, Team Lead/Manager, Team Player, Theater, Time Management, Training Program, Training Program Development, Training/Teaching, Tuition Fees, University/School Policies, Vendor/Supplier Management, Vendor/Supplier Relations

LOCATION

Arlington, VA

POSTED

7 days ago

Department: Facilities & Campus Operations

Classification: Public Relations & Mktg Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Arlington, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary commensurate with educationand experience ($90,000)

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

George Mason University Facilities ensures a quality physical environment that supports the university's mission. We will be the technical and business experts of choice, with the trust and confidence of our students, faculty, and staff.

Ready to start the New Year with a new position as a State employee of Virginia?

We have a wonderful opportunity for you to work at our beautiful Arlington campus and become part of the GeorgeMason University patriot team.

We've got the work. Now, we need an additional team member to contribute to our busy environment. We want someone reliable, takes pride in their work, and will make a noticeable contribution to the educational facilities at George Mason. Your manager can trust that you will get the job done.

George Mason's Facilities & Campus Operations department is committed to providing a safe, functional, and clean community experience at the university. So, what's in it for you?

Great benefits for you...

Lots of leave, including paid annual leave, paid holidays, paid sick leave, paid two-week winter break ( please note - the break employees often receive during the holiday season is not regularly guaranteed and is subject to annual approval);
Free tuition, up to 12 credit hours during the academic year, and professional development. Yes, you can earn a college education while earning a salary.
Commuter Choice Transit Benefit
Virginia Retirement System Hybrid Plan; and
Patriot Perks discounts to restaurants, events, and more!

For you and your family...

Health/dental/vision benefits; and
Tuition-dependent benefit (restrictions apply).

We think it's a great opportunity and can't wait to speak with you. Here's a partial list of the duties.

About the Position:

The Senior Event and Production Manager provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all event production and execution services at George Mason University's Mason Square campus. This role is responsible for elevating the quality, consistency, and impact of events-ranging from academic conferences to high-profile executive and presidential-level engagements. As a senior member of the campus administration team, the position partners closely with university leadership, sponsors, and external stakeholders to align event experiences with institutional objectives and brand standards.

The Senior Event and Production Manager leads a team of professional and part-time staff, ensuring excellence in event design, audiovisual execution, and logistical coordination. This role serves as the primary production lead for high-stakes and VIP events, cultivating key relationships across internal departments and external partners to deliver seamless, mission-aligned outcomes. The role also supports long-range planning, evaluates emerging technologies, and establishes protocols and performance benchmarks to continuously improve production operations and event delivery.

The Senior Event and Production Manager plays a vital role in positioning Mason Square as a premier destination for academic, governmental, and industry convenings, contributing to institutional goals related to engagement, visibility, and strategic growth.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Event Production Leadership

Provides leadership and oversight of an expanded production team, ensuring seamless execution of live and hybrid events, including Presidential-level and VIP events with all conferencing and event venues within Mason Square;
Serves as senior advisor and production lead for executive-level stakeholders, offering end-to-end oversight of the event production strategy, timelines, and execution plans;
Builds and sustains a collaborative network of university stakeholders and external partners to support shared objectives and ensure cohesive campus-wide execution;
Responsible for navigating and making complex, multi-faceted decisions involving numerous stakeholders, competing priorities, and dynamic operational factors;
Provides leadership and direction to address and resolve client concerns swiftly, identifying pain points and implementing mitigation strategies;
Develops and documents production and execution standards, communications, processes, and tools to ensure operational consistency and production quality across all event types;
Establishes key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success in event production, client satisfaction, and staff performance. Develops a knowledge repository for production best practices to support the team in event production training, onboarding, and scalable service delivery;
Collaborates with ITS to develop long-term equipment lifecycle plans and establish budget targets that support both current operational needs and anticipated future demands;
Evaluates emerging technologies and industry trends to enhance event production capabilities, presenting recommendations to the Director and other campus stakeholders;
Establishes and maintains relationships with preferred vendors for specialized production services and equipment, and oversees contractual compliance for specialized production services and rentals;
Responsible for ensuring user compliance with all university policies and procedures to ensure all events meet safety, accessibility, and compliance requirements;
Designs and implements briefing protocols and post-event debriefing systems, using feedback to drive continuous improvement and institutional knowledge sharing; and
Works with subordinates to ensure accurate inventory management, equipment protocols, and operational procedures to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and readiness across all spaces.

Executive Event Management

Serves as the campus lead for all executive-level conferences, Presidential-level events, and VIP events, ensuring exceptional execution in production and client experience;
Designs and oversees comprehensive event production plans and timelines, advising clients on best practices, including run-of-show, space configurations, and technology deployment;
Guides clients through venue policies, capturing event requirements during meetings, and ensuring staff consistently submit information according to office standards;
Confirms client communications and templates articulate standard timelines and ensure adherence to pre-defined schedule targets;
Identifies and mitigates potential issues throughout the event planning and execution phases. Acts as the primary contact for complex production and event questions, offering comprehensive, one-stop service to clients;
Primary liaison with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), GMU Police, Facilities, and other support services on campus for all high-profile events, ensuring security and logistics are addressed for all VIP guests to Mason Square;
Engages with senior leadership and cross-functional partners, sponsors, and external organizations to align event objectives with broader university priorities; and
Leads the operational integration of Plaza Programming into the broader event ecosystem, ensuring appropriate placement, compliance with policies and procedures, and seamless coordination within a multi-user, multi-stakeholder environment.

Employee Management

Drives strategic direction and talent development for full-time and part-time staff by setting clear performance goals, assessing progress, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring technical excellence, client responsiveness, and alignment with institutional standards;
Designs and implements a robust training program and ensures subordinates deliver effective training on equipment operation, venue policies, and resource management;
Develops strategic staffing plans and proactively forecasts personnel needs and budget requirements to align with operational goals and future growth;
Sets performance goals, provides ongoing feedback, and evaluates staff performance to encourage professional growth; use performance metrics (e.g., event feedback, client satisfaction) to identify training gaps and staff development needs;
Oversees all staff scheduling, balancing workforce needs with event demands to ensure optimal coverage;
Supports professional development goals, working with the Director to identify development targets and growth opportunities; and
Develops a training program on effective client communication and conflict resolution to empower staff when handling high-stakes events. Develops a mentorship program for new hires to accelerate their understanding of event production standards and expectations.

Other related duties as assigned

Serves as a senior member of the campus operations team, contributing to strategic planning, budget development and oversight, annual goals and objectives, as well as crafting future initiatives;
Leads or represents Mason Square on high-level university committees and initiatives related to production and event execution operations, programming and engagement, and innovation; and
Supports the development and execution of campus-wide event strategy by providing insight, coordination, and operational expertise to enhance impact and alignment with institutional goals.

Required Qualifications:

High school diploma or equivalent;
Supervision of full-time employees and significant practical experience (7+ years preferred) in the event management and production industry (conference facilities, theater, concerts and touring, convention centers, and other event facilities);
Experience with personnel recruitment, employee scheduling, timesheet approval, employee development planning, and training;
Significant experience with complex audiovisual systems, including live streaming technologies;
Demonstrated experience with vendor management;
Demonstrated knowledge of event production, AV, technical direction, staging, and venue management;
Demonstrated knowledge of audiovisual systems and live streaming technologies;
Demonstrated knowledge of equipment replacement cycles and industry trends for event innovation;
Demonstrated knowledge of permitting, crowd management, fire codes, health/safety regulations, and emergency response protocols, especially for VIP guests;
Demonstrated knowledge of logistics, timelines, budgeting, and coordination for various events;
Skill in planning and executing logistics across multiple locations with efficient onsite coordination and issue resolution;
Skill in supervising and mentoring professional and wage staff in event production and execution;
Skill in providing excellent customer service;
Skill in prioritizing and multitasking; managing multiple tasks and meeting competing deadlines;
Skill in ensuring flawless execution of logistics;
Skill in aligning event operations with organizational goals;
Skill in bringing fresh ideas to event formats and production techniques; evaluating industry trends for innovation;
Skill in working seamlessly across departments;
Skill in empowering others while maintaining accountability and oversight;
Ability to adapt quickly to changes and lead the team through last-minute adjustments;
Ability to be adaptable to changing circumstances;
Ability to engage confidently with senior leadership and VIP guests; and
Ability to commit to creating exceptional guest experiences.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in a related field;
Any audio/visual licenses and computer certifications preferred;
Significant experience in higher education, or related experience in an association, corporate, or industry-related environment;
Experience using 25-Live and Social Tables software;
Knowledge of the local market; and
Ability to work with multiple units in a higher education setting.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Senior Event and Production Manager at Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: February 27, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: March 13, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Mason Ad Statement

Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason's diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!

George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition.

Equity Statement

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

Campus Safety Information

Mason's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at

Senior Event and Production Manager

George Mason University

Arlington, VA

About the Company

George Mason University

Similar Job Searches