VP, Assistant General Manager in Houston, Texas at Houston First

IN-PERSON - HOUSTON, TX.

Houston First recognizes and appreciates the importance of cultivating an environment that nurtures talent; that is equitable and values different perspectives and backgrounds; and, above all, is respectful to everyone.

We are seeking a visionary and results-driven VP, Assistant General Manager who combines strong analytical capabilities with outstanding operational leadership. This individual must excel at managing complex initiatives, prioritizing competing demands, and building meaningful relationships that support organizational success.

The VP, Assistant General Manager, supports the operational and business success of the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRBCC). In partnership with the Chief Venues & Events Officer (CVE), the Assistant General Manager provides oversight of daily operations and plays a role in shaping the facility’s continued growth, performance, and reputation. This position ensures the effective execution of organizational priorities through operational excellence, prudent financial management, innovative problem-solving, and a steadfast commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience. The Assistant General Manager will assist in driving the venue’s mission while enhancing its position as a world-class destination for conventions, meetings, and special events.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• ☒ Supervises: Senior Directors, Directors, and Associate Directors.
• ☒ Maintain staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training and supervising team members.
• ☒ Plan, assign and appraise performance; rewarding and disciplining team members, addressing complaints, and resolving problems.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Venue Operations Management:

• Oversee the daily operations of the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) and Avenida Plaza.
• Manages services including Convention Services, Guest Services, Operations, and contractor services (e.g., Food & Beverage, Security, Audio Visual, Telecommunication).
• Provides facility support and services for conventions, trade shows, banquets, and other events.
• Represents the company in interactions with business representatives, contractors, event promoters, and advisory committees.

• Develops processes for the GRB over the next 10 years will focus on modernization, expansion and integration with the city's evolving infrastructure.
• Expansion and Modernization will accommodate larger events, undergo technological upgrades, involve modernizing the interior, improving accessibility, and enhancing the visitor experience through updated signage, updated facilities, and better flow throughout the venue.

• Prepares annual operational and capital improvement budgets, with CVE supervision
• Monitors and manages expenses to stay within budgetary constraints
• Plans for staffing, equipment, and material needs in accordance with budget.

• Oversee contract management, including evaluating proposals, negotiating terms, and ensuring compliance.
• Assists the CVE in policy development and analysis to improve operational efficiency.

• Works with Sales, Marketing, and Event Services to increase venue sales and attract event organizers.
• Ensures the delivery of high-quality services and coordinates with show clients and tenants.
• Develops, implements, and monitors service delivery standards and metrics for Event & Guest Services.

• Provides ​​​​​​ leadership, direction, and training for all management, professional, and supervisory personnel.
• Evaluates team performance and provides feedback for continuous improvement.

• Assists the CVE in preparing comprehensive management reports, manuals, and annual plans (e.g., Sales & Marketing, Event Handbook, Maintenance Plans).
• Ensures compliance with safety regulations, including Fire Code, Emergency Preparedness, and other operational guidelines.

• Leads and participates in special projects as assigned by senior leadership.
• Maintains awareness of industry trends, including sustainability and green initiatives in public venue operations.
• Contributes to the organization’s safe, healthy, positive, professional, and productive culture.
• Leads and continuously encourages team training to ensure understanding and compliance with policies and procedures.
• Other duties and special projects as required

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in fields like public assembly facility management, hospitality management, business administration, or sports management (or a related field).
• 12+ years of experience in senior management positions within convention centers, theatrical facilities, or similar public venues. This experience should include supervising staff and managing operations, budgets, and maintenance
• Experience managing cross-functional projects and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to successfully execute strategic initiatives.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to plan and manage at both the strategic and operational levels
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to establish and build relationships with executive level customers and partners
• Superior people management and leadership competencies with proven problem resolution skills
• Strong grounding in emotional intelligence and leadership models useful for building high performance and high trust teams by leading efforts in continuous improvement of the team.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and staff to create a results-driven, team-oriented environment
• Proven organizational leader with a high level of energy and motivation
• Knowledge and proven experience working with accounting, finance, human resources and procurement
• Ability to facilitate and participate in group meetings
• Computer literacy with ability to use programs such as MS Word and Excel
• Public Assembly Facility operations, including sales & marketing, safety, maintenance, audiovisual, and food & beverage operations
• Industry trends in sustainability and green initiatives.
• Revenue-generating opportunities and best practices for facility management.
• Relevant laws and regulations (e.g., OSHA, ADA, FLSA).
• Building and equipment maintenance and preventative maintenance programs.

MISCELLANEOUS

• May be required to complete a variety of soft- and hard-skill assessments.
• Candidates must be proficient in navigating Microsoft Office, specifically Word and Excel. This includes the ability to create, edit, and format documents; manage spreadsheets; use formulas; and organize data effectively.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environmental characteristics described here are representative of those a team member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• ​​☒​ No major sources of discomfort; normal office environment
• ☒ Occasional evening, weekend, and event-related work may be required in support of Houston First programs and initiatives

• ☒ Ability to travel to local/ tradeshows/conventions/ conferences/ training and development (less than 20% of the year)