Director, Event Operations and Sales in Canberra

The successful applicant will be an experienced, commercially minded leader with expertise in event operations, business development and sales, hospitality, venue management, or a similarly complex service environment. They will bring strong strategic and operational capability, with a demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams, drive business growth, and deliver outstanding customer experiences in a fast-paced, high-profile setting. A broad understanding of food and beverage offerings, and the ability to communicate this information effectively to diverse customers, is essential.

They will demonstrate excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, sound commercial and financial acumen, and the ability to provide trusted advice to senior leaders. The successful applicant will be collaborative, innovative, and customer-focused, with a strong commitment to continuous improvement and to delivering exceptional event outcomes that enhance the reputation of APH.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in event management, hospitality management, business administration or a related discipline are highly desirable.
• A current Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate, or the ability to obtain and maintain one promptly, is also highly desirable.
• Minimum of Ten (10) years’ experience in a similar role.

Job Specific Requirements:

The role requires flexibility to work outside standard hours for significant events and peak parliamentary periods. The successful applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting 1 (Confidential/Highly Protected/Secret) security clearance.

At DPS, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that ensures all our people can contribute to our shared purpose. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people with caring responsibilities, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, people from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people who identify as neurodivergent, and mature aged people.

Duty Statement:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for event sales, planning, banqueting and operational delivery across Parliament House venues, ensuring consistently high-quality, accessible and memorable experiences for parliamentarians, building occupants, visitors and external clients.
• Lead the end-to-end event operating model, from enquiry, qualification, proposal and contracting through to planning, set-up, service delivery, pack-down, invoicing and post-event evaluation, with clear service standards, accountabilities and escalation arrangements.
• Develop and execute sales, business development and venue activation strategies that grow appropriate event demand, strengthen conversion and repeat business, optimise use of venues during non-sitting periods and achieve agreed revenue, margin and customer experience targets.
• Exercise strong commercial and financial stewardship by setting pricing and packaging approaches, managing budgets and forecasts, monitoring the event pipeline, labour and cost of goods, and using performance data to improve profitability, productivity and value for money.
• Build and lead a capable, service-focused and accountable multidisciplinary team across sales, event coordination and banquet operations, including workforce planning, recruitment, training, performance management, succession planning and compliance with work health and safety obligations.
• Establish productive partnerships with parliamentary departments, Security, Broadcasting, Building Services, the Office of the Secretary, catering teams, suppliers, professional conference organisers and clients to coordinate complex and high-profile events and resolve operational issues.

Employees of DPS are required to be able, and to be seen to be able, to provide professional advice and services to all Senators and Members without favour or prejudice.

Other:

• Ensure event activities comply with the Parliament House Event Venues Policy, relevant legislation, delegations, procurement and financial requirements, security protocols, risk management, responsible service of alcohol, food safety and other departmental policies and procedures.
• Provide timely, evidence-based and politically astute advice, briefings and reports to the Assistant Secretary and senior stakeholders on event operations, commercial performance, emerging risks, significant bookings and service improvement opportunities.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation in event products, systems, processes and service delivery, using client feedback, market intelligence and contemporary industry practice while protecting Parliament House's reputation, design integrity and operational requirements.

Selection Criteria:

• Demonstrated senior leadership experience in event sales, venue operations, banqueting, hospitality or a comparable complex service environment, with accountability for end-to-end delivery of high-profile and large-scale events.
• Proven ability to translate strategy into operational plans, lead multidisciplinary teams through changing priorities and deliver safe, seamless and customer-focused outcomes in a fast-paced, high-profile environment.
• Strong commercial acumen, including experience developing sales pipelines and pricing strategies, managing budgets and forecasts, controlling labour and operating costs, interpreting performance data and delivering sustainable revenue and value-for-money outcomes.
• Highly developed stakeholder management, judgement and negotiation skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships, balance commercial, parliamentary, security and operational considerations, and resolve complex or sensitive issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present persuasive proposals, provide clear senior-level advice and briefings, influence diverse audiences and represent DPS professionally with internal and external stakeholders.

Relevant tertiary qualifications in event management, hospitality management, business administration or a related discipline are highly desirable. A current Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate, or the ability to obtain and maintain one promptly, is also highly desirable. The role requires flexibility to work outside standard hours for significant events and peak parliamentary periods.

Our purpose and values:

We proudly provide innovative, unified, and client-focused services to the Australian Parliament and parliamentarians. We are a values driven department, placing our values at the heart of everything we do; from our service offerings and decision making to our interactions with stakeholders and each other. Our people are employed in a broad and unique range of professional, customer service and trade-based roles, all joined by a shared purpose: to make an enduring contribution to Australia’s parliamentary democracy. We have an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of the community we serve.

Every year, almost one million people visit Australian Parliament House to experience the parliamentary process, the building’s architecture, nationally significant art collections, events, tours, and food and dining experiences - all made possible by our people, who are active participants in an environment where no two days are the same.

What we can offer:

• Join our community based on innovative, unified, and client-focused services, where your skills and development will be nurtured.
• You will also enjoy flexible working arrangements can be negotiated in accordance with our Enterprise Agreement and the operational needs of the roles.
• Ongoing opportunities to learn and develop new capabilities.
• A competitive remuneration package.
• Free on-site parking.
• Free gym membership and access to recreational facilities available at APH.
• Childcare (pending availability), banking services, post office, value-for-money dining options and more available at APH.

An attractive salary, which could be negotiated with the successful candidate, is on offer.