Job Details

Assistant Director of Venue Sales

Position Number: 6565392
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Position Type: Sales

Assistant Director of Venue Sales

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
Assistant Director of Venue Sales

Job Profile Title
Associate Director B, Arts and Media, Events

Job Description Summary
Reporting to Penn Live Arts' Director of Events and Guest Services, the Assistant Director of Venue Sales plays a key role in driving revenue growth and ensuring exceptional client experiences across PLA's venues. With a strong focus on sales, business development, and client relationship management, this position is responsible for marketing, booking, and executing external rental events and internal University events. The Assistant Director will uphold the highest standards of customer care while overseeing event logistics, vendor partnerships, and client communications.

This role supervises Event Services Coordinators and works closely with the Director of Events and Guest Services to achieve departmental goals, explicitly increasing rental revenue annually. Rental events at PLA generate a significant source of organizational revenue, totaling more than 100 events each season. The Assistant Director will contribute to this growth by prospecting new business, cultivating community and University partnerships, and serving as a forward-facing representative of PLA. Evening and weekend work is required, as is an active presence at major events.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Sales

Generate new rental business through proactive networking, sales prospecting, and relationship cultivation.

Promote PLA venues to internal University partners and external clients across the Philadelphia region.

Represent PLA at industry events, University associations, and local business organizations to expand awareness and drive revenue.

Client Services & Event Management

Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned clients, ensuring clear and timely communication.

Oversee rental agreements, billing, insurance, ticketing, and production requirements in compliance with PLA policies.

Coordinate event logistics with caterers, furniture vendors, production services, and other partners to meet client needs.

Lead the planning and execution of select rental and University events, ensuring a seamless experience.

Operational Support & Supervision

Supervise Event Services Coordinators, providing mentorship, training, and performance oversight.

Collaborate with the Director of Events and Guest Services to review and adjust rental cost structures for market competitiveness.

Support the evaluation of departmental performance goals, ensuring revenue and service benchmarks are met.

Marketing & Community Engagement

Partner with internal and external marketing teams to develop promotional materials and maintain a dynamic digital presence for venue rentals.

Contribute to marketing strategies that expand PLA Rentals' reach within University, cultural, and business communities.

Other Duties

Actively participate in departmental and operational meetings.

Maintain a visible, professional presence at major PLA events.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

Bachelor's degree and 2 to 3 years of progressively responsible experience in sales, event management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Demonstrated success in business development, client services, and/or revenue generation in a hospitality, arts, or cultural environment.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to foster positive client, vendor, and stakeholder relationships.

Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Availability to work evenings and weekends as required.

Preferred

3 to 5 years of progressively responsible experience in sales, event management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience in venue rentals, performing arts, or cultural institutions.

Familiarity with event management and ticketing systems (Artifax, Momentus, Tessitura).

Supervisory experience with a demonstrated ability to mentor and manage staff.

General technical and audiovisual knowledge for live events.

Application Requirement

A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Penn Live Arts

Pay Range
$57,500.00 - $65,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family-whatever your personal needs may be.
Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/Annenberg-Center/Assistant-Director-of-Venue-Sales_JR00111342