Conference & Sales Manager

MU Housing is a department within the Division of Student Affairs providing a world-class housing experience that engages students within an innovative and educational environment that supports best on-campus housing practices and promotes student success.

Summary

The Conference & Sales manager plays a critical role within Housing. As an auxiliary unit, the over $1,000,000 in annual revenue generated by this position plays a critical role in supporting initiatives that enhance the residential experience, fund facility improvements, and contribute to campus-wide programming and services that benefit the broader student community. This has a direct impact on the department budget and, more importantly, on MU student recruitment and retention.

This position coordinates all aspects of on-campus conference and visitor housing, including recruiting camps/conferences to MU, negotiating contracts, and assisting in making decisions on camps/conferences. Schedules may be complex and fast-paced.

This position also serves as back-up for door access programs to ensure appropriate interior and exterior access for students, staff, and visitors. This role serves in an after-hours call rotation for door access needs.

Essential Functions

Camps & Conferences

• Coordinate aspects of the summer and year-round Conference Housing program. This includes, but is not limited to, scheduling camps/conferences; issuing contracts; coordinating arrangements with Building Services; billing; hiring and training student staff; training professional staff; and coordinating front desk operations during the Camps and Conference season.
• Cultivate and maintain internal and external relationships with key partners such as MU Conference Office, Campus Dining Services, Missouri Student Unions, other MU departments, and community entities.
• Coordinate marketing for continuing and new clients. Develop publications and marketing strategies for location and national clientele, with Student Affairs Marketing to promote the conference housing program. Represent Housing at national trade shows. Respond to requests for proposals from groups interested in hosting camps/conferences at MU.
• Meet with each booked client to confirm conference planning and contracting details.
• Prepare room rosters for each conference group, including important participant information and room assignments.
• Supervise summer student staff working with the conference program. Provide leadership and direction to professional staff working with the conference program.
• Oversee facility coordination, ensuring facilities are prepared for incoming clients.
• Bill clients and accurately record collection of revenue.

Guest Services

• Assist with management of reservations for residence hall guest apartments to support students' families in crisis and academic/departmental visitor needs.
• Assist with reservations for university staff during critical situations, such as winter weather.
• Assist with additional Housing reservable spaces, as applicable.

After-Hours Support & On-Call Responsibilities

• Participate in an after-hours call rotation to support student staff and operational needs during the camps and conferences season.
• Provide additional after-hours support for door access issues, including troubleshooting offline and Wi-Fi lock concerns, coordinating corrective actions, and ensuring appropriate access for students, staff, and visitors.
• Serve as back-up for the door access program, including setting automatic triggers to meet occupancy needs.
• Respond to emergency and crisis situations in collaboration with campus partners, ensuring timely communication and resolution.

Research & Benchmarking

• Assist with benchmarking MU's camps and conference program against peer institutions of similar size and/or geographic location, under the direction and with the support of the Assistant Director of Resident and Guest Services. This includes:
  • Researching program structures, staffing models, pricing strategies, and service offerings at comparable universities.
  • Evaluating client experience, marketing approaches, and facility usage.
  • Compiling findings into actionable reports to inform strategic planning and program enhancements.
  • Provide benchmarking-based recommendations to the Assistant Director of Resident and Guest Services for consideration and potential implementation with campus stakeholders.

Leadership & Management

• Directly supervise 5-6 camps and conferences, leads 35-40 Camps and Conference Assistants during the summer, and 1 Camps and Conference Assistant during the academic year.
• Oversee all camp/conference program staffing, including recruitment, hiring, training, supervision, and communication.
• Work with Residential Life professional staff and conference student staff to manage significant incidents that occur in the residence halls. Respond to emergency and crisis situations, including on-site management and upward communication, as necessary.
• Work with Campus Facilities (custodial and maintenance), MUPD, the fire department and Housing staff to ensure responses are consistent and appropriate.

Committee Participation

• Actively participate in departmental committee work to support Residential Life initiatives and strategic goals.
• Serve on the Student Staff Recruitment, Selection, and Training Committee, contributing to the development and execution of processes that enhance the student employment experience.
• Engage in other committees or working groups as assigned, providing insight and collaboration on projects that impact student services, operational efficiency, and departmental priorities.

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (average 40 hours per week). During conference session, this position will require evening and weekend hours supporting activities and programs within the department. Please note on call duties listed in description above.

Occasionally division and campus projects may require additional hours outside of your normal schedule.

A bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 3 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, Hospitality Management or Education
• Three to five years working in the hospitality, marketing, or education.
• Confidentiality
• Detail-oriented and highly organized.
• Excellent customer service skills
• Understanding of facilities/maintenance for large-scale operations
• Willingness to do what is necessary to make the program a success.

Salary Range: $52,915 - $65,000 per year; paid on a monthly basis

GGS/PAT Level: 010

University Title: Program Manager II Student Support Services

Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Must submit a completed application form, resume, and cover letter.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.