Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Position Title:

Reservations & Event Manager - University Center

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Customer Service Manager

Job Duties:

The Reservations & Events Manager oversees the University Center (UC) Reservationists that support the daily operations of the UC, including the implementation of operational procedures and proper staffing to ensure outstanding customer service and achievement of overall unit goals and objectives.

Job Responsibilities: 

Coordinates non-academic scheduling for the University Center, UC Mall area, Esker & Drumlin dining hall complexes, academic rooms, lecture halls, and other spaces campus wide.  Requires prioritization of multiple requests as well as knowledge of campus policies, facilities, room set ups, audio-visual, and catering.

Serves as the primary informational source of reservations/event policies and guidelines for the campus and general public and applies policies consistently.

Advises sponsors with special event planning and large-scale campus, campus recruitment events, opening activities, and community events.

Supervises and trains student staff to support daily operations and ensures customer service objectives are met as follows:

• Hire, train schedule, supervise and evaluate UC Reservationists (8-16) 

• Provide emergency response training for all UC Staff

• Train student staff on workflow of the event management process including making reservations, creating detailed event documentation and providing reports

• Conduct weekly staff meetings and training for UC Reservationists

• Assist with events sponsored by the UC, including facilitation of fall, spring, and summer trainings, for student employees 

• Participate in ongoing professional development

Implements operational procedures, methods, and policies to achieve established goals, meet policy compliance requirements, and ensure outstanding customer service: 

• Assist with UC facility general quality control (spot check setups, signage, cleanliness, postings, and other items as needed) 

• Provides event advising 

• Assists with movable equipment inventory 

• Responsible for ongoing emergency training and communication with UC staff, as well as ensuring safe working and event conditions

• Assist with event support when reservation volume indicates additional staffing or expertise is needed 

Evaluates, designs, and implements operations to align with strategic direction for the UC Building Operations units: 

• Be proficient and participate in ongoing trainings for 25 Live room scheduling system and serve as a backup reservationist when student staff are unavailable and  an emergency backup to the Operations & Events Manager as needed 

• Coordinates the campus-wide special event and series reservation processes and creates/updates all forms used for these processes and maintains thorough records

• Collaborates with stakeholders to identify room reservation reporting needs. Prepares and generates reports for daily operations as requested by the Assistant Director of Operations

• Duties include lifting room setup equipment, working at heights, and driving university vehicles 

Participates as a member of the University Center Staff:

• Facilitates weekly Building Use meetings, attends UC Staff, and other meetings as assigned 

• Serve on committees and events as assigned, ie: UC Building Use, UC Staff, UC Programming, Warhawk Welcome, etc. 

Assists the University Center Assistant Director of Operations with implementation and monitoring related portions of related annual budgets in line with goals and objectives.

Responsible for generating invoices and collecting revenue for room rentals and guest services.

This position may require the responsibility to work nights and weekends as directed.

Completes other duties as assigned 

Supervision Received: 

• General supervision is received from the Assistant Director of Operations of the James R. Connor University Center. 

Supervision Exercised: 

• Direct Supervision is exercised over student staff of UC Reservationists

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Directs and audits customer services and/or retail program operations to ensure customer service objectives are met

• May create and monitor the unit operating budget and approve expenditures

• Develops and schedules unit operational work plans

• Identifies, develops, and facilitates staff training opportunities

• Implements operational procedures, methods, and policies to achieve established goals, meet compliance requirements, and ensure effective service

• Provides operational and strategic guidance to all unit staff

Department:

University Center

Compensation:

Well-qualified candidates can expect a starting annual salary within the range of $48,000 - $53,000 commensurate with the candidate's education, related experience, and qualifications.

UW System employees receive an excellent benefit package. To learn more about the UW System's comprehensive benefit package, review the UW System Employee Benefits Brochure.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Hospitality Management, Operations, Communications, Arts Management, Safety Studies, Audio Engineering, or related field. OR 4+ years of event or production management, maintenance, and operation experience

• A Driver’s License from Wisconsin or a neighboring state; or the ability to obtain one upon the start of employment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in advising, and implementing purposeful safe events

• Experience in a higher education work environment

• Experience supervising student employees

• Training/Teaching experience

• Excellent communication skills sufficient to express ideas and agreements concisely and persuasively, both orally and in writing, to a variety of constituencies

• Experience working with multicultural, and first-generation, those with varying socio-economic backgrounds, and/or underrepresented populations

• Experience with 25Live or other event management software applications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge/awareness of Universal Design principles and best practices  

• Ability to interact respectfully with people with diverse socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds

• Willingness and ability to be an active participant in following applicable safety rules and regulations including necessary training and drills

How to Apply:

Only complete application packages will be considered. This includes online submission of the following documents:

• Cover Letter

• Resume

• Name and contact information for three professional references

Contact Information:

If you have questions regarding this recruitment or if you are unable to complete the application online due to a disability or system problem, please contact us at (262) 472-1024 or hr@uww.edu.

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

JoEllen Shelton

sheltonj@uww.edu 

To Ensure Consideration:

Applications received by September 28th, 2025, are ensured full consideration. Applications received after that date may be given consideration at the discretion of the search committee. The most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.

CAMPUS INFORMATION:

ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is part of the 13-campus Universities of Wisconsin (https://www.wisconsin.edu). 
 
Wisconsin Statute 19.36(7)(b) provides that applicants may indicate in writing that their identity should be kept confidential. In response to a public records request, the University will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful final candidate will be released. See Wisconsin Statute 19.36(7)(a). 
 
Per Regent Policy Document 20-19, University of Wisconsin System Criminal Background Check Policy and Universities of Wisconsin Administrative Policy 1275 Recruitment Policies, UW-Whitewater requires criminal background checks as a contingency to employment. A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of employment. All final candidates must be asked, prior to hire, whether they have been found to have engaged in, are currently under investigation for, or left employment during an active investigation in which they were accused of sexual violence or sexual harassment. When obtaining employment reference checks, these same sexual violence or sexual harassment questions must also be asked. 
 
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater requires that all employees be active participants in following applicable safety rules and regulations including necessary training and drills. 
 
For UW-Whitewater Campus safety information and crime statistics/annual Security Report, see  Annual Security and Fire Safety Report if you would like a paper copy of the report please contact the UW-Whitewater Police at 262-472-4660. 

CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT:

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Human Resources. UW-Whitewater is not an e-verify employer, therefore STEM extensions are not options for work authorization.

EEO STATEMENT:

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.