Director of Sales, Marketing & Events | Full-Time | Vancouver Island Conference Centre

Director of Sales, Marketing & Events | Full-Time | Vancouver Island Conference Centre

Oak View Group is the global leader in venue development, management, and premium hospitality services for the live event industry. Offering an unmatched, 360‑degree solution set for a collection of world‑class owned venues and a client roster that includes the most influential, highest attended arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions on the planet.

Position Summary
The Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC) is seeking an experienced and motivated Director of Sales, Marketing & Events to lead and direct a team of sales, marketing and events staff in providing our clients with exceptional service and extraordinary experiences. This role offers an annual salary of $90,000 and is bonus eligible. Benefits for full‑time roles include health, dental and vision insurance, pension matching, and paid time off.

Position will remain open until December 26, 2025.

About the Venue
Nanaimo, British Columbia is a jewel of a port city overlooking the Salish Sea and the coastal mainland mountains. The city is a transportation gateway and business hub for central and northern Vancouver Island. The VICC is the largest meeting space for event planners in the region, with 38,000 sq ft of flexible event space, nine multi‑purpose meeting rooms, and capacity for up to 1,450 people.

Responsibilities

SALES & MARKETING LEADERSHIP

• Lead, support, and evaluate the sales team, setting and executing strategic goals and priorities.
• Develop and manage annual sales and marketing plans aligned with short‑ and long‑term objectives.
• Oversee advertising, promotional campaigns, and brand management, including traditional and digital channels.
• Identify and pursue new market opportunities and revenue‑generating initiatives, including partnerships and self‑produced events.
• May conduct tours of the facility for potential licensees; answer questions and provide information regarding facility capabilities.
• May prepare written proposals; reevaluate potential business value of various events and clients; initiate contractual arrangements; finalize all booking arrangements; prepare contracts; negotiate rental and other rates as required.
• Direct and/or create marketing collateral, press releases, and digital content (e.g., social media, email campaigns).
• Lead data‑driven marketing efforts, leveraging analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to measure ROI and campaign effectiveness.
• Continuously monitor industry trends to inform strategy and maintain competitive positioning.

Business Development & Client Relations

• Build and maintain relationships with clients, tourism bureaus, local hotels, media partners, and local industry stakeholders to enhance the facility’s positioning within the broader visitor economy.
• May attend tradeshows and act as senior management representation.
• Represent the facility at professional meetings and in the media.
• May negotiate contracts, rental rates, and sponsorship agreements.

EVENT MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP

• Oversee the scheduling, booking, coordination and execution of all facility events to maximize occupancy and operational efficiency.
• Lead and support the event coordination team.
• Collaborate with multiple departments and subcontractors to ensure all event logistics are being handled effectively.
• May serve as the primary liaison between the facility and external clients and event organizers, ensuring smooth execution of events.
• Develop and implement event policies and procedures to enhance operational efficiency.
• Conduct post‑event evaluations and recommend improvements for future events.
• Manage the preparation of contracts and rental agreements.
• Administer and enforce facility booking policies in alignment with organizational guidelines and subject to general manager approval.
• Collaborate closely with the venue’s F&B and AV subcontractors to drive ancillary revenue.
• Act as a key representative of the facility at industry events, positioning the VICC as a premier event and convention destination.
• Participate in executive leadership and decision‑making.
• Manage department budgets, forecasts, and expenditures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or Hospitality.
• 5‑7 years of progressive experience in sales, marketing, and/or event management.
• 5+ years in a leadership or director role, managing performance of teams.
• Proven ability to lead integrated teams and collaborate cross‑functionally.
• Experience developing and executing sales strategies aligned with business goals.
• Experience in digital marketing, branding, and lead generation.
• Excellent communication, strategic thinking, and decision‑making abilities.
• Highly organized and able to juggle multiple projects.
• Adaptable and thrives in fast‑paced environments.

Strengthened by our Differences

At OVG, we believe that diversity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence. We are committed to creating environments that reflect and celebrate the diverse communities we serve.