Events and Hospitality Manager

Description:

The Events & Hospitality Department delivers exceptional guest experiences that embody the spirit of community, celebration, and creative exchange that defined Taliesin West not only as the home of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture school, but as a living laboratory for innovation and collaboration. Through public and private events, as well as support for internal programming and guest housing, the Events and Hospitality team brings to life Wright’s principles of intentional design, Learning by Doing, and communal engagement.

The department manages a wide range of programming—from corporate rentals to signature public events—while supporting internal events and hospitality operations through an active on-site guest housing program. Working closely with cross-functional teams, the department ensures all events uphold the site's historic integrity and mission, fostering deeper engagement with Wright’s legacy.

Position Summary

The Events and Hospitality Manager (EHM) leads a dynamic team of Events Coordinators and Facilitators at Taliesin West and is responsible for the sales, promotion, and implementation of the Foundation’s comprehensive venue rental, hospitality, and public event functions at Taliesin West. Duties include implementation of strategic plans and operational initiatives that maintain and/or grow the related revenue streams associated with venue rentals and public events; managing contractual vendor relationships with providers in catering, equipment rental, entertainment, and other services; working collaboratively with internal departments and team members to identify and implement integrated, culturally-rich public events; overseeing dedicated event staff and volunteers; and coordinating a variety of events for both internal and external clients.

Essential Functions:

Private Event Sales, Management, and Execution:

• Develop and maintain relationships with corporate planners and Destination Management Companies (DMC) to position Taliesin West as a premier event destination.
• Expand partnerships to drive revenue and visibility through networking and community engagement.
• Oversee all aspects of the private event program, including marketing and sales, logistics, and scheduling.
• Recommend formats and logistics to ensure client needs are met.
• Manage event planning processes - budgets, venue setup, catering, and staffing.
• Enforce venue guidelines and standards for internal and external planners.
• Lead onsite event teams and vendors to ensure smooth, high-quality execution.

Public Event Operations and Execution:

• Design and implement a suite of culturally rich and engaging Public Events - including performances, film series, lectures, holiday events, and more - that introduce new audiences to Taliesin West.
• Manage external partner relationships, audience targeting, ticketing, and event data collection.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to:

o develop and deliver event content.

o Increase visitation, revenue, and satisfaction.

o Drive membership growth and retention.

o Enhance Taliesin West’s reputation for dynamic, repeat-worthy programming.

Operational Oversight:

• Manage contracts and insurance, and compliance for all events.
• Ensure adherence to all food, beverage, and safety regulations under the Foundation and state/county licenses.
• Coordinate food and beverage services for internal events.

• Align space usage and staffing across departments.
• Collaborate with Public Engagement, Advancement, and Taliesin Institute teams to identify shared opportunities.

• Set and maintain event guest service standards.
• Resolve patron and staff conflicts swiftly to ensure safety and professionalism.
• Oversee Guest Housing at Taliesin (WI) and Taliesin West (AZ).

• Recruit, Train, schedule, and evaluate staff supporting events and guest housing.
• Partner with Preservation Department to ensure facilities are guest- and vendor- ready.

Other related dues as assigned.

This role requires work on weekends and evenings when events are being delivered.

This position is full time with a salary of $65,000/year (commensurate with experience) and comprehensive benefits including a paid time-off package. The Foundation pays up to 90% of monthly health-care premiums and enrolls all regular full-time employees into our life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, and long-term care policies at no cost to employees.

A career at Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation offers more than the opportunity to impact the world through our mission. Our team does vital and valued work that fosters creativity, collaboration, and camaraderie. Besides competitive compensation and benefits, we offer an inclusive environment, amazing views, and incredible architecture to inspire you every day.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality, Business Administration, or related discipline, and a minimum of five-years of experience in event planning, food and beverage, or other hospitality endeavors.
• Skilled negotiator with vendor and client management and demonstrated track record of meeting budget projections.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and customer service skills that foster relationships among audiences with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Attention to detail, strong organizational and problem-solving skills, and ability to manage priorities and workflow while meeting deadlines.
• Strong leadership and management skills which support staff engagement and workplace experience.
• Ability to work independently on complex projects with general direction and minimal guidance.
• Passion, enthusiasm, focus, creativity, and a positive outlook.
• Currently licensed for liquor distribution in Arizona or ability to attain licensure within 30 days of employment; due to legal requirement to serve alcoholic beverages, must be age 21 or older.
• Ability to work operational schedule which may include weekends and evenings.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience developing business plans for group or convention sales, destination management services, catering/banquet operations, and/or hotel/resort site operations.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

• Physical Demands: While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and consistently talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather and desert environmental conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.