Conference Services Manager

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to inspire everyone who attends our campus – artists, leaders, and thinkers – to unleash their creative potential.

We acknowledge, with deep respect and gratitude, our home on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain. In the spirit of respect and truth, we honour and acknowledge the Banff area, known as “Minhrpa” (translated in Stoney Nakoda as “the waterfalls”) and the Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) – comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney Nation – as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, Kainai. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Shuswap Nations, Ktunaxa Nations, and Metis Nation of Alberta, Rockyview District 4. We acknowledge all Nations who live, work, and play here, help us steward this land, and honour and celebrate this place.

The Opportunity

Banff Centre is the perfect location for meetings, conferences and events. Offering full-service meeting and conference facilities, we specialize in providing meeting facilities, programming, and services for many different sectors including corporate, association, government, and post-secondary. Conferences at Banff Centre provide delegates from Alberta, Canada, and around the world with exceptional meeting facilities in an environment that fosters inspirational learning.  As a revenue-generating arm of Banff Centre, net revenue from the Centre’s conference operations supports arts programming.

Conferences at Banff Centre is looking for an enthusiastic Conference Services Manager to join their high-functioning team as they oversee and organize all aspects of conference and meeting event preparation. As the liaison between the conference group and the various departments at Banff Centre, our CSMs are highly-organized, self-motivated, detail oriented people with superior time-management skills who strive to ensure each group's Banff Centre conference experience is exceptional.

Roles and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Conferences, below are some key responsibilities: 

Operational

• Liaise with the client prior to their arrival to confirm all details relating to their conference while at Banff Centre
• Act as a liaison between the sales and service departments of Banff Centre as well as all other relevant departments to ensure a successful event for the clients and that all of the client's needs are met
• Determine and take appropriate action to rectify any situation that comes in conflict with complete customer satisfaction
• Ensure that all Group Resume Forms and Banquet Event Orders are timely and accurate
• Establish on-going professional relationships with repeat clients
• Be present on campus during client's arrival and departure days and ensure department coverage for clients on-site during the CSM's days off
• Participate in weekly sales and operational meetings to communicate upcoming group needs and review tentative business
• Liaise with preferred partners (transportation companies, exhibit companies, AV companies, decor companies) to facilitate with the smooth running of a conference

Financial

• Ensure all sales contracts are adhered to and all contractual agreements are carried out.
• Maximize meeting space and bedroom efficiency while controlling costs and providing optimal guest service.
• Ensure that each group's billing is accurate and completed in a timely manner; following-up with clients on over-due accounts as required.

Sales and Marketing

• Undertake reviews with past Conference clients to book repeat business.
• Actively seek avenues of new business through relationship building with current clients.
• Ensure that new sales leads are directed to and acted upon by a sales manager.
• Organize and carry out conference site visits with conference leaders when requested.

Qualifications and Educational Requirements

• Minimum three years' experience working in conference or event planning
• Completion of post-secondary education in hospitality management or a related field
• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation preferred, but not required
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office including Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint
• Experience working with Visual One property management software and Adobe Creative Suite is an asset
• Capable of making solid, thoughtful decisions in a timely manner, sometimes without prior consultation with the department manager
• Highly-developed time-management skills with high personal standards for accuracy 
• Able to effectively manage multiple projects while experiencing frequent interruptions

Special Requirements

• Due to the nature of the job, the Conference Services Manager is occasionally required to work weekends and/or evenings.

Employment Terms and Benefits

• In accordance with the terms of employment governing Management/PSP employees, this is a salaried, fulltime position, subject to a 6 month probationary period.
• The salary range for this position is $51,731 - $73,983 based on experience.
• The successful candidate will enjoy twenty paid vacation days and four personal days annually, extended medical and dental benefits, and participation in an employer-matched pension plan.
• Benefits of working at Banff Centre are:
  • Professional development
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Hybrid Work Environment (3 days in the office, 2 days remote)
  • Health care spending account
  • Staff cafeteria and restaurant discounts
  • Onsite fitness facility at a discounted rate - first month free for new staff!

Application Process

• We are accepting applications for the Conference Services Manager position until a suitable candidate is found.
• Candidates offered a position with Banff Centre, in this capacity, will be required to obtain a criminal record check verifying a clear record before a final job offer can be finalized. 
• Visa Requirements: Candidates must be legally eligible to work in Canada. Banff Centre is unable to assist candidates in obtaining Canadian work authorization.