Associate Director, Business Development & Conference Services

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Associate Director, Business Development & Conference Services at its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Essential functions (job duties):

Job Purpose 
The Associate Director, Business Development & Conference Services provides strategic leadership for revenue-generating events, conferences, and guest‑housing operations across Summer Housing & Conference programs and spaces managed by the Student Center and Campus Reservations. This role drives business development, oversees sales and marketing initiatives, manages large‑scale conference operations, and ensures exceptional client experiences for internal and external partners.

The Associate Director leads professional and student staff, cultivates campus and community partnerships, and develops systems, processes, and strategies that maximize utilization, operational efficiency, and net revenue. This position plays a key role in advancing the university’s auxiliary enterprise goals through innovative programming, strong client relationships, and high‑quality service delivery. This position reports to the Associate Vice President & Chief Housing Officer.

Essential Functions 
(Essential functions are the primary duties/major job responsibilities that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. The essential functions are listed in order of importance.)  

Business Development, Sales & Marketing - 40%

Lead business development strategy for Student Center and Campus Reservations as well as Summer Housing Conferences to expand market share and generate year‑over‑year revenue growth.

Manage the full sales cycle: prospecting, lead qualification, proposals, pricing, contracting, and client retention. 

Develop and maintain a portfolio of internal and external clients, initiate outreach to faculty, staff, professional organizations, and community partners. 

Conduct site tours, sales presentations, and client meetings; represent the university at trade shows and industry events. 

In concert with the Senior Director, implement yield‑management strategies to maximize space utilization and optimize revenue across meeting, event, and housing facilities. 

In concert with SAS Marketing, oversee creation of annual marketing campaigns, including print, web, social media, and promotional materials.

Track sales metrics, ROI, conversion rates, and lost‑business data; prepare monthly and annual sales reports. 

Collaborate with campus partners (Dining, Housing, Public Safety, Parking, OneCard, Enterprise Risk Management, Academic Departments, Athletics, etc.) to secure services and negotiate support for client programs. 

Conference & Event Operations - 30%

Oversee planning and execution of conferences, seminars, special events, and summer programs across multiple facilities. 

Lead operational planning meetings with service providers to ensure alignment between client expectations and campus capabilities.

Develop program budgets, advise clients on cost‑saving strategies, and make independent decisions regarding event logistics. 

Manage logistical arrangements, including housing assignments, dining, catering, facilities, registration, parking, access control, and meeting space. 

Ensure room readiness, quality assurance, and smooth transitions between programs. 

Prepare event specifications and direct staff responsible for pre‑event planning and on‑site execution. 

Oversee configuration and implementation of conference management software and related systems. 

Serve as on‑call support during peak summer operations, evenings, and weekends as needed. 

Strategic Leadership & Operational Management - 15%

Provide leadership for professional and student staff supporting sales, event operations, and summer conference housing. 

Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate full‑time staff, graduate interns, and seasonal student employees. 

Foster a service‑oriented culture focused on exceeding client expectations and delivering high‑quality experiences. 

Develop and refine departmental systems, policies, and procedures to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service delivery. 

Contribute to long‑term strategic planning for auxiliary services, including forecasting, market analysis, and program development. 

Serve as a key representative for the university’s conference and event services to internal and external stakeholders.

Financial Management & Reporting - 10%

Assist in developing and managing budgets for conference operations, marketing, and equipment needs. 
Prepare proposals, contracts, invoices, and financial reconciliations; ensure timely billing and accurate account management. 
Produce post‑event reports including financial summaries, registration data, evaluations, and recommendations for improvement. 
Monitor performance metrics, analyze trends, and provide data‑driven insights to inform decision‑making. 
Reconcile purchasing card statements and ensure compliance with university financial policies. 

Perform other related duties as assigned - 5%

WORK CONTEXT 
Job Reports to:  Vice President/AVP/Dean 
Leadership Accountability:  Develops policy and strategic plans 
Supervisory Accountability:  Supervises associates' below supervisory level 
Organizational Accountability:  Manages sub-unit of a department 
Financial Accountability:  Manages operating budget 
Customer Accountability:  Interfaces with officials and executives 
Freedom to Act:  Operates with significant autonomy 

Unique duties:

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 
Education:   Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, hospitality, marketing, or related field.
Master’s degree preferred. 
CMP or related professional certification preferred. 

Experience:   Specialist (minimum 5 years of job-related experience) 
Minimum five (5) years of experience in event, conference, or hospitality management. 
Minimum two (2) years of supervisory experience. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 
Strong organizational, communication, and problem‑solving skills. 
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects in a fast‑paced environment. 
Experience with budgeting, financial analysis, and revenue management. 
Business development acumen with proven ability to grow revenue and expand client portfolios. 
Strong leadership, coaching, and team‑building skills. 
Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills; ability to communicate professionally with diverse stakeholders. 
Ability to analyze data, evaluate programs, and implement process improvements. 
High learning agility and adaptability in dynamic environments. 
Strong writing skills for proposals, contracts, and client communications. 
Proficiency with Microsoft Office; ability to learn systems such as StarRez, EMS, or similar platforms. 

Preferred qualifications:

School/College/Division:

Generic Division

Primary department:

92L11

Employment type:

• Regular Employee
• Job type: Full Time
• Job category: Executive

Funding/salary information:

• Compensation type: Annual Salary
• Hourly rate:
• Salary minimum: $95,000
• Salary hire maximum: $105,000

Working conditions:

WORKING CONDITIONS: Normal office environment. Office‑based with frequent movement between campus facilities. Evening and weekend work required during peak seasons and major events. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds for event related tasks. May have reporting obligations under Title IX and Clery.

Job openings:

• Number of openings: 1
• Reposted position: No
• Reposted reason: None (New Requisition)
• Prior posting/requisition number:

Background check requirements:

University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.