Chief Operating Officer

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

$150K — $200K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7-10 years of experience in event management or operational leadership, preferably in the MICE industry
  • Proven track record of strategic planning and execution in complex environments
  • Strong financial and analytical skills with a focus on operational efficiency
  • Exceptional leadership abilities, capable of fostering teamwork and innovation
  • Solid understanding of public safety and emergency management protocols
  • Excellent communication and negotiation skills for building strategic relationships
  • Ability to lead organizational change initiatives effectively

Responsibilities

  • Lead the execution of strategic operational initiatives
  • Establish and monitor operational priorities and service standards
  • Direct performance evaluation and implement enhancements in service delivery
  • Provide executive leadership for event delivery and guest experience
  • Ensure alignment of resources to meet customer expectations
  • Oversee organizational readiness for public safety and emergency management
  • Direct facility operations and sustainability initiatives

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance plans
  • Retirement savings plan with employer match
  • Professional development and training opportunities
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Paid time off and holiday benefits
Full Job Description
MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Executive Leadership
  • Lead the execution of organizational strategy through the effective alignment of operational resources, infrastructure, systems, and services.
  • Establish operational priorities, performance expectations, and service standards that support organizational objectives and customer commitments.
  • Direct the performance of the organization's operational portfolio and ensure operational capabilities support current and future business requirements.
  • Evaluate operational performance and implement strategies that improve organizational effectiveness, service delivery, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
  • Advise the Chief Executive Officer and executive leadership team on operational risks, opportunities, investments, and organizational capabilities.
  • Ensure operational disciplines function as an integrated enterprise that supports business continuity, organizational readiness, and long-term organizational success.

Event Delivery and Guest Experience
  • Provide executive leadership for event delivery and guest experience functions and ensures the successful execution of conventions, meetings, exhibitions, entertainment events, and other organizational activities.
  • Establish operational strategies and service standards that support exceptional customer experiences and organizational performance.
  • Ensure operational resources, technologies, personnel, and support services are aligned to meet customer expectations and contractual obligations.
  • Promote cross-functional collaboration and operational integration throughout the event lifecycle.
  • Support organizational growth through operational excellence, customer retention, and service innovation.

Campus Readiness and Public Safety
  • Provide strategic direction and oversight for organizational readiness functions, including public safety, emergency management, and campus logistics.
  • Ensure the organization maintains the operational capability necessary to support a safe, secure, and resilient environment for employees, guests, exhibitors, clients, and visitors.
  • Direct enterprise preparedness, emergency response, business continuity, and incident management strategies.
  • Maintain strategic relationships with public safety agencies, emergency response organizations, and regulatory authorities.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable safety, security, emergency management, and regulatory requirements.

Facility Operations and Infrastructure
  • Provide executive leadership for facility operations, facilities services, sustainability initiatives, infrastructure management, maintenance operations, and asset stewardship functions.
  • Ensure facilities, infrastructure, and operational assets support organizational objectives, customer commitments, and business continuity requirements.
  • Direct organizational efforts to maintain safe, functional, efficient, and guest-ready facilities.
  • Supports capital planning and infrastructure investment initiatives that enhance organizational performance and long-term operational capability.

Financial Stewardship and Organizational Effectiveness
  • Oversee the financial performance of assigned operational functions and ensures responsible stewardship of organizational resources.
  • Identify opportunities to improve operational value, efficiency, and return on investment.
  • Ensure operational decisions support both short-term performance and long-term organizational sustainability.
  • Develop organizational capacity through succession planning, leadership development, workforce planning, and talent management strategies.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and service excellence.
  • Serve as a champion for organizational change and operational transformation initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • Extensive knowledge of convention center, venue, exhibition, event, hospitality, or destination management operations.
  • Strong understanding of MICE industry trends, business models, customer expectations, and operational best practices.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead complex operational environments with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
  • Strong financial, analytical, and business acumen.
  • Exceptional leadership, communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
  • Ability to lead organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Strong crisis management, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.


ACCOUNTABILITIES FOR SUPERVISION
  • Orient employees to MCCNO policies and procedures, clearly communicate job duties and responsibilities so individuals may proceed with certainty in the performance of their positions.
  • Monitor the work performance of assigned personnel on a continual basis, conduct effective performance appraisals, and take corrective action whenever necessary.
  • Provide leadership, direction, and accountability for senior operational leaders and department heads.
  • Build a high-performing culture focused on collaboration, innovation, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
  • Establish performance goals and operational metrics for departments and leadership teams.
  • Support succession planning, leadership development, workforce planning, and employee engagement initiatives.

Core Competencies
  • Strategic Leadership
  • Executive Decision Making
  • Change Leadership
  • Executive Communication
  • Relationship Management
  • Operational Excellence
  • Financial Acumen
  • Risk Management
  • Customer Experience Leadership
  • Facility and Infrastructure Management


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