Director of Entertainment & Special Events

Position Summary The Director of Entertainment Operations provides strategic, financial, technical, and operational leadership for Department 27. This role is responsible for the planning, execution, and continuous improvement of all entertainment programming, talent acquisition, technical production, audio and lighting systems, and vendor partnerships. The position directly impacts revenue generation, guest experience, brand perception, and risk management for the organization and its member properties. The Director operates with a broad strategic mandate while maintaining hands-on oversight of high-value technical assets and live entertainment operations. Scope of Responsibility & Business Impact This position functions as a senior leadership role with full accountability for: Departmental financial performance and cost control Revenue-driven entertainment programming Protection, optimization, maintenance and upgrades of high-value technical infrastructure Vendor pricing, service levels, and long-term cost exposure Contractual, insurance, and operational compliance Decisions made in this role materially affect guest satisfaction, dwell time, beverage sales, property bookings, and member property relationships. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Department Oversight Provide executive-level oversight of all Department 27 operations. Maintain a strategic, big-picture view of departmental performance and implement course corrections as needed. Continuously improve entertainment offerings to enhance guest experience and member property value. Serve as the primary point of contact for entertainment-related requests from member properties. Lead and execute special projects as assigned by executive leadership. Financial Management & Budget Administration Create, manage, and maintain the annual Department 27 operating budget. Track all departmental spending and ensure fiscal accountability. Forecast future departmental expenses and operational needs. Create and submit capital expenditure (CAPEX) requests for infrastructure and equipment improvements. Seek out and secure sponsorship opportunities to offset operating costs and enhance programming. Negotiate vendor pricing, long-term agreements, and preferred service arrangements. Establish FSE as an authorized dealer with national vendors to secure substantial discounts and preferred service levels. Performance & Compensation Impact: Acts as a financial steward for a high-cost department, directly protecting the organization from unnecessary spending while generating savings and external funding opportunities. Talent Buying & Entertainment Programming Serve as Talent Buyer for nightly entertainment and headliner shows. Seek out, evaluate, and secure new talent acquisition sources. Review, approve, and execute all entertainment contracts. Build, manage, and maintain exclusive FSE house bands. Oversee nightly acts and DJs to ensure consistent performance quality. Create and maintain entertainment calendars and schedules. Select and program all mall music content. Performance & Compensation Impact: Programming decisions directly influence foot traffic, dwell time, guest engagement, and downstream revenue for member properties. Technical Production & Systems Oversight Provide technical advances for all headliner shows. Create or approve all audio and lighting designs for FSE stages. Oversee procurement, installation, maintenance, and repair of all audio and lighting equipment. Approve and coordinate all technical upgrades and infrastructure installations. Oversee mall audio programming, DSP configuration, specialized cues, and stage feed integration. Work closely with Show Operations to ensure stages, canopy, and mall audio systems operate reliably. Performance & Compensation Impact: Holds accountability for mission-critical technical systems with high replacement value and significant reputational risk. Leadership & Technical Guidance Provide technical and operat…

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