How to hire a director of convention services

How to hire a director of convention services, step by step

Here's a step-by-step director of convention services hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a director of convention services job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new director of convention services
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the director of convention services you need to hire. Certain director of convention services roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect director of convention services also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of director of convention services salaries for various roles:

   Type of Director Of Convention Services	Description	Hourly rate
   Director Of Convention Services	Meeting, convention, and event planners coordinate all aspects of events and professional meetings. They arrange meeting locations, transportation, and other details.	$18-54
   Site Coordinator	A site coordinator is responsible for organizing special events and programs based on a client's specifications or a business's needs. Site coordinators ensure that the plan will go well by monitoring their resources, coordinating with third-party services, researching the best settings, finalizing the list of attendees, and managing the budget goals... Show more	$12-26
   Conference Coordinator	A conference coordinator organizes professional gatherings and meetings according to a client's needs and preferences. There are also instances where they may plan reunions, parties, and other events... Show more	$15-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Culinary
   • Booking
   • Guest Rooms
   • Business Relationships
   • Square Feet
   • Meeting Rooms
   • Event Planning
   • Trade Shows
   • Audio Visual Equipment
   • Site Inspections
   • Group Business
   • Exhibit Space
   • Meeting Space
   • Tourism

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Work closely with the banquet department and culinary team to achieve outstanding food and beverage service.
   • Manage sleeping room blocks, including rooming lists, comp assignments, room assignments, pre-keying and VIP's.
   • Coordinate booking activities of catering departments to achieve budget revenues.
   • Conduct the weekly BEO meeting with the culinary team.
   • Handle VIP accommodations, amenities and transportation.
   • Supervise the installation and implementation of a network computer system and DELPHI software.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your director of convention services job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A director of convention services salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, directors of convention services' average salary in arkansas is 55% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level directors of convention services earn 67% less than senior-level directors of convention services.
   • Certifications. A director of convention services with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a director of convention services's salary.

   Average director of convention services salary

   $65,956yearly

   $31.71 hourly rate

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   Entry-level director of convention services salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

4. Writing a director of convention services job description

   A good director of convention services job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a director of convention services job description:

   Director of convention services job description example

   The Las Vegas Convention Center is one of the busiest facilities in the world - a 4.6 million-square-foot facility located within a short distance of approximately 150,000 guest rooms. Operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), the center is well known among industry professionals for its versatility. In addition to approximately 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space, 225 meeting rooms (more than 390,000 square feet) handle seating capacities ranging from 20 to 2,500.

   Principal Function :

   The Director of Operations often serves as a right hand to the General Manager. As a visible and key member of the unit-level Leadership Team, they will exemplify and display unquestionable ethical conduct in both business and personal dealings, as they are responsible to model Sodexo Live!'s vision and values, ensuring in all ways for the customer, employees, the industry and the local community that Sodexo Live! is held in the highest regard.

   The Director of Operations is responsible for managing and maximizing the productivity of the operations and administrative staff and is accountable for directing and coordinating the resources, tasks, requirements and processes related to the unit's day-to-day operating budget. They will provide support and hands-on assistance to plan, prepare, oversee, report and reconcile the unit's on-going business activities to ensure its commercial success.

   The Director of Operations will contribute to Sodexo Live!'s goal to be #1 in Event Hospitality and the #1 Employer of Choice through the performance of activities geared toward the creation of an energized and positive work environment for all venue staff. Working in close partnership with the unit's various divisions and key department heads, the Director of Operations will create, lead and execute food and beverage experiences that exceed guest expectations and maximize revenue while controlling expenses.

   Essential Responsibilities :

   • Develop and implement business strategies for driving and maximizing food, beverage and merchandise sales.
   • Serve as a leadership role model and create an exceptional employment experience for Sodexo Live!'s staff.
   • Create an environment where an exceptional service and dining experience is delivered to each customer, contributing to Sodexo Live!'s goal of 100% customer satisfaction.
   • Plan and execute all operations activities against forecasted daily business volume.

   Qualifications/Skills :

   • 3-5 years previous operations leadership experience in a complex food service environment.
   • Bachelor's degree and/or appropriate combination of education and work experience to support on-the-job effectiveness.
   • Significant expertise in food and beverage management with a catering/concessions emphasis.
   • Up-to-date certifications for safe food handling and responsible alcoholic beverage service.
   • Solid and proven track record for sales and leadership success.
   • Demonstrated financial acumen with strong background in P&L management; Previous experience in developing operating budgets and established history of meeting or exceeding established financial objectives.
   • Tech savvy, with high proficiency in all Microsoft Office programs.
   • Demonstrated success in interfacing with a variety of organizational functions and divisions to accomplish tasks.
   • Keen ability to promote and participate in a team environment.
   • Proven ability to work effectively with all levels of staff and management; Ability to promote and participate in team environment concepts.
   • Self-starter who can work independently and on several tasks/projects simultaneously, and who can contribute to functional areas of the business outside of retail operations.
   • Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
   • Initiative in identifying and resolving problems timely and effectively.

   Other Requirements :

   • Able to work effectively and safely while subject to wet floors, temperature extremes and excessive noise; must be able to lift up to 50 pounds in weight; must be able to maneuver in an often tightly-quartered environment.

   Hours may be extended or irregular to include nights, weekends and holidays.

   Thank you for expressing interest in employment with Sodexo Live!. While only those candidates considered for this position will be contacted, your resume will remain on file for 90 days.

   Sodexo Live! is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, genetic information, status as a protected veteran or status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable Federal, State or Local law.

   
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro
   

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5. Post your job

   To find directors of convention services for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any directors of convention services they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level directors of convention services with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your director of convention services job on Zippia to find and recruit director of convention services candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit directors of convention services, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new director of convention services

   Once you've found the director of convention services candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new director of convention services. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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