General Manager

General Manager

Venue Leadership & Business Operations

Company Description

Grandiflora is a premium event and entertainment venue in Knoxville, Tennessee, blending historic character with modern, intentional design. Centered around a carefully restored historic church on Magnolia Avenue, the venue offers a distinct setting for celebrations, live music, and community events. The property brings together the Grand Hall, Sweet Audrey’s, the Courtyard, and the Julie Warren Conn Garden, each designed to create welcoming and memorable experiences. Created with a passion for bringing people together, Grandiflora hosts weddings, private events, corporate gatherings, concerts, and special occasions. The venue honors its historic roots while offering a vibrant new chapter for Knoxville’s community and visitors.

The Opportunity

As we prepare to open our doors, we're looking for a General Manager who is excited by the opportunity to help build something new. You must be a hands-on, self-starting, roll-up-your-sleeves kind of person who thrives in a fast-moving environment, sees what needs to be done, and jumps in to make it happen. As Grandiflora's General Manager, you will play a key role in establishing the systems, standards, culture, and experiences that will define Grandiflora from day one.

You'll work closely with leadership, vendors, event professionals, clients, artists, and our growing team to help transform a beautiful, historic property into one of Knoxville's premier destinations for weddings, celebrations, corporate events, live music, and community gatherings.

Position Summary

The General Manager oversees all day-to-day business, financial, administrative, and event operations of the venue. This role is responsible for ensuring organizational efficiency, financial stewardship, operational consistency, and a high-quality guest and artist experience. The General Manager works collaboratively with ownership and the Executive Director, promoters, vendors, and venue staff to ensure the successful execution of all events while maintaining the venue’s long-term operational sustainability. This is a highly hands-on leadership role in a lean and cross-functional organizational structure and requires a proactive, team-oriented individual.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Administration

▪ Lead the day-to-day venue operations across events, front-of-house, back-ofhouse, facilities, and box office/ticketing ▪ Recruit, onboard, train, and develop full-time and part-time staff including Event Coordinators, Technical Director, tech crew, custodial, box office, and security ▪ Develop and maintain operational policies, procedures, and workflows ▪ Foster a collaborative, team-oriented workplace culture ▪ Coordinate staffing strategy and labor planning Financial & Business Operations ▪ Manage budgets, financial reporting, payroll, and operational forecasting ▪ Oversee accounts payable/receivable and settlement reconciliation

Financial & Business Operations

▪ Manage budgets, financial reporting, payroll, and operational forecasting ▪ Oversee accounts payable/receivable and settlement reconciliation ▪ Review event financial performance and labor costs ▪ Maintain permits, licenses, and compliance requirements

Event & Rental Oversight

▪ Serve as point of contact for rentals and special events, ensuring a culture of exceptional hospitality and smooth operations ▪ Review artist contracts, riders, and operational requirements ▪ Coordinate event logistics and venue scheduling ▪ Oversee final event settlements and revenue reporting ▪ Maintain vendor and partner relationships

Technical & Production Coordination

▪ Supervise and coordinate with the Technical Director on concert load-ins, sound, lighting, and rigging requirements. ▪ Maintain relationships with technical vendors and ensure the venue’s equipment is functional and up to date.

Operational Strategy & Risk Management

▪ Implement safety and emergency procedures ▪ Ensure consistent guest, client, and artist experiences ▪ Oversee venue compliance with local and state regulations ▪ Support long-term operational planning and systems development

Qualifications

▪ Experience in venue management, live events, hospitality, or performing arts administration ▪ Strong financial and operational management skills ▪ Experience managing cross-functional teams and event operations • Excellent client-facing skills and conflict-resolution abilities in high-pressure environments ▪ Flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays as required