Venues Event Manager (Leu Gardens)

City of Orlando • Orlando, FL

6d • $28 - $36

About The Position

Since 1961, Harry P. Leu Gardens has inspired a love of nature, historic landscapes, and enriching outdoor experiences. Once the private estate of Harry P. and Mary Jane Leu, renowned plant collectors who developed one of the Southeast’s largest camellia collections, the 50-acre garden was donated to the City of Orlando and is now city-owned and operated. Today, Harry P. Leu Gardens welcomes 300,000 visitors annually and features 30 diverse plant collections, robust educational programming, seasonal events, and public exhibitions. As a leading public garden and plant repository, the Gardens highlight global plant diversity suited to Central Florida’s climate. Visitors explore through self-guided experiences, interpretive materials, and the Historic Leu House Museum, built in 1888 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The campus includes the historic museum, extensive gardens, and a 22,000-square-foot Welcome Center and event venue, making Leu Gardens a premier destination for weddings, private events, cultural programming, and horticultural education in Central Florida. The Facilities Manager serves as the steward of the Gardens physical infrastructure and built environment, ensuring that buildings, systems, and site facilities across the 50-acre campus operate safely, efficiently, and sustainably. The position oversees the maintenance and operational readiness of historic structures, public spaces, utilities, and event infrastructure while supporting daily operations, visitor experience, educational programming, weddings, rentals, and large-scale seasonal events such as the Gardens’ annual Dazzling Nights holiday light show. Working closely with horticulture, guest services, events, and City of Orlando partners, the Facilities Manager balances operational excellence with the preservation of historic assets and the stewardship of a living botanical collection. The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated experience in facilities management, operations, or construction, preferably within a public venue, museum, park, garden, or hospitality environment. A strong working knowledge of building systems, preventative maintenance programs, vendor coordination, and safety compliance is essential, along with experience managing contractors, supporting event operations, and coordinating capital or maintenance projects. Successful candidates will possess excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, public-facing setting. A collaborative leadership style and commitment to customer service, safety, and the stewardship of public spaces are critical to success in this role. Experience working within municipal systems or coordinating with government facilities departments is beneficial, as is familiarity with sustainability practices and operational planning within cultural, environmental, or event-driven institutions. Proficiency with enterprise systems such as Workday, Altru, and Microsoft Office Suite is expected

Requirements

• Leu Gardens: Bachelor’s degree in facilities management, construction management, or related field plus three (3) years of facilities management, event coordination or related experience for an event venue or cultural institution; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Valid Florida Driver's License required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working within municipal systems or coordinating with government facilities departments is beneficial, as is familiarity with sustainability practices and operational planning within cultural, environmental, or event-driven institutions.
• Proficiency with enterprise systems such as Workday, Altru, and Microsoft Office Suite is expected

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager