Director of University Events

Florida Atlantic University • Boca Raton, FL

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Florida Atlantic University is seeking a Director of University Events - Boca Raton, FL. The Director of University Events provides strategic leadership for the university’s most high-profile and mission-critical events, ensuring each experience reflects the institution’s brand, advances strategic priorities, and strengthens relationships with key constituents. Reporting to the Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, this highly visible role requires a sophisticated leader who brings equal parts creative vision, operational precision, and institutional acumen to the planning and execution of signature, donor, ceremonial, and public-facing events. Serving as the senior events advisor to university leadership, the Director leads a high-performing events team and collaborates across campus to deliver impactful, polished, and inclusive experiences that elevate the university’s profile.

Requirements

• Master's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and six years of appropriate experience; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and eight years of appropriate experience.
• At least 3 years in a leadership or director-level role within a complex organizational environment.
• Willingness and ability to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours as required by the event calendar, including occasional travel.
• Frequent on-site presence at event venues across campus and off campus.
• Demonstrate experience planning and executing high-visibility events, such as institutional ceremonies, major donor events, or public-facing signature programming at a commensurate scale and level of complexity.
• Proven track record of managing multiple, concurrent events with competing deadlines while maintaining exceptional quality and attention to detail.
• Experience in developing and managing substantial event budgets, including vendor contract negotiation and financial reporting.
• Demonstrates ability to work effectively and with discretion alongside senior executives, elected officials, major donors, and high-profile guests.
• Incumbent should be recognized for professional expertise and innovation, outstanding customer service, strong communication and interpersonal skills, and willingness to collaborate.
• Strong leadership skills with demonstrated experience supervising, developing, and motivating professional staff.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to present persuasively to senior leadership and diverse stakeholder groups.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Communications, Hospitality, Public Relations, or a closely related field; Master's degree strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience.
• Experience in higher education, particularly within a research university or similarly complex academic institution.
• Familiarity with university advancement, fundraising cycles, and donor engagement strategies.
• Experience managing large, spotlight events, including dignitary protocol and security coordination.
• Knowledge of university governance structures, including experience working with Boards of Trustees or equivalent governing bodies.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Institutional Alignment: Assist in developing and coordinating a comprehensive university events strategy that directly supports the university's priorities, institutional brand, and multi-year strategic plan.
• Serve as the senior events advisor to the President, Chief of Staff, and VP-level leaders, providing counsel on budgeting, event design, protocol, audience strategy, and risk management.
• Enforce university-wide standards, policies, and best practices for high-visibility events, creating consistency in quality and brand representation.
• Monitor trends in higher education event strategy, donor engagement, and experiential programming to continuously elevate the university's event portfolio.
• Lead post-event assessment processes, including developing metrics frameworks and reporting outcomes to senior leadership.
• Signature & Public Events: Direct the full lifecycle, which includes the concept, planning, logistics, execution, and evaluation of the university's events.
• Manage all aspects of large-scale event production, including venue selection and management, audiovisual production, staging, run-of-show coordination, and guest experience design.
• Coordinate the participation of the President, Board of Trustees, and distinguished guests, including managing dignitary protocol and VIP logistics.
• Oversee accessibility planning, options, and compliance for all events to ensure inclusive and optimal experiences for all participants.
• Donor & Advancement Events: Partner with the Division of Institutional Advancement to design and execute a calendar of donor cultivation, stewardship, and recognition events that directly support fundraising goals and major gift relationships.
• Develop bespoke event experiences for principal and major gift donors, including intimate dinners, behind-the-scenes access events, named gift celebrations, and endowment recognition ceremonies.
• Collaborate with Advancement leaders to ensure event design reflects donor interests, prior engagement history, and giving intent.
• Ensure all donor events are executed with the level of discretion, personalization, and attention to detail appropriate for the university's most important philanthropic relationships.
• Team Leadership & Operations: Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team of events professionals, including full-time staff and contract support, providing coaching, performance management, and career development.
• Build and manage the Office of Strategic Events' annual budget, including developing cost projections, tracking expenditures, managing vendor contracts, and ensuring fiscal accountability.
• Negotiate and administer contracts with external vendors, including caterers, AV companies, production firms, transportation providers, florists, and event rental companies.
• Develop and maintain a master events calendar that coordinates scheduling across the President's Office, Advancement, Academic Affairs, and other key institutional partners.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication: Serve as the primary liaison between the President's Office and units across the institution (Institutional Advancement, Facilities, Campus Security, Dining Services, IT, Communications, and Academic Affairs) on all matters related to university events.
• Partner with University Communications to ensure event branding, messaging, media coverage, and digital content are aligned with institutional priorities.
• Collaborate with Government Relations and Economic Development on events involving elected officials, civic leaders, and community partners, ensuring proper protocol is observed.
• Represent the university at external professional organizations and conferences related to event management in higher education.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Excellent benefit packages including Medical (PPO/HMO $50 per month single & $180 per month family), Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending plans, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and much more.
• State retirement options including tax-deferred annuities and Roth 403(b) plans.
• State employees Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
• Sick Leave Pool Program.
• Paid time off (eligible employees) including vacation and sick leave, 1 personal day, 9 paid holidays, and paid winter break (at President’s discretion).
• Paid Community Engagement Volunteer Service Day
• Employee Educational Scholarship Program (EESP) for eligible Staff/Faculty - Tuition assistance after 6 months of full-time employment.
• For in-unit faculty, the EESP program may be extended to spouses and dependent children (eligibility rules apply).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees