Executive Director of University Events

University of Texas at Austin

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Executive Director of University Events leads the team responsible for planning and producing many of The University of Texas at Austin’s most visible and high-profile events, including presidential, ceremonial, development, student experience and campus-wide programs. This role requires deep event expertise and strong people leadership. The Executive Director leads experienced event professionals, sets priorities and standards, manages workloads and performance, reviews event plans, identifies problems early and keeps work moving. The right candidate is an accomplished event professional who understands the full event lifecycle, from creative concept and design through production, operations and logistics. They must have the experience and judgment to look at an event plan, know what is missing, ask the right questions and raise the quality of the work. They must also be an excellent manager who can give clear direction and feedback, develop people, address performance issues and get results through others. The Executive Director reports to the Chief Experience Officer and leads the Event Management function within University Events & Experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 12 years of progressively responsible professional event experience, including significant experience personally leading complex, high-profile events.
• Minimum seven years of progressive people-management experience, including hiring, coaching, performance management and employee development.
• Experience leading professional event teams and managing work through others.
• Significant experience across the full event lifecycle, including creative development, design, production, operations and logistics.
• Experience reviewing the work of other event professionals, identifying gaps and determining whether plans are ready for execution.
• Experience reviewing the work of other professionals, identifying gaps and determining whether plans are ready for execution.
• Experience managing multiple complex events at the same time.
• Experience working directly with senior leaders and high-profile guests.
• Experience managing significant event budgets, vendors, contracts, staffing and production schedules.
• Strong judgment and the ability to make decisions when circumstances change.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends and extended hours as required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience across a range of event types and settings, including executive or VIP events, ceremonial events, donor experiences, large-scale events, travel or destination experiences, conferences, athletics-related events or other complex live experiences.
• Experience leading managers, producers, project managers and other professional event staff.
• Experience taking over an existing team, identifying where improvement is needed and raising performance.
• Experience in higher education, live event production, experiential events, advancement, hospitality, agency or another complex event environment.
• Experience working with senior executives, donors, board members, elected officials or other high-profile guests.
• Knowledge of protocol, risk management, accessibility, contracting, procurement and public safety coordination.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team responsible for planning and producing a broad portfolio of high-profile university events.
• Manage and develop experienced event professionals, including project managers, producers, coordinators and production and operations staff.
• Set priorities, expectations and standards for the team.
• Review event plans and determine whether the creative, production, operations, logistics, staffing, timelines and budgets, contracts, vendors and resources.
• Work directly with university leaders and campus partners on complex and high-profile events.
• Put practical processes and tools in place that help the team plan well, communicate clearly and stay ahead of deadlines.
• Review event and team performance and make changes when something is not working.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package that includes insurance and retirement benefits in addition to other programs and services.
• Professional development opportunities

What This Job Offers

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