Events Manager - External Relations

New York University; Al Ruways Industrial City; On-site; AED 22,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

New York University in Abu Dhabi is seeking an Events Manager - External Relations with 7 years of event management experience. The role focuses on strategic event planning, operational delivery, and stakeholder engagement within the higher education sector.

The successful candidate will lead high-quality events and manage logistical execution in a global university environment, ensuring outstanding guest experiences and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• 7 years of proven experience in event management.
• Strong background in managing event logistics and budgets.
• Experience in higher education or similar institutions preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of high-impact events.
• Manage vendor relationships and logistics strategies.
• Define and uphold event delivery standards.

Skills

Event planning

Event operations

Stakeholder management

Vendor management

Google Workspace

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree or MBA

Tools

Google Sheets

Google Calendar

Google Docs

Job description

Job Snapshot

Events Manager - External RelationsLocation: Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesIndustry: Higher EducationFunction: Event Planning-CoordinationExperience: 7 years of event management and organization experienceJob Type: Full-time

Job Details

Country: United Arab EmiratesCity: Abu DhabiIndustry: Higher EducationFunction: Event Planning-CoordinationSalary: 22000-32000 (Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the city; please confirm the final offer with the employer.)Gender: AnyCandidate Nationality: Any

Role Overview

Events Manager - External Relations in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates is a senior Higher Education opportunity focused on strategic event planning, operational delivery, stakeholder engagement, vendor management, and brand‑focused institutional events for Stern at NYUAD. The role is suited for an experienced events professional who can lead high‑impact academic, executive education, recruitment, and external relations events while maintaining strong delivery standards, risk control, guest experience, and cross‑functional coordination.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end planning and execution of Stern at NYUAD events, from early concept development and operational planning through on‑site delivery and post‑event review.
• Serve as the on‑site operational lead during events, making timely decisions, resolving issues, and ensuring smooth execution under fast‑paced conditions.
• Define, document, and uphold institutional event delivery standards covering logistics, guest experience, branding, readiness, communication, and service quality.
• Develop scalable event systems, planning templates, checklists, procedures, timelines, documentation workflows, and readiness reporting tools.
• Manage post‑event analysis by reviewing outcomes, stakeholder feedback, operational challenges, vendor performance, and improvement opportunities.
• Act as the primary point of contact for external vendors, logistics providers, venues, caterers, branding suppliers, technical teams, and event support partners.
• Own vendor relationships by setting expectations, tracking deliverables, monitoring performance, and ensuring service accountability.
• Direct logistics strategy across venue planning, catering, guest movement, event branding, technical requirements, registration flow, and crowd management.
• Establish clear vendor communication protocols, documentation standards, approval processes, and escalation routes.
• Identify and mitigate operational risks related to logistics, guest experience, supplier readiness, health and safety, timing, access, and event flow.
• Coordinate across Marketing, Admissions, Facilities, Executive Education, leadership offices, and other internal teams to align event objectives with operational plans.
• Translate strategic event goals into clear workstreams, deadlines, responsibilities, and accountable execution plans.
• Lead event planning meetings, readiness reviews, cross‑functional coordination sessions, and post‑event debriefs.
• Maintain master timelines, task trackers, vendor documentation, stakeholder updates, and event readiness reports.
• Oversee operational delivery of event communications, ensuring messaging, schedules, guest instructions, reminders, and updates are aligned with the event plan.
• Support content capture, promotional logistics, digital event presence, and communication coordination before, during, and after events.
• Ensure each event reflects appropriate brand standards, professional etiquette, audience expectations, and institutional quality.
• Monitor engagement effectiveness and recommend improvements to enhance attendance, guest satisfaction, stakeholder experience, and event impact.
• Handle sensitive information with discretion when working with senior stakeholders, candidates, students, executives, and institutional leadership.
• Remain available for on‑site event weekends when required, with compensation days provided according to the role arrangement.

Ideal Profile & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in logistics, event management, business administration, hospitality, communications, or a related field.
• 7 years of proven experience in event management, event operations, event planning, institutional events, executive events, or complex stakeholder‑facing programs.
• Strong background in managing event logistics, vendors, schedules, budgets, communications, guest experience, and live‑event issue resolution.
• Experience supporting candidate, student, customer, executive, or senior stakeholder engagement.
• Higher Education, executive education, student recruitment, admissions events, or university event experience is strongly preferred.
• Master's degree or MBA would be an advantage.
• Strong interpersonal skills with executive presence and maturity when dealing with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to write clear updates, brief stakeholders, manage vendor expectations, and coordinate multiple teams.
• Strong problem‑solving ability with confidence to respond quickly and professionally during live‑event challenges.
• Outstanding attention to detail, discretion, judgment, and ability to manage sensitive information.
• Comfortable working in fast‑paced environments where multiple deadlines, stakeholders, and operational priorities run at the same time.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace tools such as Sheets, Calendar, and Docs, along with messaging platforms such as WhatsApp.
• Knowledge of candidate communications, feedback tracking, audience engagement, or event performance reporting would be valuable.
• Ability to work collaboratively across academic, administrative, marketing, admissions, executive education, and facilities teams.

Skills Set

• Event planning
• Event operations
• Event project management
• External relations events
• Higher education events
• Executive education events
• Admissions event support
• Stakeholder management
• Vendor management
• Venue coordination
• Catering coordination
• Branding logistics
• Technical event requirements
• Guest experience management
• Crowd management
• Event communications
• Promotional logistics
• Content capture coordination
• Risk mitigation
• Readiness reporting
• Master timeline management
• Post‑event analysis
• Continuous improvement
• Cross‑functional coordination
• Budget awareness
• Google Sheets
• Google Calendar
• Google Docs
• Google Workspace
• WhatsApp coordination
• Candidate engagement
• Student engagement
• Executive presence
• Problem‑solving
• Confidential information handling

Why Join Us

This role offers an excellent opportunity for an Events Manager - External Relations to lead visible, high‑quality events within Abu Dhabi's Higher Education sector. The position combines event strategy, operational ownership, stakeholder engagement, institutional branding, and executive‑level coordination in a globally respected university environment. It is a strong fit for an experienced events professional who wants to manage meaningful academic and external relations programs, improve event systems, work with senior stakeholders, and contribute to Stern at NYUAD's growing visibility and regional engagement.

About the Company

New York University Abu Dhabi is a leading global research university campus in the United Arab Emirates, offering a distinctive liberal arts, science, engineering, research, and academic environment connected to NYU's global network. Through its academic programs, research activity, executive engagement, and international community, NYU Abu Dhabi supports knowledge creation, cross‑cultural learning, and institutional excellence. Stern at NYUAD strengthens this mission by extending high‑quality business education, regional engagement, and professionally delivered academic experiences in Abu Dhabi.