Event Lead

ActivateUTS; Sydney; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Superannuation (up to 17%)

Meal allowance

Gym membership

Parental leave

Job summary

ActivateUTS is seeking an experienced Event Lead to oversee the end-to-end planning and delivery of high-impact campus events, including O’Day, O’Fest, Weeks of Action and Awards Dinners. You will report to the Head of Student Life & Sport Marketing and manage an Event Coordinator, ensuring strategic alignment with ActivateUTS goals.

The role is a 10-month full-time fixed-term contract covering maternity leave, based at Ultimo on the UTS City Campus.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4+ years’ experience in events delivery.
• Tertiary qualifications in events, marketing, or communications.
• Proven leadership skills with volunteers.
• Legal right to work in Australia.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end planning and delivery of ActivateUTS events.
• Manage budgets, run sheets, risk assessments and post-event reports.
• Coordinate casual staff and volunteers across the events calendar.
• Collaborate with marketing on campaigns and sponsorship activations.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Event planning

Budget management

Education

Tertiary qualifications in events, marketing, or communications

Job description

10-month maternity leave cover|Full-time|Ultimo, Sydney NSW

Preferred start date: 7 December 2026

Lead high-impact events that bring the ActivateUTS student experience to life — from O’Day to Awards Dinners and everything in between.

If you are a seasoned events professional who thrives on end-to-end delivery, loves campus culture and wants your work to genuinely matter to thousands of students, this is the role for you.

This is a 10-month full-time fixed-term contract covering maternity leave, where you will step into a role that is central to the ActivateUTS calendar. The events you lead — O’Day, O’Fest, Weeks of Action, Awards Dinners and more — are not just events. They are moments that define the UTS student experience.

About ActivateUTS

ActivateUTS brings the UTS experience to life beyond the classroom. We run 190+ student clubs and societies (39,000+ memberships), support 455 elite athletes across 44 sports, and delivered over 5,800 events last year. Our commercial venues, including Aerial Function Centre, The Underground, The Loft on Broadway, The Terrace, ActivateFit.Gym and the UTS Store, generate revenue that is fully reinvested into student programs and experiences.

We are a not-for-profit of around 60 permanent staff and 100+ casuals across hospitality, fitness, events, retail and student engagement, all on one campus in the heart of the city.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Student Life & Sport Marketing and sitting within the Student Life & Sport department, the Event Lead is responsible for the end-to-end planning and delivery of key events that bring the ActivateUTS brand and student experience to life.

This role leads the execution of high-impact events including Awards Dinners, Weeks of Action, O’Day and O’Fest, while supporting the development and implementation of event strategies aligned with ActivateUTS’ broader goals. You will have direct coordination and day-to-day direction of an Event Coordinator, including dedicated casual event coordination support.

You will own the annual events portfolio and calendar, manage budgets, drive post-event analysis and continuously improve how ActivateUTS delivers events that connect, engage and inspire the student community.

This is a 10-month full-time fixed-term maternity leave cover role, based on the UTS City Campus in Ultimo for the duration of the contract.

Key Responsibilities

Event Strategy and Management

• Lead the planning and execution of key ActivateUTS events across the annual calendar, ensuring alignment with ActivateUTS strategy and values.
• Develop and implement detailed event strategies and plans in collaboration with the Head of Student Life & Sport Marketing and the broader Student Life and Marketing team.
• Own the annual events portfolio and calendar, providing oversight, strategic planning and prioritisation across major and minor events.
• Set, track and report against event KPIs and budgets, owning post-event analysis and continuous improvement across the portfolio.
• Coordinate and supervise casual event staff and junior event resources across the events calendar.
• Deliver end-to-end event execution, including logistics, production, vendor coordination, catering, AV and styling.
• Prepare detailed event documentation, including run sheets, risk assessments and budgets.
• Identify opportunities to enhance existing events and integrate UTS and club-led initiatives to increase engagement.
• Maintain strong relationships with UTS departments to drive collaboration.
• Oversee production of branded event collateral, ensuring sustainability and brand alignment.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to design promotional campaigns and track event KPIs.

Post-Event Analysis and Reporting

• Develop and distribute post-event surveys to gather meaningful feedback.
• Analyse event data to generate actionable insights and inform continuous improvement.
• Report on event outcomes and budget performance, ensuring accountability and alignment with targets.

Sponsorship and Partnerships

• Support the implementation and delivery of sponsor activations across the ActivateUTS events portfolio, working with the sponsorship function.
• Work with sponsor relationships, ensuring event asset delivery and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Provide sponsorship activity updates and revenue reporting as required.

Team Coordination and Leadership

• Lead and support junior event staff and volunteers to ensure smooth event delivery.
• Coordinate event team workflows, delegating tasks and providing guidance.
• Promote a positive and accountable team culture.

Work Health and Safety

• Conduct and lead risk assessments for all managed events.
• Ensure compliance with WHS standards and work with HR on contractor and volunteer safety.
• Actively monitor and respond to safety risks during events.

About You

You are a creative and organised events professional with a strong track record of delivering large-scale events end to end. You are as comfortable leading a team on a busy event day as you are sitting down to map out a detailed run sheet, manage a budget or build a post-event report.

You bring excellent stakeholder management skills, communicate confidently across all levels, and know how to keep multiple workstreams moving without letting things fall through the cracks. You are proactive, solutions-focused and genuinely passionate about creating experiences that matter to students.

Essential Criteria

• Minimum 4+ years’ experience in an events role, with a strong track record of delivering large-scale events.
• Tertiary qualifications in events, marketing, communications or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic event planning, execution and post-event evaluation.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven leadership skills in managing volunteers and junior team members.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities with strong attention to detail.
• Legal right to work in Australia and the ability to meet ActivateUTS compliance requirements.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working in a university or student-focused environment.
• Knowledge of sponsorship coordination and event budget reporting.

Required Training and Certification

The successful candidate must hold, or obtain before commencing employment, a current Working with Children Check and upload evidence in Employment Hero.

Employees are responsible for completing this requirement through their own arrangements and maintaining current evidence throughout their employment.

Our Values

Passion: Our heart is in everything we do. We bring energy and enthusiasm to every project, driving a positive culture and creating memorable experiences.

Growth: Our potential knows no bounds. We continuously seek innovative ways to improve and enhance our services, meeting our community’s evolving needs.

Collaboration: Our strength lies in unity. We collaborate internally and work closely with students, UTS, clients, and partners to create unified and engaging outcomes.

Trust: Our word is our bond. We build strong relationships through honest, transparent, and ethical practices.

Inclusion: Everyone has a seat at our table. We celebrate diverse backgrounds, ideas, and perspectives, fostering a welcoming community where everyone feels valued.

Why Join Us

Be part of a dynamic, inclusive organisation at the heart of UTS, supporting student growth and campus life. At ActivateUTS, we offer:

• Up to 17% superannuation: 12% compulsory super plus a 5% additional benefit you can take as super or salary.
• A daily meal allowance at our campus venues and free ActivateFit.Gym membership.
• Additional paid leave days, paid parental leave and wellbeing benefits.
• The opportunity to lead signature ActivateUTS events including O’Day, O’Fest, Weeks of Action and Awards Dinners.
• A collaborative and supportive team environment within the Student Life & Sport department.
• A varied and energising campus environment where your work directly shapes the student experience.

Life at ActivateUTS

• 190+ student clubs and societies with 39,000+ memberships
• Major campus events including O’Week, O’Day and O’Fest, with 5,800+ events a year
• Sports programs supporting 455 elite student-athletes across 44 sports
• Food and beverage venues, a commercial function centre, the UTS Store and ActivateFit, the on-campus gym

Learn more at activateuts.com.au

Applications close: 25 October 2026

Applications will be reviewed as they are received. We encourage early applications, as interviews may commence before the closing date and the advertisement may close earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.