Principal Events Officer

The University of Queensland; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 107,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% superannuation

Flexible/hybrid working

Job summary

The University of Queensland is seeking a Principal Events Officer to lead the Events team and deliver high-profile university events at the St Lucia Campus. You will guide a small team, coordinate VIP attendance with the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, and manage engagement with dignitaries, government representatives, and key stakeholders.

You will bring strong event management, leadership and protocol experience, delivering polished, welcoming experiences that uphold UQ’s reputation, while

Qualifications

• A degree in event management, marketing, public relations or a related discipline plus substantial relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Demonstrated experience planning and delivering complex events, including budgeting, risk management and stakeholder engagement.
• Excellent knowledge of protocol and experience supporting VIPs, dignitaries, official guests and distinguished visitors.
• Experience advising on event formats, Orders of Proceedings and stakeholder experiences for high-profile events.

Responsibilities

• Plan and oversee strategically significant events that engage key University stakeholders, support institutional objectives and demonstrate UQ’s commitment to excellence and hospitality.
• Lead and support a collaborative, high-performing team by coordinating workloads and event allocations, providing coaching and guidance, and maintaining a strong focus on service excellence.
• Provide expert advice on event planning and communications, event formats, Orders of Proceedings, protocol and hosting of dignitaries, official guests and other visitors.
• Build relationships with University clients, senior leaders, external suppliers and key stakeholders, while overseeing event documentation, budgets, financial processes and risk controls.

Skills

Event management

Budget management

VIP protocol

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in event management, marketing, public relations or related discipline

Tools

EventsAir

Raiser's Edge

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Job description

Alumni and Community Events team based in the Office of the Vice President (Advancement and Community Engagement)

Full-time (100%), permanent position with a collaborative and professional team

Base salary will be in the range $106,709 to $116,199 + 17% super (HEW Level 7)

Based at our vibrant and picturesque St Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Principal Events Officer to help lead the UQ Events team and deliver the University's most significant and high-profile events. Working alongside another Principal Events Officer and reporting to the Senior Manager, Community Engagement and Events, you will guide a small skilled, professional team of Senior Events Officers and will provide operational leadership contributing to a diverse portfolio of events including graduations, building openings, staff events and award ceremonies. You will work closely with the Vice-Chancellor's Office to coordinate the attendance of the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor at events and support the hosting of government representatives, dignitaries and other VIP guests. Success in this role requires strong event management, leadership and protocol expertise, with a focus on delivering exceptional polished, welcoming experiences that enhance engagement and uphold the University's reputation.

Key responsibilities

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to: Plan and oversee strategically significant events that engage key University stakeholders, support institutional objectives and demonstrate UQ’s commitment to excellence and hospitality. Lead and support a collaborative, high-performing team by coordinating workloads and event allocations, providing coaching and guidance, and maintaining a strong focus on service excellence. Provide expert advice on event planning and communications, event formats, Orders of Proceedings, protocol and the hosting of dignitaries, official guests and other distinguished visitors. Build effective relationships with University clients, senior leaders, external suppliers and key stakeholders, while overseeing event documentation, budgets, financial processes, risk controls and continuous improvement initiatives.

About You

• A degree in event management, marketing, public relations or a related discipline plus substantial relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Demonstrated experience planning and delivering complex events, including budgeting, risk management and stakeholder engagement, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent knowledge of protocol and demonstrated experience supporting VIPs, dignitaries, official guests and distinguished visitors, with a proven ability to exercise sound judgement, tact, diplomacy, discretion and confidentiality.
• Demonstrated experience providing advice on event formats, Orders of Proceedings and stakeholder experience for high-profile events, creating engaging event experiences that align with event objectives, audience needs and institutional expectations.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including supervising, mentoring and developing staff, managing workloads and fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Exceptional relationship management skills, including experience working with senior executives, dignitaries, VIPs, clients, suppliers and external stakeholders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the preparation, review and quality assurance of event communications, invitations, briefings and materials for senior leaders and VIP stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience with EventsAir and CRM platforms such as Raiser's Edge or Salesforce is highly regarded.

About Advancement and Community Engagement

Throughout its history, The University of Queensland has benefited from its alumni and community through engagement, volunteering and gifts. We are committed to positioning UQ as a worthy destination for philanthropy, ensuring future generations have access to educational opportunity and that we continue to deliver world leading research and innovation.

To learn more about philanthropy at UQ visit https://alumni.uq.edu.au/giving/.

To learn more about Advancement’s alumni engagement activities, visit https://alumni.uq.edu.au/.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, working together to create a better world. Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available.

Enjoy up to 26 weeks paid parental and primary care leave, 17% super, 17.5% leave loading, flexible and hybrid working options, health and wellbeing programs, a heavily discounted Study for Staff program, on‑campus childcare, affordable parking, and salary packaging.

We’re dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criteria but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We’re also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing [e-mail] or calling [phone].

Applications close 2 November 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-70291).

The University of Queensland (UQ) acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which UQ is situated. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country.

At the University of Queensland, we are proud to be one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions, consistently ranking among the top 50 universities worldwide. As a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, UQ is widely recognised for its intensive focus on research and teaching excellence – evidenced by our numerous accolades including more teaching awards than any other Australian University and reflected in UQ being the number one recipient of ARC Fellowships and Awards nationally across all scheme years (totalling 452 awards worth $339 million).

Our state‑of‑the‑art facilities, libraries, and cutting‑edge research centres offer unparalleled opportunities for academic and professional growth. With five faculties, a number of globally recognised research institutes, and over 100 research centres, we attract an interdisciplinary community of more than 7000 staff, supporting more than 55,000 current students from over 137 countries.

UQ is dedicated to supporting the career aspirations of our students and staff. Our comprehensive career services provide personalized guidance, skills development, and networking opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals. Whether you are a student seeking internships and job placements or a staff member looking for career advancement, UQ is here to support you every step of the way.

UQ values equity, diversity and inclusion and seeks to reflect the broader community by attracting and retaining high-quality staff from a range of backgrounds. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion aims to ensure that everyone at UQ feels valued and empowered to achieve their full potential. We are particularly interested to hear from people who bring diversity to UQ – whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability.

Explore our current job openings, discover our programs, and become part of a community that is dedicated to creating lasting, meaningful impact for the communities in which we live and work.

For more information about working at UQ and our employee benefits (such as generous leave provisions, 17% superannuation, flexible working arrangements, and health and wellness discounts) please visit Why Work at UQ.