Executive Director, Events & Transportation

University of California, Los Angeles; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

UCLA seeks an accomplished executive to serve as Executive Director, Events & Transportation. This leader shapes how people access and move on campus, overseeing transportation, events, ticketing, and community-facing operations.

The role drives strategic planning, financial oversight, and partnership development with transit agencies, government entities, and campus programs. A highly visible post demanding collaboration, political acumen, and transformative vision.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to build lasting relationships with diverse constituencies.
• Skilled in negotiating policies and programs with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication in a university setting.
• Ability to lead large, unionized organizations with budget accountability.
• Knowledge of state, federal, and local regulations related to campus operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for transportation, events, and campus operations.
• Oversee budget planning, revenue management, and asset stewardship.
• Represent UCLA with government agencies and transit partners.
• Drive innovation and customer-focused services across E&T platforms.

Skills

Relationship building

Negotiation

Communication (verbal)

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Policy awareness

Budgeting & financial planning

HR in unionized environment

Analytical reasoning

Stakeholder management

Education

CA noncommercial Class C License

Job description

Position Summary

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) seeks applications and nominations for an accomplished, strategic and service-oriented leader to serve as Executive Director, Events & Transportation (E&T). This highly visible role shapes how people access, move through and experience the UCLA campus - from daily mobility and parking to major events, ticketing and community-facing operations.

The Executive Director leads a broad portfolio at the intersection of transportation, events, customer experience, sustainability and campus operations. The portfolio includes transportation demand management; parking and traffic systems; campus transit; bicycle, micromobility and pedestrian safety; shared mobility; public transit partnerships; fleet acquisition and maintenance; commuter programs; event and film-shoot access to campus spaces; and the Central Ticket Office (CTO), which supports ticketing for thousands of events annually.

The scope and complexity of E&T offer an exceptional platform for a leader who can connect long-range strategy with operational excellence. The Executive Director oversees a transportation and events enterprise with more than $78 million in revenues, a combined operating budget exceeding $48.5 million, annual debt service/non-operating expense of $5.5 million, and a staff of nearly 300 FTE/headcount of 485. The organization also manages substantial physical and financial assets and provides important financial support to campus programs.

Operationally, the portfolio includes a 22,000+ space parking system across more than 50 facilities; a fleet of approximately 950 University vehicles (including 50% zero-emission vehicles); nearly half a million annual transit boardings with directly operated service; agreements with seven local transit agencies, including more than 400 public transit buses visiting campus each weekday; approximately 84,000 daily vehicle trips; more than 3,000 bicycle parking spaces; and 800 shared micromobility modes. E&T also supports 850 annual campus events and extra-curricular activities including high-profile events such as UCLA Commencement with up to 65,000 daily attendees and provides strategic oversight of CTO ticketing services for 8,000+ campus events annually.

The Executive Director establishes the long-term vision and strategy for a sustainable, accessible, safer, and well-connected UCLA campus, balancing service excellence, sound business practices, regulatory requirements, and the needs of the University and surrounding communities. The leader oversees Commuter & Parking Services, Events, Fleet & Transit, Mobility Planning & Traffic Systems, and the Central Ticket Office, driving operational excellence, innovation, and integrated transportation and event strategies. The role provides strategic leadership for major transportation and campus-planning initiatives, including the Metro D Line Subway Extension and the Sepulveda Transit Corridor subway project, while representing UCLA with government agencies, transit partners, community organizations, and industry stakeholders to advocate for campus interests and expanded sustainable mobility. The Executive Director also leads long-range financial and operational planning across multiple multi-million-dollar enterprises, including pricing, revenue management, asset stewardship, and performance measurement; oversees coordination of major campus events; and advances technology, process improvements, and customer-focused services across transportation, parking, traffic, fleet, events, and ticketing operations.

The ideal candidate will be an accomplished leader who combines enterprise-scale operational leadership, sophisticated stakeholder management, and strong business judgment, with the ability to operate effectively in a highly visible and politically sensitive environment and navigate the complexities of an urban transportation ecosystem with competing resource demands. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience leading large, complex organizations and diverse workforces, along with strong budgetary and strategic planning capabilities, exceptional relationship-building skills, and highly developed negotiation, collaboration, and communication abilities. They will bring strong business and political acumen, including the ability to advocate effectively at federal, state, and regional levels; analyze qualitative and quantitative information, trends, and policies; and translate insights into organizational strategies, focused plans, and sound decisions. Knowledge of applicable state, federal, and local industry trends, and sustainable transportation fundamentals is essential, as is human resources leadership experience in a primarily unionized environment. Familiarity with University policies, programs, and management practices is preferred. The Executive Director is entrusted with significant University assets and is expected to exercise a high degree of prudence and integrity. E&T is responsible for construction and maintenance associated with more than 7.6 million square feet of facilities with an approximate asset value of $767.97 million, as well as debt-capacity analysis related to more than $45.1 million in long-term financing.

Salary & Compensation

UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common.

Qualifications

• 1. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong and enduring relationships with a wide variety of constituencies, including faculty, staff, students, University administrators, community leaders, government officials, the general public, and the media. (Required)
• 2. Skill in negotiating and in exchanging ideas, information and opinions with a variety of constituencies to formulate policies and programs, and arrive jointly at decisions, conclusions or solutions. (Required)
• 3. Highly developed and effective verbal communication skills for making persuasive oral presentations to senior management, as well as internal and external constituencies, and to conduct participatory meetings, gain acceptance of decision, and to advise and collaborate with others. Demonstrated written communication skill to prepare concise, logical, accurate, and grammatically correct reports, presentations, project proposals, correspondence, etc. to address sensitive, complex and broad ranging issues in a university and business setting. (Required)
• 4. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and respectfully with a variety of constituencies, with multiple interests, to define and achieve organizational objectives. (Required)
• 5. Demonstrated ability to perform with a high degree of composure, judgment and political acumen to effectively address varied issues of a politically sensitive, highly visible or closely scrutinized nature. (Required)
• 6. Demonstrated business and political acumen, and the ability to advocate effectively at federal, state and regional levels. (Required)
• 7. Knowledge of applicable state, federal and local ordinances, codes, laws, rules and regulations, and legislative issues. (Required)
• 8. Demonstrated ability to manage a large, complex organization with a highly diverse staff and student body, including budgetary and strategic planning skills. (Required)
• 9. Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of human resources, and the ability to apply these principles in a primarily unionized environment and in accordance with collective bargaining agreements. (Required)
• 10. Demonstrated ability to clearly and logically analyze qualitative and quantitative information, trends and policies; ability to develop broad organizational assessments and initiatives, as well as more selected and focused plans, solutions and advice. (Required)
• 11. Knowledge and understanding of University policies, programs and management principles, practices and trends. Ability to apply policy to ensure fair and consistent outcomes. Including knowledge and understanding of University policies and strategies related to inclusive excellence. Ability to collaborate with senior leaders to integrate EDI policies and best practices into workplace practices and programs. (Preferred)
• 12. Knowledge of sustainable transportation fundamentals. (Required)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

• Must possess, upon hire, and maintain a valid CA noncommercial Class C License in accordance with the California (CA) Department of Motor Vehicles. (Required)

Special Conditions for Employment

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
• Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.
• Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.
• The position is subject to the California DMV "Pull Notice System" and continued employment is contingent upon proof of a satisfactory driving record.

Schedule

Flexible Schedule Required to Meet Organizational Needs

Union/Policy Covered

99-Policy Covered